--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is no alternative. A Democrat is a…" description: "\"There is no alternative. A Democrat is a Republican is a big businessman, and we're all consumers instead of citizens. It just manifests in the culture..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/ani-difranco-813_alternatives_there-is-no-alternative-a-democrat-is-a_2704034.png" --- # There is no alternative. A Democrat is a Republican is a… ![“There is no alternative. A Democrat is a Republican is a big businessman, and we're all consumers instead of citizens. It just manifests in the culture, in the music, in the art. I feel a little panicky about it.” quote by Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/ani-difranco-813_alternatives_there-is-no-alternative-a-democrat-is-a_2704034.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/ani-difranco-813_alternatives_there-is-no-alternative-a-democrat-is-a_2704034.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/ani-difranco-813_alternatives_there-is-no-alternative-a-democrat-is-a_2704034.png) > “There is no alternative. A Democrat is a Republican is a big businessman, and we're all consumers instead of citizens. It just manifests in the culture, in the music, in the art. I feel a little panicky about it.” [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Political labels blur as consumerism dominates; culture reflects this shift. **In simple terms:** Consumers replace citizens. Key Takeaway Recognize and resist consumerist mindset. Themes politics culture consumerism Mood critical analytical Type social political When to use this quote - advertising - social media - political discourse Key Concepts media influence identity formation Questions to Reflect On - How does consumerism shape your political views? - What can restore civic identity? A Different Perspective Changing deep habits is difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Big business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-business/) [Businessman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/businessman/) [Consumers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumers/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Democrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrat/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Republican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican/) ## Related quotes > [Trump is a big businessman. 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You see, in our two-party system, the Democrats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-black/the-only-thing-dumber-than-a-democrat-or-a-republican-is-when-those/) [Lewis Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-black/) > [“I'm not Democrat or Republican: I Vote Entrepreneur”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/i-m-not-democrat-or-republican-i-vote-entrepreneur/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [Whether you are a Democrat or Republican, whether you are a liberal or a conservative, we know that neither this President nor prior Presidents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whether-you-are-a-democrat-or-republican-whether-you-are-a-liberal-or/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Arlen Specter left the GOP because it is a lot easier to win in Pennsylvania as a Democrat than as a Republican. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-todd/arlen-specter-left-the-gop-because-it-is-a-lot-easier-to-win-in/) [Chuck Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-todd/) > [I am running for President because it is obvious that no Democrat or Republican is ever going to stop the relentless growth of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/i-am-running-for-president-because-it-is-obvious-that-no-democrat-or/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [I hate to hear people say this Judge will vote so and so, because he is a Democrat -- and this one so and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-hate-to-hear-people-say-this-judge-will-vote-so-and-so-because-he/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I think it has done us more harm believing in the huge differences between left and right, Democrat and Republican.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/i-think-it-has-done-us-more-harm-believing-in-the-huge-differences/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [I am niether more a Democrat then I am a Republican much less an Independent, I am an American, and I am proud to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-a-batres/i-am-niether-more-a-democrat-then-i-am-a-republican-much-less-an/) Joseph A Batres > [I think it is absolutely reprehensible to believe that any member of this House, Democrat or Republican, would want to do anything that would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dreier/i-think-it-is-absolutely-reprehensible-to-believe-that-any-member-of/) David Dreier > [We won't organize any black man to be a Democrat or a Republican because both of them have sold us out. Both of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/we-won-t-organize-any-black-man-to-be-a-democrat-or-a-republican/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [The reality is, we're seeing these more intense events, we're seeing these mega-hurricanes. Nobody's disputing that and nobody thinks that's a Democrat or Republican…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-x-suarez/the-reality-is-we-re-seeing-these-more-intense-events-we-re-seeing/) [Francis X. Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-x-suarez/) > [I will not be a Democrat or a Republican. They are the problem, not the solution. We need to abolish political parties in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-ventura/i-will-not-be-a-democrat-or-a-republican-they-are-the-problem-not-the/) [Jesse Ventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-ventura/) ## More by Ani DiFranco > [I am getting nowhere with you and I can't let you go and I cant get through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-am-getting-nowhere-with-you-and-i-can-t-let-you-go-and-i-cant-get/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [You've decided to love me for eternity, I'm still deciding who I want to be today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/you-ve-decided-to-love-me-for-eternity-i-m-still-deciding-who-i-want/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [I'll walk the plank and I'll jump with a smile, cause if I'm gonna go down I'm gonna do it with style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-ll-walk-the-plank-and-i-ll-jump-with-a-smile-cause-if-i-m-gonna-go/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [Having more exposure is kind of a bittersweet thing for me, honestly, because it's nice to have a little more job security in life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/having-more-exposure-is-kind-of-a-bittersweet-thing-for-me-honestly/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [I can jump ship and swim-- that the ocean will hold me, that there's got to be more than this boat I'm in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-can-jump-ship-and-swim-that-the-ocean-will-hold-me-that-there-s-got/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [God help you if you are an ugly girl, 'course too pretty is also your doom, 'cause everyone harbors a secret hatred for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/god-help-you-if-you-are-an-ugly-girl-course-too-pretty-is-also-your/) [Ani Difranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [I cannot name this, I cannot explain this, and I really don't want to so just call me shameless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-cannot-name-this-i-cannot-explain-this-and-i-really-don-t-want-to/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [Somedays the line I walk turns out to be straight - Other days the line tends to deviate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/somedays-the-line-i-walk-turns-out-to-be-straight-other-days-the-line/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [Taking me seriously is a big mistake. I certainly wouldn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/taking-me-seriously-is-a-big-mistake-i-certainly-wouldn-t/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [I am a work in progress Dressed in the fabric of a world unfolding Offering me intricate patterns of questions Rhythms that never come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-am-a-work-in-progress-dressed-in-the-fabric-of-a-world-unfolding/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [We have a complete void of progressive politics in this country right now. The will of the people goes ignored and unrealized. I'm searching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/we-have-a-complete-void-of-progressive-politics-in-this-country-right/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [I'm home in New Orleans!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-m-home-in-new-orleans/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [I don't take good pictures 'cause I have the kind of beauty that moves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-don-t-take-good-pictures-cause-i-have-the-kind-of-beauty-that-moves/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [The scary truth is, you have to scratch some veneer off to gauge where the moral fiber really is in certain pockets of society.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/the-scary-truth-is-you-have-to-scratch-some-veneer-off-to-gauge-where/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [Both hands... Now use both hands. Oh no, don't close your eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/both-hands-now-use-both-hands-oh-no-don-t-close-your-eyes/) [Ani Difranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) [Explore all 363 Ani DiFranco quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) ## More Alternatives quotes > [I am very sad that some designers are still using real fur when the fake alternatives are so effective and so easily obtainable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twiggy/i-am-very-sad-that-some-designers-are-still-using-real-fur-when-the/) [Twiggy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twiggy/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. 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