Giving Quote by Angus Deaton
“The history of Montana has been of the government giving land grants to people that could not possibly turn it into decent farms. And that's destroying their lives. So they don't see the government as something that's out there to help them.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Great Escape: Health, Wealth, and the Origins of Inequality, Angus Deaton, 2013
Government land policies often allocated unsuitable parcels to settlers, leading to failed farms and lasting hardship, eroding trust in public institutions.
In simple terms: Bad land grants caused farm failures and distrust of government.
Key Takeaway
Recognize policy impacts on community trust.
Themes
policy
trust
inequality
agriculture
government
history
Mood
skeptical
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
historical
When to use this quote
- Rural development
- agricultural planning
- public policy reform
- community outreach
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
Land allocation
economic disparity
institutional trust
Questions to Reflect On
- How can policy be designed to match land suitability?
- What mechanisms rebuild trust after policy failures?
A Different Perspective
Assumes all grants were equally detrimental, ignoring successful cases.
