--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's no doubt that in the last two to…" description: "\"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 the wisdom of cro..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3c/al-gore-609_able_there-s-no-doubt-that-in-the-last-two-to_1246475.jpg" --- # There's no doubt that in the last two to three decades… ![“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 the wisdom of crowds, but now big sources of special interest money are able to prevent the passage of almost any meaningful reform that's aimed at the public…” quote by Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3c/al-gore-609_able_there-s-no-doubt-that-in-the-last-two-to_1246475.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3c/al-gore-609_able_there-s-no-doubt-that-in-the-last-two-to_1246475.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3c/al-gore-609_able_there-s-no-doubt-that-in-the-last-two-to_1246475.jpg) > “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 the wisdom of crowds, but now big sources of special interest money are able to prevent the passage of almost any meaningful reform that's aimed at the public interest.” [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. Democracy's effectiveness erodes when money overrides collective wisdom, limiting reforms. **In simple terms:** Money undermines democratic decision‑making. Key Takeaway Advocate for campaign finance reform. Themes democracy money influence public policy reform Mood concerned urgent Type political analytical When to use this quote - elections - legislation - grassroots activism - public debates Key Concepts political economy crowd wisdom special interests Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms can protect democratic processes from money? - How can citizens amplify crowd wisdom? A Different Perspective Reforms face entrenched interests and legal hurdles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [American democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-democracy/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Crowds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crowds/) [Decades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decades/) [Democracies have](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracies-have/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Hacked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-hacked-3911962/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Hacked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hacked/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Meaningful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [No doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-doubt/) [Passages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passages/) [Public interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-interest/) [Reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reform/) [Source](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/source/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) [Special interests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special-interests/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [American democracy has been hacked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/american-democracy-has-been-hacked/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [ American democracy is really under attack here \[Clinton campaign that was hacked\]. And the question is how are we and in particular and how… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-carville/american-democracy-is-really-under-attack-here-clinton-campaign-that/) [James Carville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-carville/) > [That's what American democracy has come down to at these town hall meetings: old people and gun nuts, which is a terrible combination. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/that-s-what-american-democracy-has-come-down-to-at-these-town-hall/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [Democracy is four wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/democracy-is-four-wolves-and-a-lamb-voting-on-what-to-have-for-lunch/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [The paradox of American democracy has been that its slogan of equal opportunity has meant, often, equal opportunity to get power over your fellows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/the-paradox-of-american-democracy-has-been-that-its-slogan-of-equal/) [Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) > [ The issuing power \[of money\] should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-issuing-power-of-money-should-be-taken-from-the-banks-and/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [For over a century, popular struggles in the democracies have used the nation-state to temper raw capitalism. The power of voters has offset the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kuttner/for-over-a-century-popular-struggles-in-the-democracies-have-used-the/) [Robert Kuttner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kuttner/) > [Why do Americans find government so baffling and irritating-even though many of us depend on public programs for a secure retirement, an affordable mortgage,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theda-skocpol/why-do-americans-find-government-so-baffling-and-irritating-even/) [Theda Skocpol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theda-skocpol/) > [Democracy entails a correlation between the public interest as expressed by a majority of the population and the governmental policies that affect them. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-maurice-de-zayas/democracy-entails-a-correlation-between-the-public-interest-as/) [Alfred-Maurice de Zayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-maurice-de-zayas/) > [I was honored to serve as an elected official for twenty-four years of my life. But right now, I believe our democratic processes have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/i-was-honored-to-serve-as-an-elected-official-for-twenty-four-years/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [American democracy is in grave danger from the changes in the environment in which ideas either live and spread or wither and die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/american-democracy-is-in-grave-danger-from-the-changes-in-the/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [A day will come when our children and grandchildren will look back and they'll ask one of two questions. Either they will ask: "what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/a-day-will-come-when-our-children-and-grandchildren-will-look-back/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [I'm passionate about restoring the efficacy of American democracy, making capitalism sustainable, prioritizing advances in technology, and seizing the opportunities to use that kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/i-m-passionate-about-restoring-the-efficacy-of-american-democracy/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [If you look at the way all of the new reform movements dedicated to the public interest are living and thriving on the Internet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/if-you-look-at-the-way-all-of-the-new-reform-movements-dedicated-to/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [The role of campaign contributions in our political system and the role of lobbyists have now reached levels that are quite unhealthy for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/the-role-of-campaign-contributions-in-our-political-system-and-the/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) ## 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 Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. 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