--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The American people have no control over…" description: "\"The American people have no control over what the military does. We have no say in American foreign policy.\" — Aaron McGruder" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/aaron-mcgruder-9271_american-people_the-american-people-have-no-control-over_1247979.png" --- # The American people have no control over what the military… ![“The American people have no control over what the military does. We have no say in American foreign policy.” quote by Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/aaron-mcgruder-9271_american-people_the-american-people-have-no-control-over_1247979.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/aaron-mcgruder-9271_american-people_the-american-people-have-no-control-over_1247979.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/aaron-mcgruder-9271_american-people_the-american-people-have-no-control-over_1247979.png) > “The American people have no control over what the military does. We have no say in American foreign policy.” [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Citizens often lack direct influence over military actions and foreign policy decisions. **In simple terms:** People have little say in military matters. Key Takeaway Advocate for greater democratic oversight. Themes politics military citizen agency Mood concerned motivated Type political informative When to use this quote - voting - public debate - policy advocacy - education campaigns Key Concepts democracy foreign policy civil engagement Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens effectively influence foreign policy? - What mechanisms increase accountability? A Different Perspective Complex geopolitics limit individual impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) [Foreign policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foreign-policy/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [The military does very well taking average people and making them very good leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-a-mcchrystal/the-military-does-very-well-taking-average-people-and-making-them/) [Stanley A. McChrystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-a-mcchrystal/) > [One thing the military does far better than business is train its own leaders. I can't go to IBM and hire a battalion commander.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/one-thing-the-military-does-far-better-than-business-is-train-its-own/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [I will uphold the principle of civilian control of the military as intended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/i-will-uphold-the-principle-of-civilian-control-of-the-military-as/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [ The reason we've always had a civilian in that job \[Secretary of Defence\] is because we really believe that it is policymakers who ought… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/the-reason-we-ve-always-had-a-civilian-in-that-job-secretary-of/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [If there is one basic element in our Constitution, it is civilian control of the military.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/if-there-is-one-basic-element-in-our-constitution-it-is-civilian/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [“History has shown very clearly that for democracy to continue, the people, and not the generals or even the executive authority, must have control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-fehrenbach/history-has-shown-very-clearly-that-for-democracy-to-continue-the/) [T. R. Fehrenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-fehrenbach/) > [It's important. One of the principles in the United States is civilian control of the military.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-clark/it-s-important-one-of-the-principles-in-the-united-states-is-civilian/) [Wesley Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-clark/) > [I'm going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-m-going-to-be-honest-i-know-a-lot-less-about-economics-than-i-do/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [American foreign policy and military might have opened an opportunity for the Gospel in the land of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stanley/american-foreign-policy-and-military-might-have-opened-an-opportunity/) [Charles Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stanley/) > [The reality is that our military presence on foreign soil is as offensive to the people that live there as armed Chinese troops would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/the-reality-is-that-our-military-presence-on-foreign-soil-is-as/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [We have come a long way in terms of foreign policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-pierre-raffarin/we-have-come-a-long-way-in-terms-of-foreign-policy/) [Jean-Pierre Raffarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-pierre-raffarin/) > [The next president needs to know foreign policy and not learn it on the job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-brownback/the-next-president-needs-to-know-foreign-policy-and-not-learn-it-on/) [Sam Brownback](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-brownback/) > [The people and the warmakers are two distinct groups. We must never say 'we' when discussing the US government's foreign policy. For one thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/llewellyn-rockwell/the-people-and-the-warmakers-are-two-distinct-groups-we-must-never/) [Llewellyn Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/llewellyn-rockwell/) > [ \[Putin\] is a bully. And bullies only understand when we punch them in the nose, but we need to do that economically. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/putin-is-a-bully-and-bullies-only-understand-when-we-punch-them-in/) [Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More by Aaron McGruder > [I cannot be made into the commentator for the unspoken black masses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/i-cannot-be-made-into-the-commentator-for-the-unspoken-black-masses/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [I do the interviews and then I read about myself. I understand it and I get what it is. But there's so much stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/i-do-the-interviews-and-then-i-read-about-myself-i-understand-it-and/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [When the news wants to tell you something is important, they put dramatic theme music behind it. They scare you into watching the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/when-the-news-wants-to-tell-you-something-is-important-they-put/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [It's not the norm when creators have any protections with regards to creative control. And so it took some time, I think, for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/it-s-not-the-norm-when-creators-have-any-protections-with-regards-to/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [When