11 Elizabeth Warren Quotes From 2013 That Will Restore Your Faith In Democracy

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) was conspicuously quiet in her first few months as senator. But just as the bankers were starting to wipe the sweat from their brows, Warren hit back hard. She introduced legislation to pin student loan rates to those of banks borrowing from the federal government. She fought tooth and nail for a higher minimum wage and to reinstate Glass-Steagall. And of course there was the massively controversial resolution congratulating the Boston Red Sox on winning the 2013 World Series. That one barely got out of committee. She's also a gold mine for soundbites, and has the knowledge to back them up. 

1. "I'm really concerned that too big to fail has become too big to jail. That just seems wrong to me."

Speaking to bank regulators during a Senate hearing on February 14.

2. "If we started in 1960, and we said that as productivity goes up, then the minimum wage is going to go up the same. If that were the case, the minimum wage today would be about $22 an hour ... So my question is, what happened to the other $14.75?"

Speaking at a Senate hearing on March 18.

3. "Let's give students the same great deal that the banks get."

Speaking on May 8 about her first piece of legislation, which would reduce student loan rates to those enjoyed by banks.

4. "If transparency would lead to widespread public opposition to a trade agreement, then that trade agreement should not be the policy of the United States."

Expressing concern over a pending Trans-Pacific free trade agreement on June 12.

5. "Follow this pro-corporate trend to its logical conclusion, and sooner or later you'll end up with a Supreme Court that functions as a wholly owned subsidiary of big business."

Speaking to the AFL-CIO about the influence of corporations on the federal courts on September 9.

6. "This country should not be run for the biggest corporations and largest financial institutions."

Speaking on the influence of corporations on government.

7. "Today, a political minority in the House that condemns government and begged for this shutdown has had its day. But like all the reckless and extremist factions that have come before it, their day will pass..."

Railing against the Republican-controlled House over the shutdown on September 30.

8. "For this right-wing minority, hostage taking is all they have left — a last gasp of those who cannot cope with the realities of our democracy."

Ibid.

9. "I believe the playing field is rigged. Evidence of that is everywhere. Now I've been in the Senate for nearly a year and believe as strongly as ever that the system is rigged for powerful interests and against working families."

Discussing the unequal playing field faced by the middle class on November 7.

10. "We need to call out these filibusters for what they are: Naked attempts to nullify the results of the last election."

On Republicans blocking Obama's nominees to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on November 13.

11. "I'm out there working for Jamie Dimon the same way Dick Cheney is out there trying to save the environment."

Speaking on accusations that she wants to increase the Social Security benefits of billionaires on December 5.