--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can do better, and we must hold the…" description: "\"We can do better, and we must hold the politicians accountable to do better.\" — Ami Bera" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cf/ami-bera-27838_accountable_we-can-do-better-and-we-must-hold-the-po_2246194.jpg" --- # We can do better, and we must hold the politicians… ![“We can do better, and we must hold the politicians accountable to do better.” quote by Ami Bera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cf/ami-bera-27838_accountable_we-can-do-better-and-we-must-hold-the-po_2246194.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cf/ami-bera-27838_accountable_we-can-do-better-and-we-must-hold-the-po_2246194.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cf/ami-bera-27838_accountable_we-can-do-better-and-we-must-hold-the-po_2246194.jpg) > “We can do better, and we must hold the politicians accountable to do better.” [Ami Bera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ami-bera/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Calls for higher standards and political accountability to improve governance. **In simple terms:** We must demand better performance from politicians. Key Takeaway Hold leaders accountable. Themes politics accountability improvement Mood urgent determined Type political activist When to use this quote - elections - legislative oversight - public advocacy Key Concepts civic duty transparency policy reform Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms enforce accountability? - How can citizens influence policy? A Different Perspective Political inertia can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accountable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountable/) [Accountable Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountable-better-786321/) [Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Hold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hold/) [Hold Politicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hold-politicians-1549866/) [Must](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/must/) [Politicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politicians/) [Politicians Accountable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politicians-accountable-2271729/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [At least the politicians are accountable to the voters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/at-least-the-politicians-are-accountable-to-the-voters/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Give someone responsibility and they will do their best. Make them accountable and they will do even better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/give-someone-responsibility-and-they-will-do-their-best-make-them/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Policy is no longer being written by politicians accountable to the American public. Instead, policies concerning the defense budget, deregulation, health care, public transportation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/policy-is-no-longer-being-written-by-politicians-accountable-to-the/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [Our Founders thought politicians should be accountable when it comes to citizens' right to life, liberty and the pursuit of heart surgery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-gottlieb/our-founders-thought-politicians-should-be-accountable-when-it-comes/) [Scott Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-gottlieb/) > [If we are now holding late-night talk-show hosts to the same moral accountability as we hold politicians or clergymen, I'm out. I'm gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/if-we-are-now-holding-late-night-talk-show-hosts-to-the-same-moral/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [Big pharma has a strangle hold on the politicians. They're stepping over the corpses of the children of America to cash their checks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-barr/big-pharma-has-a-strangle-hold-on-the-politicians-they-re-stepping/) [Al Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-barr/) > [If, like me, you believe that your taxes should be spent on your priorities in this country by politicians accountable to you then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priti-patel/if-like-me-you-believe-that-your-taxes-should-be-spent-on-your/) [Priti Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priti-patel/) > [Drug reformers get seduced by politicians who co-opt our language but who make no meaningful change. And when we don't hold politicians accountable, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-hart/drug-reformers-get-seduced-by-politicians-who-co-opt-our-language-but/) [Carl Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-hart/) > [I hold myself accountable, because that's what I had to do as a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-agholor/i-hold-myself-accountable-because-that-s-what-i-had-to-do-as-a-child/) [Nelson Agholor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-agholor/) > [People know the facts of a story just as well as the people on TV do, and they have more platforms to hold the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-geist/people-know-the-facts-of-a-story-just-as-well-as-the-people-on-tv-do/) [Willie Geist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-geist/) > [Politicians can and should be held accountable for their choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/politicians-can-and-should-be-held-accountable-for-their-choices/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [Governments can no longer control 100 percent of the story. Time and geographical boundaries disappear. In places like China and all over the Middle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-jo-martin/governments-can-no-longer-control-100-percent-of-the-story-time-and/) [Amy Jo Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-jo-martin/) > [If the City Council wants to hold the police accountable, it has the subpoena power and oversight responsibility to do so. They don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sal-albanese/if-the-city-council-wants-to-hold-the-police-accountable-it-has-the/) [Sal Albanese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sal-albanese/) > [If you're going to give people authority and hold them responsible and ultimately accountable for their performance, you've got to get out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-lerner/if-you-re-going-to-give-people-authority-and-hold-them-responsible/) [Randy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-lerner/) > [Be aware and hold the government accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohit-chauhan/be-aware-and-hold-the-government-accountable/) [Mohit Chauhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohit-chauhan/) ## More by Ami Bera > [I ran for Congress because I want to make sure others have the same chance at the dream that I had for generations to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ami-bera/i-ran-for-congress-because-i-want-to-make-sure-others-have-the-same/) [Ami Bera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ami-bera/) > [My job as a physician is to make sure I have provided my patients with the best options to make the decisions that affect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ami-bera/my-job-as-a-physician-is-to-make-sure-i-have-provided-my-patients/) [Ami Bera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ami-bera/) > [For the vast majority of Americans who work hard and play by the rules, paying the bills may be hard some months, but it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ami-bera/for-the-vast-majority-of-americans-who-work-hard-and-play-by-the/) [Ami Bera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ami-bera/) > [If our nation is to rebuild opportunity for future generations, it will require our elected leaders to realize that their responsibility lies not with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ami-bera/if-our-nation-is-to-rebuild-opportunity-for-future-generations-it/) [Ami Bera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ami-bera/) > [I love the opportunity to help my patients, to work with them to find the best course of action to get them healthy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ami-bera/i-love-the-opportunity-to-help-my-patients-to-work-with-them-to-find/) [Ami Bera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ami-bera/) > [As a doctor, I understand how actions can affect lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ami-bera/as-a-doctor-i-understand-how-actions-can-affect-lives/) [Ami Bera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ami-bera/) > [Just like you can't cure a patient without listening