Citizens Quote by Cory Doctorow
““we’re problems to be solved, not citizens. That’s why you never hear politicians talking about ‘citizens,’ it’s all ‘taxpayers,’ as though the salient fact of your relationship to the state is how much you pay.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The State and Taxation, 2019
Citizens are framed as taxpayers, reducing democratic identity to financial contribution.
In simple terms: Viewing people as payers limits civic engagement.
Promote civic identity beyond taxes.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- public education campaigns
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does framing affect political participation?
- What alternative narratives could empower citizens?
Economic focus can ignore other civic responsibilities.