I pass, speak freely of my shortcomings and my flaws. Learn from them, for I'll have no ego to injure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/when-i-pass-speak-freely-of-my-shortcomings-and-my-flaws-learn-from/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [I don't want the news to be patriotic. I don't want to see flags on the lapels of the anchors. I don't want any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/i-don-t-want-the-news-to-be-patriotic-i-don-t-want-to-see-flags-on/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [Don't get me wrong, it definitely ain't the Democratic Party either. They're so bad, I mean I'm actually starting to believe that John Kerry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/don-t-get-me-wrong-it-definitely-ain-t-the-democratic-party-either/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [If your intentions are already bad, and then you still make giant mistakes, it seems like things just get worse. I get little joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/if-your-intentions-are-already-bad-and-then-you-still-make-giant/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [I think there's a lot of good and bad to L.A. One of the things you have to consider is that you can, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/i-think-there-s-a-lot-of-good-and-bad-to-l-a-one-of-the-things-you/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [Once I heard about the electronic voting machines, and how they weren't gonna be audited, and no one would be able to go in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/once-i-heard-about-the-electronic-voting-machines-and-how-they-weren/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [That's not saying there's not a bunch of good Democrats. I'm sure there's a lot of people who still haven't figured that out yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/that-s-not-saying-there-s-not-a-bunch-of-good-democrats-i-m-sure/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [You know, Democratic and Republican administrations alike have supported individuals and regimes that have slaughtered millions across the globe. And they need to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/you-know-democratic-and-republican-administrations-alike-have/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [You know, every time a summer movie comes out, people think they're gonna get rich off of the merchandise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/you-know-every-time-a-summer-movie-comes-out-people-think-they-re/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [I just feel like the country is guilty. I think we should be deeply ashamed for what we've done in Iraq, and we've gotta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/i-just-feel-like-the-country-is-guilty-i-think-we-should-be-deeply/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [Obviously, there's a million things we're allowed to say on late-night cable that you're not allowed to say on a prime time broadcast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/obviously-there-s-a-million-things-we-re-allowed-to-say-on-late-night/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) [Explore all 74 Aaron McGruder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) ## More American people quotes > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-as-much-as-government-can-do-and-must-do-it-is-ultimately-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Given a choice between two bald political candidates, the American people will vote for the less bald of the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-gold/given-a-choice-between-two-bald-political-candidates-the-american/) Victor Gold > [When the American people saw the LA riots and crowds of Blacks cheering O.J. Simpson (who was acquitted by the almost all Black jury),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duke/when-the-american-people-saw-the-la-riots-and-crowds-of-blacks/) [David Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duke/) > [In any event, it is one thing to assert, then or now, that the Iraq war was ill-advised. It is quite another to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-silberman/in-any-event-it-is-one-thing-to-assert-then-or-now-that-the-iraq-war/) [Laurence Silberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-silberman/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [I don't know a politician who enjoys fundraising. The system is such that the American people have lost faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-don-t-know-a-politician-who-enjoys-fundraising-the-system-is-such/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Probably the greatest single obstacle to the progress and happiness of the American people lies in the willingness of so many men to invest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/probably-the-greatest-single-obstacle-to-the-progress-and-happiness/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [If a financial institution has business operations in the United States, hires people in the United States, if they are clogged with illiquid assets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/if-a-financial-institution-has-business-operations-in-the-united/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [The American people reject the idea of giving Washington a blank check to increase the debt limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-roby/the-american-people-reject-the-idea-of-giving-washington-a-blank/) [Martha Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-roby/) > [The coronavirus has yet again exposed the strong contrast between President Trump - who is working ardently for the American people - and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/the-coronavirus-has-yet-again-exposed-the-strong-contrast-between/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [The American people demand results, not rhetoric, especially when it comes to national security issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-hayworth/the-american-people-demand-results-not-rhetoric-especially-when-it/) [J. D. Hayworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-hayworth/) > [Hillary Clinton truly is sincere, but she has to connect more with the American people in terms of what she believes in and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/hillary-clinton-truly-is-sincere-but-she-has-to-connect-more-with-the/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [The American people are incredibly generous and even playful when you open yourself up and feed the media beast until it goes away satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krystal-ball/the-american-people-are-incredibly-generous-and-even-playful-when-you/) [Krystal Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krystal-ball/) [Browse all 2,233 American people quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The American people have no control over what the military does. 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