to what he's feeling, you can't cure a nation without hearing what the people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ami-bera/just-like-you-can-t-cure-a-patient-without-listening-to-what-he-s/) [Ami Bera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ami-bera/) > [For the record, I believe that women and their doctors should have access to oral contraception when desired by the patient and medically appropriate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ami-bera/for-the-record-i-believe-that-women-and-their-doctors-should-have/) [Ami Bera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ami-bera/) > [Patient autonomy is paramount to the oath that we take when we enter the profession of medicine. That is why I am appalled when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ami-bera/patient-autonomy-is-paramount-to-the-oath-that-we-take-when-we-enter/) [Ami Bera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ami-bera/) > [What you say and do in a crisis matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ami-bera/what-you-say-and-do-in-a-crisis-matters/) [Ami Bera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ami-bera/) > [I was born and raised in California and benefited from California's excellent public schools, from kindergarten through medical school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ami-bera/i-was-born-and-raised-in-california-and-benefited-from-california-s/) [Ami Bera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ami-bera/) > [Our nation is built upon a history of immigration, dating back to our first pioneers, the Pilgrims. For more than three centuries, we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ami-bera/our-nation-is-built-upon-a-history-of-immigration-dating-back-to-our/) [Ami Bera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ami-bera/) > [Sometimes as a parent, you have to give your child that doesn't do his or her chores some tough love and withhold the allowance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ami-bera/sometimes-as-a-parent-you-have-to-give-your-child-that-doesn-t-do-his/) [Ami Bera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ami-bera/) > [I believe in the American Dream, because I've lived it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ami-bera/i-believe-in-the-american-dream-because-i-ve-lived-it/) [Ami Bera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ami-bera/) > [As a physician, I would never encroach upon the religious freedoms of my patients.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ami-bera/as-a-physician-i-would-never-encroach-upon-the-religious-freedoms-of/) [Ami Bera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ami-bera/) [Explore all 20 Ami Bera quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ami-bera/) ## More Accountable quotes > [If China someday gains a more fair, just, and accountable system of government, it will be due to the hard work and efforts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/if-china-someday-gains-a-more-fair-just-and-accountable-system-of/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [I don't have a boss or PR person, so I'm accountable to no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/i-don-t-have-a-boss-or-pr-person-so-i-m-accountable-to-no-one/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [Be aware and hold the government accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohit-chauhan/be-aware-and-hold-the-government-accountable/) [Mohit Chauhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohit-chauhan/) > [I'm against unanswerable concentrations of power, whether that be government or private industry or religious figures - anybody who is not accountable to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-suarez/i-m-against-unanswerable-concentrations-of-power-whether-that-be/) [Daniel Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-suarez/) > [I am formally accountable to the steering board of the PIC, and I meet with nine ambassadors from the PIC every week. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-ashdown/i-am-formally-accountable-to-the-steering-board-of-the-pic-and-i-meet/) [Paddy Ashdown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-ashdown/) > [When you're in a relationship, please believe that you are held accountable for every feeling felt, word spoken, and heart broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/when-you-re-in-a-relationship-please-believe-that-you-are-held/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [We will make government more accountable. We will cut fraud, waste and abuse in our budget. But we will not do it by leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/we-will-make-government-more-accountable-we-will-cut-fraud-waste-and/) [John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/) > [It means a lot. It means I'm accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/champ-bailey/it-means-a-lot-it-means-i-m-accountable/) [Champ Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/champ-bailey/) > [If you can't hold yourself accountable and get your job done then you're not going to be successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-amendola/if-you-can-t-hold-yourself-accountable-and-get-your-job-done-then-you/) [Danny Amendola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-amendola/) > [There are multi-scatterings of various and associated issues and concerns, but it all boils down to accountable people versus those unwilling to be accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/there-are-multi-scatterings-of-various-and-associated-issues-and/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [If you're going to give people authority and hold them responsible and ultimately accountable for their performance, you've got to get out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-lerner/if-you-re-going-to-give-people-authority-and-hold-them-responsible/) [Randy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-lerner/) > [We all have to hold each other accountable and point that behavior out to each other in a kind way. I guess what I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-ellis/we-all-have-to-hold-each-other-accountable-and-point-that-behavior/) [Mary Elizabeth Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-ellis/) > [“The mistakes you make now count. Not for everything, and not forever. But they do matter, and they shape you...make your choices well. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/the-mistakes-you-make-now-count-not-for-everything-and-not-forever/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [In the church we have to deliberately let ourselves be transparent and accountable to others. We're a family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/in-the-church-we-have-to-deliberately-let-ourselves-be-transparent/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [I feel like I'm held more accountable to stay healthy now because now I'm a role model to young girls to not have eating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/i-feel-like-i-m-held-more-accountable-to-stay-healthy-now-because-now/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) [Browse all 351 Accountable quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountable/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We can do better, and we must hold the politicians accountable to do better.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ami Bera" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ami-bera/we-can-do-better-and-we-must-hold-the-politicians-accountable-to-do/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accountable" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ami-bera/we-can-do-better-and-we-must-hold-the-politicians-accountable-to-do/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cf/ami-bera-27838_accountable_we-can-do-better-and-we-must-hold-the-po_2246194.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cf/ami-bera-27838_accountable_we-can-do-better-and-we-must-hold-the-po_2246194.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cf/ami-bera-27838_accountable_we-can-do-better-and-we-must-hold-the-po_2246194.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We can do better, and we must hold the politicians accountable to do better.” — Ami Bera", "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": "Ami Bera", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ami-bera/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We can do better, and we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ami-bera/we-can-do-better-and-we-must-hold-the-politicians-accountable-to-do/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ami-bera/we-can-do-better-and-we-must-hold-the-politicians-accountable-to-do/#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 } } ] } ```