"You can't vote yourself free"

“You can’t spend yourself rich and you can’t vote yourself free” is a saying popularized by Ukrainian-American author, podcaster, columnist, anarchist and media personality Michael Malice. He made the statement on The Tom Woods Show podcast, episode 679, on June 10, 2016. Both sayings, individually, are older than this.

“You cannot spend yourself rich” was printed in the Sheboygan (WI) Press on October 19, 1933. “You can’t spend yourself rich” was printed in The Klamath News (Klamath Falls, OR) on August 9, 1935.

“RT @rnikoley: @robbwolf they certainly aren’t smart enough to realize that you can’t vote yourself free” was posted on Twitter by Michael Miles on August 16, 2011. “You can’t vote yourself free” was posted on Twitter by Avoid_the_Void on September 19, 2014.

“You can’t spend your way to prosperity” (“You can’t borrow your way to prosperity”) and “You can’t tax your way to prosperity. You can’t bomb your way to security. And you can’t ban your way to liberty” are related sayings.

Wikipedia: Michael Malice
Michael Krechmer (Ukrainian: Майкл Крехмер; born July 12, 1976), better known as Michael Malice, is a Ukrainian-American author, podcaster, columnist, anarchist and media personality. He is the host of “YOUR WELCOME”, a video podcast which airs on Podcast One.

Newspapers.com
19 October 1933, Sheboygan (WI) Press, “Attorney Rooney Tells Of Legislation And Constitution,” pg. 3, col. 8:
You cannot spend yourself rich, he said.
(Attorney H. J. Rooney of Plymouth—ed.)

Newspapers.com
9 August 1935, The Klamath News (Klamath Falls, OR), “Editorials on the Day’s News” by Frank Jenkins, pg. 1, col. 1:
You can’t spend yourself rich.

2 January 1951, Atlanta (GA) Constitution, “The Pulse of the Press,” pg. 8, cols. 1-2:
Time for Deliberation
(Carroll County Georgian)
(...)
We must apply our knowledge of the fact that you cannot spend yourself rich or drink yourself sober.

17 January 1957, Washington (DC) Post and Times Herald, “Humphrey Says Budget Has Many Spots for Cuts,” pg. A2, col. 5:
(Treasury Secretary George M.—ed.) Humphrey said he would oppose increased public works in a dip because “you can’t spend yourself rich.”

9 August 1971, Atlanta (GA) Constitution, “SBA Groups Hears Ex-Gov. Thompson,” pg. 7-C, col. 1:
VALDOSTA—“Eugene Talmadge used to say, ‘You can’t spend yourself rich, borrow yourself out of debt, or drink yourself sober,’ M. E. Thompson quipped in his keynote address during a Small Business Administration workshop held recently at Valdosta State College.

Twitter
Michael Miles
@naprmm
RT @rnikoley: @robbwolf they certainly aren’t smart enough to realize that you can’t vote yourself free.
1:39 PM · Aug 16, 2011·TweetDeck

Twitter
Avoid_the_Void
@CJSomething
You can’t vote yourself free.
Even if you don’t. 😛
1:51 AM · Sep 19, 2014·Twitter Web Client

The Tom Woods Show
Ep. 679 Voting: Yes or No?
10th June 2016 Tom Woods
Michael Malice and I discuss the merits and demerits of voting — a contentious subject among libertarians. Although Michael is wrong as usual, it’s still fun to talk to him.
About the Guest
Michael Malice is an author and celebrity ghostwriter. He is also a frequent guest on Kennedy on the FOX Business Network.

Twitter
Anarquisto
@HMK_Anarquisto
“You can’t spend yourself rich and you can’t vote yourself free.”
Michael Malice
#VacateTheState
6:30 PM · Jun 10, 2016·Twitter for iPhone

Twitter
Leon Marincowitz
@LGMarincowitz
Just heard one of the best quotes ever from @michaelmalice on @ThomasEWoods show, “can’t vote yourself free and can’t spend yourself rich”
5:16 AM · Jun 11, 2016·Twitter for Android

Twitter
Maddie the Vixen
@PettMyMaddie
Catching up on an old @ThomasEWoods episode with @michaelmalice: “You can’t spend yourself rich, and you can’t vote yourself free.” #MicDrop
12:13 PM · Sep 1, 2016·Twitter Web Client

Twitter
Chrono
@craaaazzyapes
#tomwoods ep 679 “you can’t spend yourself rich or vote yourself free”-
@michaelmalice
6:58 PM · Nov 4, 2016·Twitter for iPhone

Twitter
Michael Malice
@michaelmalice
You can’t spend yourself rich and you can’t vote yourself free. https://twitter.com/lordsilverbow/status/1010293937267990536
This Tweet is from a suspended account. Learn more
6:50 PM · Jun 22, 2018·Twitter Web Client

Twitter
Michael Malice
@michaelmalice
I think you screwed up one of the quotes I am known for, which is “You can’t spend yourself rich, and you can’t vote yourself free.”
Quote Tweet
Libertarian Party
@LPNational
· May 13, 2019
Thoughts?
(“YOU CANNOT TAX YOUR WAY TO PROSPERITY. YOU CANNOT BAN YOUR WAY TO SAFETY. YOU CANNOT LEGISLATE YOUR WAY TO MORALITY” is shown on an image.—ed.)
2:58 PM · May 13, 2019·Twitter Web Client

Twitter
Michael Malice
@michaelmalice
You can’t spend yourself rich, and you can’t vote yourself free
Quote Tweet
Laura Ingraham
@IngrahamAngle
· Feb 16, 2021
Vote for your freedom next election. twitter.com/AlexBerenson/s…
10:21 PM · Feb 16, 2021·Twitter Web App

Twitter
Michael Malice
@michaelmalice
Replying to @glennbeck
You can’t spend yourself rich, and you can’t vote yourself free
6:01 PM · Sep 30, 2021·Twitter Web App

Twitter
Michael Malice
@michaelmalice
Replying to @ChristinaPushaw
you can’t spend yourself rich, and you can’t vote yourself free
12:11 PM · Dec 18, 2021·Twitter Web App

Twitter
Michael Malice
@michaelmalice
You cannot vote yourself free
Quote Tweet
Elon Musk
@elonmusk
· Jan 27
Replying to @cybrtrkguy
Vote them out
7:02 PM · Jan 27, 2022·Twitter Web App