--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For half of the world's population…" description: "\"For half of the world's population, roughly three billion people around the world living on less than two dollars a day, an election is at best a means..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e00/barack-obama-17_ability_for-half-of-the-world-s-population-rough_281987.jpg" --- # For half of the world's population, roughly three billion… ![“For half of the world's population, roughly three billion people around the world living on less than two dollars a day, an election is at best a means, not an end; a starting point, not deliverance. These people are looking less for an "electocracy" than for the basic elements that for most of us…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e00/barack-obama-17_ability_for-half-of-the-world-s-population-rough_281987.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e00/barack-obama-17_ability_for-half-of-the-world-s-population-rough_281987.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e00/barack-obama-17_ability_for-half-of-the-world-s-population-rough_281987.jpg) > “For half of the world's population, roughly three billion people around the world living on less than two dollars a day, an election is at best a means, not an end; a starting point, not deliverance. These people are looking less for an "electocracy" than for the basic elements that for most of us define a decent life--food, shelter, electricity, basic health care, education for their children, and the ability to make their way through life without having to endure corruption, violence, or arbitrary power.” [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Elections are a tool, not a final solution, for billions living in poverty who need basic necessities and freedom from oppression. **In simple terms:** Voting is a step toward better life basics. Key Takeaway Focus on policies that deliver essential services. Themes poverty election human rights social justice Mood hopeful urgent empathetic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - community organizing - policy advocacy - education reform - healthcare access - anti‑corruption initiatives Key Concepts public policy economic development human dignity Questions to Reflect On - What policies best address basic needs? - How can citizens hold leaders accountable? A Different Perspective Voting alone cannot eradicate systemic inequality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Around the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around-the-world/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) [Decent life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decent-life/) [Deliverance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deliverance/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Dollars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dollars/) [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Electricity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electricity/) [Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Health care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health-care/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rough life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rough-life/) [Shelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shelter/) [Starting point](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starting-point/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I grew up in low-income areas and I've seen people take negative energy and just accept it. They give into and end up living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamarcus-aldridge/i-grew-up-in-low-income-areas-and-i-ve-seen-people-take-negative/) [LaMarcus Aldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamarcus-aldridge/) > [I always say that life is not easy for anybody. People hear about the young actors who have a rough life, but there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-crawford/i-always-say-that-life-is-not-easy-for-anybody-people-hear-about-the/) Johnny Crawford > [Sure it could get rough sometimes, but life wasn't a Hollywood movie. Shit happened. You fought, you screamed, and somehow you worked like hell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sure-it-could-get-rough-sometimes-but-life-wasn-t-a-hollywood-movie/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When the going gets rough, you are obviously in the wrong place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-the-going-gets-rough-you-are-obviously-in-the-wrong-place/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was in Korea. I've noticed all my life I see elderly people who have been close to death in an illness and they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/i-was-in-korea-i-ve-noticed-all-my-life-i-see-elderly-people-who-have/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [You know the things I went through as a youngster, coming into the business, all the good, the bad and the ugly that came.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/you-know-the-things-i-went-through-as-a-youngster-coming-into-the/) [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) > [“...Life does have its twists and turns, and that certainly is true. However, one can predict the future with some degree of accuracy based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-lydon-simonsen/life-does-have-its-twists-and-turns-and-that-certainly-is-true/) [Mary Lydon Simonsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-lydon-simonsen/) > [As we sail through life, dont avoid Storms & Rough waters, just let it PASS... Sail on! Because Calm Seas will never make Skilled Sailors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/as-we-sail-through-life-dont-avoid-storms-rough-waters-just-let-it/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [Since I was 19, I've had the most fun possible every single day, even when I had a rough life. It was the army…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/since-i-was-19-i-ve-had-the-most-fun-possible-every-single-day-even/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [As we go through life, even through very rough waters, a father's instinctive impulse to cling tightly to his wife or to his children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/as-we-go-through-life-even-through-very-rough-waters-a-father-s/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [“If you're feeling like life is hard and you keep climbing the rough side of the mountain, remember this: the rough side is necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/if-you-re-feeling-like-life-is-hard-and-you-keep-climbing-the-rough/) [Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/) > [“Worn Faces Hills about the countryside, Cold and bare, dissatisfied. From the years of deep regret, Laboring, paying on her debt, On through life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-cyrus-thomas/worn-faces-hills-about-the-countryside-cold-and-bare-dissatisfied/) Charles Cyrus Thomas > [Opiates: Perk 30s, Oxy Contins, Morphine, Heroin, and many more… Iits all over the high schools and they just suck the life out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/opiates-perk-30s-oxy-contins-morphine-heroin-and-many-more-iits-all/) [Kevin Mccarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/) > [I myself had a rough life and it's been a struggle but I believe my gift is the ability to connect with everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-briggs/i-myself-had-a-rough-life-and-it-s-been-a-struggle-but-i-believe-my/) [Shannon Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-briggs/) > [Get used to a rough life, for luxury does not last forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/get-used-to-a-rough-life-for-luxury-does-not-last-forever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Barack Obama > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [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/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We had a farewell dinner for some of my senior staff, and generally everybody likes to talk about how cool I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-had-a-farewell-dinner-for-some-of-my-senior-staff-and-generally/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For half of the world's population, roughly three billion people around the world living on less than two dollars a day, an election is at best a means, not an end; a starting point, not deliverance. 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