---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Congress doesn't regulate Wall Street…"
description: "\"Congress doesn't regulate Wall Street. Wall Street regulates Congress.\" — Bernie Sanders"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/bernie-sanders-233_congress_congress-doesn-t-regulate-wall-street-wa_1972727.jpg"
---

#  Congress doesn't regulate Wall Street. Wall Street…

![“Congress doesn't regulate Wall Street. Wall Street regulates Congress.” quote by Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/bernie-sanders-233_congress_congress-doesn-t-regulate-wall-street-wa_1972727.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/bernie-sanders-233_congress_congress-doesn-t-regulate-wall-street-wa_1972727.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/bernie-sanders-233_congress_congress-doesn-t-regulate-wall-street-wa_1972727.jpg)

> “Congress doesn't regulate Wall Street. Wall Street regulates Congress.”

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Financial power structures dominate politics, reversing the intended regulatory role of government.

**In simple terms:** Money controls politics.

Key Takeaway

Advocate for campaign finance reform.

Themes

politics money regulation

Mood

urgent determined

Type

political activist

When to use this quote

- election campaigns
- legislative lobbying
- public advocacy

Key Concepts

economic power democratic integrity policy capture

Questions to Reflect On

- What reforms can reduce money's sway?
- How can citizens hold regulators accountable?

A Different Perspective

Changing entrenched financial influence is a massive systemic challenge.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) [Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall/) [Wall St](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall-st/) [Wall street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall-street/)

## Related quotes

> [You know, I think many people have the mistaken impression that Congress regulates Wall Street. In truth that's not the case. The real truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/you-know-i-think-many-people-have-the-mistaken-impression-that/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [A dictatorship would be a heck of a lot easier, there's no question about it. Dealing with Congress is a matter of give and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/a-dictatorship-would-be-a-heck-of-a-lot-easier-there-s-no-question/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [Since I joined Congress, I've been shocked at how many times we were forced to vote on 1,000-plus-page bills without ample time to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-paulsen/since-i-joined-congress-i-ve-been-shocked-at-how-many-times-we-were/)

[Erik Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-paulsen/)

> [All elections revolve around and are often resolved by who raises the most money. That's unfair. I'd like to see that process changed, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-murray/all-elections-revolve-around-and-are-often-resolved-by-who-raises-the/)

[John Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-murray/)

> [Dealing with Congress is a matter of give and take. The president doesn't get everything he wants, the Congress doesn't get everything they want.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/dealing-with-congress-is-a-matter-of-give-and-take-the-president/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [I very strongly disagreed with President Clinton on the deregulation of Wall Street. I opposed that strenuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/i-very-strongly-disagreed-with-president-clinton-on-the-deregulation/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [ What we are doing in this campaign \[2016\], it just blows my mind every day because I see it clearly, we're taking on not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/what-we-are-doing-in-this-campaign-2016-it-just-blows-my-mind-every/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [If you take donations from Wall Street, you can't be independent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/if-you-take-donations-from-wall-street-you-can-t-be-independent/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [I love jazz because it's so American; you know it's our Only Original Art Form. It just goes against the greed of corporate America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/i-love-jazz-because-it-s-so-american-you-know-it-s-our-only-original/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [I have supported candidates whose views are very different than mine on the need the break up Wall Street banks, on the war in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/i-have-supported-candidates-whose-views-are-very-different-than-mine/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [We're going to stand with working people. We're going to take on the billionaire class. We're going the take on the drug companies and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/we-re-going-to-stand-with-working-people-we-re-going-to-take-on-the/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [When we talk about power, we talk about Wall Street.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/when-we-talk-about-power-we-talk-about-wall-street/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [I want to break up the Wall Street banks. Hillary Clinton doesn't. I want to raise the minimum wage to 15 bucks an hour.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/i-want-to-break-up-the-wall-street-banks-hillary-clinton-doesn-t-i/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [I do believe that we should substantially lower student debt in this country, which is crushing millions of people. We pay for it, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/i-do-believe-that-we-should-substantially-lower-student-debt-in-this/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [What Wall Street and credit card companies are doing is really not much different from what gangsters and loan sharks do who make predatory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/what-wall-street-and-credit-card-companies-are-doing-is-really-not/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

