Academic Quote by Carroll Quigley
“The argument that the two parties should represent opposed ideals and policies, one, perhaps, of the Right and the other of the Left, is a foolish idea acceptable only to doctrinaire and academic thinkers. Instead, the two parties should be almost identical, so that the American people can throw the rascals out at any election without leading to any profound or extensive shifts in policy. Then it should be possible to replace it, every four years if necessary, by the other party, which will be none of these things but will still pursue, with new vigor, approximately the same basic policies.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Evolution of the American Party System, 1900‑1970, 1972
The quote argues that political parties should be nearly identical to prevent drastic policy swings, allowing voters to replace them without major change.
In simple terms: Parties should be similar to keep policies stable.
Key Takeaway
Favor stable, incremental governance.
Themes
politics
stability
party systems
democracy
policy continuity
Mood
cautious
analytical
critical
Type
analytical
political
commentary
When to use this quote
- elections
- government reform
- voter decision making
- policy analysis
Key Concepts
institutionalism
political theory
centrist ideology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can a system ensure accountability without distinct alternatives?
- What risks arise from overly similar parties?
A Different Perspective
It may ignore the need for genuine ideological competition and reform.
![“Just take them rascals [rapists, killers, child abusers] out in the swamp / Put 'em on their knees and tie 'em to a stump / Let the rattlers and the bugs and the alligators do the rest,” quote by Charlie Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0a5/charlie-daniels-13220_abusers_just-take-them-rascals-rapists-killers-c_285867.jpg)
