--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can't fully heal as a nation if our…" description: "\"We can't fully heal as a nation if our democracy only works for the well-off and well-connected.\" — Andy Kim" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee2/andy-kim-4097_democracy_we-can-t-fully-heal-as-a-nation-if-our-d_1073646.jpg" --- # We can't fully heal as a nation if our democracy only… ![“We can't fully heal as a nation if our democracy only works for the well-off and well-connected.” quote by Andy Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee2/andy-kim-4097_democracy_we-can-t-fully-heal-as-a-nation-if-our-d_1073646.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee2/andy-kim-4097_democracy_we-can-t-fully-heal-as-a-nation-if-our-d_1073646.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee2/andy-kim-4097_democracy_we-can-t-fully-heal-as-a-nation-if-our-d_1073646.jpg) > “We can't fully heal as a nation if our democracy only works for the well-off and well-connected.” [Andy Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kim/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that national healing requires an inclusive democracy that serves all citizens, not just elites. **In simple terms:** Democracy must work for everyone, not just the privileged. Key Takeaway Advocate for policies that broaden democratic participation. Themes politics justice inclusion democracy social equity Mood urgent hopeful Type political activist When to use this quote - voting rights campaigns - community organizing - legislative advocacy Key Concepts structural inequality civic engagement policy reform Questions to Reflect On - What steps can broaden democratic access? - How can citizens hold leaders accountable? A Different Perspective Change can be resisted by entrenched interests. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Nation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation/) ## Related quotes > [Since the founding of our nation, our democracy has been the beacon of hope and the standard by which other countries look to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-drew/since-the-founding-of-our-nation-our-democracy-has-been-the-beacon-of/) [Jeff Van Drew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-drew/) > [Democracy works when people claim it as their own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/democracy-works-when-people-claim-it-as-their-own/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Democracy only works when we claim it as our own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/democracy-only-works-when-we-claim-it-as-our-own/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [“We cannot fully heal if we cannot experience gratitude on a daily basis.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-e-rainey/we-cannot-fully-heal-if-we-cannot-experience-gratitude-on-a-daily/) [Sharon E. Rainey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-e-rainey/) > [Somwtimes in life, we need to learn to let go, letting go os something that is never easily, people always say time will heal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhenzhen/somwtimes-in-life-we-need-to-learn-to-let-go-letting-go-os-something/) Zhenzhen > [That wound will never fully heal. He will carry it the rest of his life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-wound-will-never-fully-heal-he-will-carry-it-the-rest-of-his-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is no accident that the rise of so many democracies took place in a time when the world's most influential nation was itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/it-is-no-accident-that-the-rise-of-so-many-democracies-took-place-in/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [In nation after nation, democracy has taken the place of autocracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-polanyi/in-nation-after-nation-democracy-has-taken-the-place-of-autocracy/) [John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-polanyi/) > [A nation can be one or the other, a democracy or an imperialist, but it can't be both. If it sticks to imperialism, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chalmers-johnson/a-nation-can-be-one-or-the-other-a-democracy-or-an-imperialist-but-it/) [Chalmers Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chalmers-johnson/) > [When a nation uses their improperly gained or intelligence-wise gained information to take policy positions that impact another nation's democracy or their approach to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sessions/when-a-nation-uses-their-improperly-gained-or-intelligence-wise/) [Jeff Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sessions/) > [I think that my general feeling about the United States is that democracy works, and I've believed that my whole life, and my experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-steyer/i-think-that-my-general-feeling-about-the-united-states-is-that/) [Tom Steyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-steyer/) > [We must remember that democracy works when given time to develop, mature and deliver. People must have access to information for informed debate. Government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/we-must-remember-that-democracy-works-when-given-time-to-develop/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [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/) > [You have fewer rights because you are a minority. Absolutely, that’s how democracy works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/you-have-fewer-rights-because-you-are-a-minority-absolutely-that-s/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) > [Well, that's the way democracy works. We have to build this Europe with the material we have at our disposal. And this material is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/well-that-s-the-way-democracy-works-we-have-to-build-this-europe-with/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) ## More by Andy Kim > [Our nation's promise to have veterans' backs must extend to their families, who for their own service and sacrifices, deserve the full support of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kim/our-nation-s-promise-to-have-veterans-backs-must-extend-to-their/) [Andy Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kim/) > [It's hard for people to feel secure when there are unexplained drones flying overhead and they're not getting answers they need from the federal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kim/it-s-hard-for-people-to-feel-secure-when-there-are-unexplained-drones/) [Andy Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kim/) > [Delivering a vision for the future and real results is what Americans need; Donald Trump has failed on both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kim/delivering-a-vision-for-the-future-and-real-results-is-what-americans/) [Andy Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kim/) > [USAID and our foreign assistance, it's not charity. It helps our country. It helps us grow as leaders. That ultimately helps our security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kim/usaid-and-our-foreign-assistance-it-s-not-charity-it-helps-our/) [Andy Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kim/) > [I'll continue to work with my colleagues to stand up for working families and stop the Republican giveaway to the richest and most powerful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kim/i-ll-continue-to-work-with-my-colleagues-to-stand-up-for-working/) [Andy Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kim/) > [My parents' journey to this country just over 50 years ago, the family they built, and my chance to serve New Jersey in Congress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kim/my-parents-journey-to-this-country-just-over-50-years-ago-the-family/) [Andy Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kim/) > [If you look at my history, I'm not gonna let that many people into whatever I'm going through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kim/if-you-look-at-my-history-i-m-not-gonna-let-that-many-people-into/) [Andy Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kim/) > [In my conversations with Senator Rubio, we had areas of disagreement no doubt, but I found him to be well versed in the deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kim/in-my-conversations-with-senator-rubio-we-had-areas-of-disagreement/) [Andy Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kim/) > [One of the biggest things that I've tried to wrap my head around in this work is this concept I call, 'customer service governance.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kim/one-of-the-biggest-things-that-i-ve-tried-to-wrap-my-head-around-in/) [Andy Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kim/) > [The American people need to know that decisions we're making in Congress are about the interests of the American people, not potential personal benefits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kim/the-american-people-need-to-know-that-decisions-we-re-making-in/) [Andy Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kim/) > [I worked at USAID.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kim/i-worked-at-usaid/) [Andy Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kim/) > [PEPFAR was started under a Republican president, supported time and again by a broad bipartisan coalition, and is one of the most effective tools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kim/pepfar-was-started-under-a-republican-president-supported-time-and/) [Andy Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kim/) > [President Carter's lifelong conviction of service was guided by great compassion and a selfless will to look after the people and world around him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kim/president-carter-s-lifelong-conviction-of-service-was-guided-by-great/) [Andy Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kim/) > [We make America more prosperous when we invest in building new markets for our businesses and avenues for innovation around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kim/we-make-america-more-prosperous-when-we-invest-in-building-new/) [Andy Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kim/) > [TPS is a critical program and one under fire from President-elect Trump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kim/tps-is-a-critical-program-and-one-under-fire-from-president-elect/) [Andy Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kim/) [Explore all 116 Andy Kim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kim/) ## More Democracy quotes > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [There is plenty of time for Republicans to have a Macaca moment. But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/) [Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Failure to find a way to incorporate political Islam in democracy, however uncomfortable its ideology is for secular liberals, will mean we have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/failure-to-find-a-way-to-incorporate-political-islam-in-democracy/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. 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