## More by Bernie Sanders

> [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [As the longest serving Independent in the history of the United States Congress, as somebody who came into office by defeating an incumbent Democratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/as-the-longest-serving-independent-in-the-history-of-the-united/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [What Wall Street and credit card companies are doing is really not much different from what gangsters and loan sharks do who make predatory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/what-wall-street-and-credit-card-companies-are-doing-is-really-not/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [What we have got to do immediately is to say that racism and xenophobia is totally unacceptable and we will stand with the 1…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/what-we-have-got-to-do-immediately-is-to-say-that-racism-and/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [In 1999, Hoffmann-LaRoche paid a $500 million criminal fine for leading a worldwide conspiracy to fix prices for certain vitamins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/in-1999-hoffmann-laroche-paid-a-500-million-criminal-fine-for-leading/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [We need a strategy. And the goal is to bring millions of people together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/we-need-a-strategy-and-the-goal-is-to-bring-millions-of-people/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [We are living at a time where a handful of people have wealth beyond comprehension - huge yachts, jet planes, tens of billions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/we-are-living-at-a-time-where-a-handful-of-people-have-wealth-beyond/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [The deficit crisis is real and must be addressed. But it cannot be solved on the backs of the weak and vulnerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-deficit-crisis-is-real-and-must-be-addressed-but-it-cannot-be/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [I want to break up the Wall Street banks. Hillary Clinton doesn't. I want to raise the minimum wage to 15 bucks an hour.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/i-want-to-break-up-the-wall-street-banks-hillary-clinton-doesn-t-i/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [The Palestinian people's needs must be respected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-palestinian-people-s-needs-must-be-respected/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [Hillary Clinton wants to see that all Americans have the right to choose a public option in their health care exchange.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/hillary-clinton-wants-to-see-that-all-americans-have-the-right-to/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [If you want to know if your food contains gluten, aspartame, high fructose corn syrup, trans-fats or MSG, you simply read the ingredients listed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/if-you-want-to-know-if-your-food-contains-gluten-aspartame-high/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [It reminds me in some ways of the debate taking place in this country and around the world in the late 1930s. There were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/it-reminds-me-in-some-ways-of-the-debate-taking-place-in-this-country/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [I am sure that there are some single payer advocates who think the only thing worth fighting for is single payer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/i-am-sure-that-there-are-some-single-payer-advocates-who-think-the/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [The case to be made is that we have got to get people involved - continue to get people involved in the political process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-case-to-be-made-is-that-we-have-got-to-get-people-involved/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

[Explore all 853 Bernie Sanders quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

## More Congress quotes

> [Well, my wife, Cathy Gillespie, worked for Joe Barton, who was running for Congress in 1984.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-gillespie/well-my-wife-cathy-gillespie-worked-for-joe-barton-who-was-running/)

[Ed Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-gillespie/)

> [We will make sure our troops have all that is necessary to complete their missions. That's why I went to the Congress last September…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-will-make-sure-our-troops-have-all-that-is-necessary-to-complete/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/)

[James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/)

> [So our focus has to be on the things that we can control, which is to take the necessary measures working with Congress to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-carney/so-our-focus-has-to-be-on-the-things-that-we-can-control-which-is-to/)

[Jay Carney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-carney/)

> [It's disgraceful that year after year, Congress has bowed to the tobacco lobby and refused to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/it-s-disgraceful-that-year-after-year-congress-has-bowed-to-the/)

[Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/)

> [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/)

Joe Pitts

> [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/)

[Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/)

> [“ Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/united-states-congress/congress-shall-make-no-law-respecting-an-establishment-of-religion-or/)

United States Congress

> [As the longest serving Independent in the history of the United States Congress, as somebody who came into office by defeating an incumbent Democratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/as-the-longest-serving-independent-in-the-history-of-the-united/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [As the first Member of Congress from western Washington to serve on the House Agriculture Committee in over 50 years, I am proud to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-larsen/as-the-first-member-of-congress-from-western-washington-to-serve-on/)

[Rick Larsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-larsen/)

> [About one-half of the members of Congress are seekers for office at the nomination of the President. Of the remainder, at least one-half have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/about-one-half-of-the-members-of-congress-are-seekers-for-office-at/)

[John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/)

> [My younger self could not imagine standing on the floor of Congress as a member of Congress voting on legislation that, if enacted, would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritchie-torres/my-younger-self-could-not-imagine-standing-on-the-floor-of-congress/)

[Ritchie Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritchie-torres/)

> [Rahul Gandhi cannot be a prime minister because he is a citizen of Britain, and his Indian citizenship will be cancelled; he won't even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subramanian-swamy/rahul-gandhi-cannot-be-a-prime-minister-because-he-is-a-citizen-of/)

[Subramanian Swamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subramanian-swamy/)

> [We need less travelling by jet plaes from congress to congress... but more kneeling and praying and pleading to God to have mercy on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/we-need-less-travelling-by-jet-plaes-from-congress-to-congress-but/)

[Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/)

> [Well I think that what we're seeing now is that the people feel like they, the people in Congress don't have their consent to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/well-i-think-that-what-we-re-seeing-now-is-that-the-people-feel-like/)

[Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/)

[Browse all 3,400 Congress quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Congress doesn't regulate Wall Street. Wall Street regulates Congress.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Bernie Sanders"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/congress-doesn-t-regulate-wall-street-wall-street-regulates-congress/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Congress"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/congress-doesn-t-regulate-wall-street-wall-street-regulates-congress/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/bernie-sanders-233_congress_congress-doesn-t-regulate-wall-street-wa_1972727.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/bernie-sanders-233_congress_congress-doesn-t-regulate-wall-street-wa_1972727.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/bernie-sanders-233_congress_congress-doesn-t-regulate-wall-street-wa_1972727.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Congress doesn't regulate Wall Street. Wall Street regulates Congress.” — Bernie Sanders",
                "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": "Bernie Sanders",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Congress doesn't regulate Wall Street. Wall...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/congress-doesn-t-regulate-wall-street-wall-street-regulates-congress/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/congress-doesn-t-regulate-wall-street-wall-street-regulates-congress/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
