--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Congress is virtually incapable of…" description: "\"The Congress is virtually incapable of passing any reforms unless they first get permission from the powerful special interests who are most affected b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/796/al-gore-609_affected_the-congress-is-virtually-incapable-of-p_2431952.jpg" --- # The Congress is virtually incapable of passing any reforms… ![“The Congress is virtually incapable of passing any reforms unless they first get permission from the powerful special interests who are most affected by the proposal.” quote by Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/796/al-gore-609_affected_the-congress-is-virtually-incapable-of-p_2431952.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/796/al-gore-609_affected_the-congress-is-virtually-incapable-of-p_2431952.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/796/al-gore-609_affected_the-congress-is-virtually-incapable-of-p_2431952.jpg) > “The Congress is virtually incapable of passing any reforms unless they first get permission from the powerful special interests who are most affected by the proposal.” [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The legislative process is blocked by powerful special interests that must approve reforms before they can pass. **In simple terms:** Special interests control reforms. Key Takeaway Recognize and address lobby influence. Themes politics power reform Mood skeptical determined Type political critical. When to use this quote - legislative drafting - campaign strategy - public advocacy - grassroots mobilization Key Concepts interest groups policy making Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens reduce special‑interest power? - What mechanisms can ensure independent reform? A Different Perspective Even with permission, reforms may still be watered down by compromise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reform/) [Reforms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reforms/) [Special interests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special-interests/) ## Related quotes > [If the people that believed the moon landing was staged on a movie lot had access to unlimited money from large carbon polluters or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/if-the-people-that-believed-the-moon-landing-was-staged-on-a-movie/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [The misconception that there is serious disagreement among scientists about global warming is actually an illusion that has been deliberately fostered by a relatively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/the-misconception-that-there-is-serious-disagreement-among-scientists/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [There's no doubt that in the last two to three decades, American democracy has been hacked. It was based on the regular harvesting of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/there-s-no-doubt-that-in-the-last-two-to-three-decades-american/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [I am a passionate advocate of getting special interest money out of politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/i-am-a-passionate-advocate-of-getting-special-interest-money-out-of/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [For a free country to continue thriving, there have to be regular reforms, because any society, any economy that stays in place, you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/for-a-free-country-to-continue-thriving-there-have-to-be-regular/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [My plan to put Social Security in an ironclad lockbox has gotten a lot of attention recently, and I'm glad about that. But I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/my-plan-to-put-social-security-in-an-ironclad-lockbox-has-gotten-a/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [To save my child, I'd rather go hungry. I got all of Ethiopia inside of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/to-save-my-child-i-d-rather-go-hungry-i-got-all-of-ethiopia-inside-of/) [Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/) > [If we're not there making the argument then the cultural gulf that Republicans try to exploit saying, "Ah, these city slickers: they're all looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/if-we-re-not-there-making-the-argument-then-the-cultural-gulf-that/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ The facts \[on immigration system \] aren't known because the media won't report on them. The politicians won't talk about them and the special… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-facts-on-immigration-system-aren-t-known-because-the-media-won-t/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [We will end the politics of profit. We will end the rule of special interests. We will end the raiding of our jobs by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-will-end-the-politics-of-profit-we-will-end-the-rule-of-special/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Ya'll know what you need to do? Get together, make a We Are The World record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-jackson/ya-ll-know-what-you-need-to-do-get-together-make-a-we-are-the-world/) [Curtis Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-jackson/) > [The truth is our immigration system is worse than anybody ever realized. But the facts aren't known because the media won't report on them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-truth-is-our-immigration-system-is-worse-than-anybody-ever/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [the Republicans love to say that the Democratic Party is ruled by 'special interests.' But when pressed to name these 'special interests,' the usual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/the-republicans-love-to-say-that-the-democratic-party-is-ruled-by/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [Anarchism is a definite intellectual current in the life of our times, whose adherents advocate the abolition of economic monopolies and of all political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-rocker/anarchism-is-a-definite-intellectual-current-in-the-life-of-our-times/) [Rudolf Rocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-rocker/) > [He went to Paris looking for answers to questions that bothered him so. He was impressive, young and aggressive, saving the world on his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/he-went-to-paris-looking-for-answers-to-questions-that-bothered-him/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) ## More by Al Gore > [Local and state governments have outrun the federal government. The EPA has served notice that it will enact a rule requiring CO2 reductions by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/local-and-state-governments-have-outrun-the-federal-government-the/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Mother Nature does not do bailouts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/mother-nature-does-not-do-bailouts/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [The climate crisis is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity. It is also our greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/the-climate-crisis-is-not-a-political-issue-it-is-a-moral-and/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [I decided to pick the diet that I thought would maximize my chances of long-term survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/i-decided-to-pick-the-diet-that-i-thought-would-maximize-my-chances/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [You know there's an old african proverb that i made up: "If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/you-know-there-s-an-old-african-proverb-that-i-made-up-if-you-want-to/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [One tragic example of the loss of forests and then water is found in Ethiopia. The amount of its forested land has decreased from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/one-tragic-example-of-the-loss-of-forests-and-then-water-is-found-in/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [The ten hottest years in the atmospheric record, going back only 160 years, have been in the last eleven years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/the-ten-hottest-years-in-the-atmospheric-record-going-back-only-160/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Hey, you know what, I've gotta go on that 'Letterman' show. That show is so