Block Quote by David Brooks
![“[Betsy DeVos] is quite a smart person, capable, pretty sophisticated in subtle thought. And so to me, that puts her in the realm of policy. But we're in a climate where, as today, she tries to visit a school, and she can't even do that because protesters are blocking that.” quote by David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/886/david-brooks-644_block_betsy-devos-is-quite-a-smart-person-capa_1834524.jpg)
“[Betsy DeVos] is quite a smart person, capable, pretty sophisticated in subtle thought. And so to me, that puts her in the realm of policy. But we're in a climate where, as today, she tries to visit a school, and she can't even do that because protesters are blocking that.”
About This Quote
Source Article: Opinion column, The New York Times, 2023
A competent individual can be seen as qualified for policy, yet public protest can block their actions, highlighting tension between expertise and public sentiment.
In simple terms: Expertise may be overridden by public opposition.
Key Takeaway
Consider both expertise and public opinion.
Themes
expertise
policy
protest
public opinion
leadership
Mood
critical
concerned
Type
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- school visits
- policy advocacy
- public hearings
- media campaigns
Key Concepts
democracy
civic engagement
political strategy
Questions to Reflect On
- What responsibilities do experts have when faced with opposition?
A Different Perspective
Does protest always reflect legitimate concern?
![“I have seen [Betsy DeVos] present a few times. I don't really know her. But I have seen her present on education policy, and she's not a stupid person.” quote by David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9bb/david-brooks-644_education_i-have-seen-betsy-devos-present-a-few-ti_431069.jpg)
![“On the [Betsy] DeVos case, I agree that the gun - her gun position is kind of weird, kind of crazy, but I do think she does know about public schools.” quote by David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/529/david-brooks-644_agree_on-the-betsy-devos-case-i-agree-that-the_1710640.jpg)
![“Would [Betsy DeVos] be my first pick? No. Is she someone who has dedicated her life to education policy? Yes, actually, she has.” quote by David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0af/david-brooks-644_dedicated_would-betsy-devos-be-my-first-pick-no-is_2972455.jpg)
![“President-elect [Donald] Trump has made a provocative choice for secretary of education. Betsy DeVos comes from a wealthy Michigan family. She is an advocate for school choice. That phrase means, in essence, directing public education money to charter schools, private schools or parochial schools.” quote by Steve Inskeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b94/steve-inskeep-10882_charter_president-elect-donald-trump-has-made-a_2437134.jpg)
![“[Betsy DeVos] does care about charter schools, which are public schools. She does care about choice, which is a perfectly legitimate thing to care about. It's because it's the one issue where the Democratic donor base was really energized, which was the teacher unions.” quote by David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d8e/david-brooks-644_care_betsy-devos-does-care-about-charter-scho_1106776.jpg)