lame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/hey-you-know-what-i-ve-gotta-go-on-that-letterman-show-that-show-is/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [When you talk about President Trump, the cable networks turned over so many hours of prime time to him. Why? Because he was entertaining,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/when-you-talk-about-president-trump-the-cable-networks-turned-over-so/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Iraq does pose a serious threat to the stability of the Persian Gulf and we should organize an international coalition to eliminate his access…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/iraq-does-pose-a-serious-threat-to-the-stability-of-the-persian-gulf/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [There are skeptics who do not come to their view because they have a source of income from carbon polluters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/there-are-skeptics-who-do-not-come-to-their-view-because-they-have-a/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Our civilization is experiencing unprecedented changes across many realms, largely due to the rapid advancement of information technology. The ability to code and understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/our-civilization-is-experiencing-unprecedented-changes-across-many/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [There are many who would much prefer that the word 'climate' never be mentioned and that the issue be eliminated from our national conversation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/there-are-many-who-would-much-prefer-that-the-word-climate-never-be/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [As many know, the Chinese expression for "crisis" consists of two characters side by side. The first is the symbol for "danger," the second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/as-many-know-the-chinese-expression-for-crisis-consists-of-two/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [I think George W. Bush has a warm, engaging personality. But, you know, the presidency is more than just a popularity contest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/i-think-george-w-bush-has-a-warm-engaging-personality-but-you-know/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) [Explore all 447 Al Gore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) ## More Affected quotes > [To tell you the truth I am hard put to think of anyone who's career was affected significantly by making all those phone calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dabney-coleman/to-tell-you-the-truth-i-am-hard-put-to-think-of-anyone-who-s-career/) [Dabney Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dabney-coleman/) > [First, climate change is the greatest long-term threat faced by humanity. It could cause more human and financial suffering than the two world wars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-miliband/first-climate-change-is-the-greatest-long-term-threat-faced-by/) [David Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-miliband/) > [Be a pattern to others, and then all will go well; for as a whole city is affected by the licentious passions and vices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/be-a-pattern-to-others-and-then-all-will-go-well-for-as-a-whole-city/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [At first I thought I would have to put on an English accent and try a sort of affected Shakespeare thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/at-first-i-thought-i-would-have-to-put-on-an-english-accent-and-try-a/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [Every culture, if its natural development is not too much affected by political restrictions, experiences a perpetual renewal of the formative urge, and out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-rocker/every-culture-if-its-natural-development-is-not-too-much-affected-by/) [Rudolf Rocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-rocker/) > [Don't show them that you are affected.. Instead, show them that you are happy even without them.. To put a sad face on your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharlene05/don-t-show-them-that-you-are-affected-instead-show-them-that-you-are/) Sharlene05 > [I wish we could go back to the time when the private lives of our public figures were relevant only if they directly affected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-wish-we-could-go-back-to-the-time-when-the-private-lives-of-our/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [Don't be intimidated by people who seem to be experts. Hear their points of view and get their judgements. But at the end of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/don-t-be-intimidated-by-people-who-seem-to-be-experts-hear-their/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [Who what am I? My answer: I am the sum total of everything that went before me, of all I have been seen done,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/who-what-am-i-my-answer-i-am-the-sum-total-of-everything-that-went/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I have wondered why is it that some people are less affected and torn by the verities of life and death that others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-have-wondered-why-is-it-that-some-people-are-less-affected-and-torn/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Then, the other thing that affected my interest in choices growing up was the fact that I was going blind and that meant that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheena-iyengar/then-the-other-thing-that-affected-my-interest-in-choices-growing-up/) [Sheena Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheena-iyengar/) > [I don't think Wayne Rooney would be affected if you booed him, that's just how he is, but others go under. They really suffer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lampard/i-don-t-think-wayne-rooney-would-be-affected-if-you-booed-him-that-s/) [Frank Lampard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lampard/) > [I'm not good at standing on platforms and persuading people to my political point of view. Nor would I seek to. My gift is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hare/i-m-not-good-at-standing-on-platforms-and-persuading-people-to-my/) [David Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hare/) > [I was trying to hold up a mirror to this country, to reflect the past years or so, and the varying degrees in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/said-sayrafiezadeh/i-was-trying-to-hold-up-a-mirror-to-this-country-to-reflect-the-past/) [Said Sayrafiezadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/said-sayrafiezadeh/) > [We know COVID-19 hasn't affected communities equally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-cooper/we-know-covid-19-hasn-t-affected-communities-equally/) [Roy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-cooper/) Browse all 1,050 Affected quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Congress is virtually incapable of passing any reforms unless they first get permission from the powerful special interests who are most affected by the proposal.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Al Gore" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/the-congress-is-virtually-incapable-of-passing-any-reforms-unless/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Affected" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/the-congress-is-virtually-incapable-of-passing-any-reforms-unless/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/796/al-gore-609_affected_the-congress-is-virtually-incapable-of-p_2431952.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/796/al-gore-609_affected_the-congress-is-virtually-incapable-of-p_2431952.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/796/al-gore-609_affected_the-congress-is-virtually-incapable-of-p_2431952.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Congress is virtually incapable of passing any reforms unless they first get permission from the…” — Al Gore", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Al Gore", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The Congress is virtually incapable of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/the-congress-is-virtually-incapable-of-passing-any-reforms-unless/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/the-congress-is-virtually-incapable-of-passing-any-reforms-unless/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```