---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Besides, now that everyone could vote…"
description: "\"“Besides, now that everyone could vote from home, via the OASIS, the only people who could get elected were movie stars, reality TV personalities, or r..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f92/ernest-cline-1857_elected_besides-now-that-everyone-could-vote-fro_603235.png"
---

#  Besides, now that everyone could vote from home, via the…

![“Besides, now that everyone could vote from home, via the OASIS, the only people who could get elected were movie stars, reality TV personalities, or radical televangelists. I” quote by Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f92/ernest-cline-1857_elected_besides-now-that-everyone-could-vote-fro_603235.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f92/ernest-cline-1857_elected_besides-now-that-everyone-could-vote-fro_603235.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f92/ernest-cline-1857_elected_besides-now-that-everyone-could-vote-fro_603235.png)

> ““Besides, now that everyone could vote from home, via the OASIS, the only people who could get elected were movie stars, reality TV personalities, or radical televangelists. I””

[Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/)

## About This Quote

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

When voting moves online, fame and media visibility can dominate elections, sidelining ordinary citizens.

**In simple terms:** Online voting favors celebrities over regular voters.

Key Takeaway

Guard democratic processes against media bias.

Themes

democracy media influence technology politics equality

Mood

concerned critical hopeful

Type

analytical warning

When to use this quote

- elections
- online platforms
- campaign strategies
- voter education

Key Concepts

populism digital citizenship celebrity culture

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we ensure equitable representation in digital voting?
- What safeguards protect against celebrity dominance?

A Different Perspective

Popularity can eclipse policy expertise, reducing informed decision‑making.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Reality tv](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality-tv/)

## Related quotes

> [...now that everyone could vote from home, via the OASIS, the only people who could get elected were movie stars, reality TV personalities, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/now-that-everyone-could-vote-from-home-via-the-oasis-the-only-people/)

[Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/)

> [The people elected me to fight for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santos/the-people-elected-me-to-fight-for-them/)

[George Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santos/)

> [To me, 'the establishment' means people who are out of touch with the people they're elected to represent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-gomez/to-me-the-establishment-means-people-who-are-out-of-touch-with-the/)

[Jimmy Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-gomez/)

> [There is a tendency of the American people to give those who are elected an opportunity to carry out their policies and programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dingell/there-is-a-tendency-of-the-american-people-to-give-those-who-are/)

[John Dingell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dingell/)

> [When leaders are no longer beholden to the people who elected them, corruption results and the recruitment of extremists becomes easier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iqbal-quadir/when-leaders-are-no-longer-beholden-to-the-people-who-elected-them/)

[Iqbal Quadir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iqbal-quadir/)

> [And I want you to know that I have no intention whatever of ever walking away from the job that the people elected me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/and-i-want-you-to-know-that-i-have-no-intention-whatever-of-ever/)

[Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/)

> [It is very clear in my mind that the French people elected Emmanuel, and they haven't elected me, although they knew, of course, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigitte-macron/it-is-very-clear-in-my-mind-that-the-french-people-elected-emmanuel/)

[Brigitte Macron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigitte-macron/)

> [I enjoyed my stay in the Congress. Most people do not. And too many people who have been elected really don't understand the nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/i-enjoyed-my-stay-in-the-congress-most-people-do-not-and-too-many/)

[Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/)

> [I really do feel like I'm doing what the people that elected me in the first place wanted me to do. I'm not doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-mulvaney/i-really-do-feel-like-i-m-doing-what-the-people-that-elected-me-in/)

[Mick Mulvaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-mulvaney/)

> [Politics will take whatever shape it needs for people to get elected. But at the end of the day, the population remains and that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/politics-will-take-whatever-shape-it-needs-for-people-to-get-elected/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [Young people are being elected for School Boards all over the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/birch-bayh/young-people-are-being-elected-for-school-boards-all-over-the-country/)

[Birch Bayh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/birch-bayh/)

> [People elected Donald Trump because he acts decisively. He fired James Comey. He didn't fire the entire FBI. If there's something there, the FBI…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/people-elected-donald-trump-because-he-acts-decisively-he-fired-james/)

[Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/)

> [The American people elected somebody who's tough, who is smart, and who is a fighter. It's Donald Trump. And I don't think it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-huckabee-sanders/the-american-people-elected-somebody-who-s-tough-who-is-smart-and-who/)

[Sarah Huckabee Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-huckabee-sanders/)

> [“Politicians did not represent the people who elected them.  They might have held onto the delusion that they served the public, but the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stephenson/politicians-did-not-represent-the-people-who-elected-them-they-might/)

[Richard Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stephenson/)

> [People who are elected by the people need to remember they need to listen to the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-taylor-greene/people-who-are-elected-by-the-people-need-to-remember-they-need-to/)

[Marjorie Taylor Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-taylor-greene/)

## More by Ernest Cline

> [“Halliday’s favorites, like WarGames, Ghostbusters, Real Genius, Better Off Dead, or Revenge of the Nerds”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/halliday-s-favorites-like-wargames-ghostbusters-real-genius-better/)

[Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/)

> [“Ray seemed to subsist primarily on a diet of high-fructose junk food and old videogames. It was hard not to love the guy. Back”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/ray-seemed-to-subsist-primarily-on-a-diet-of-high-fructose-junk-food/)

[Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/)

> [“Besides, what if BSG and Firefly took place in the same universe? You ever consider that?” I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/besides-what-if-bsg-and-firefly-took-place-in-the-same-universe-you/)

[Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/)

> [My characters are all kind of geek archetypes of people I've encountered at gaming and comic book conventions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/my-characters-are-all-kind-of-geek-archetypes-of-people-i-ve/)

[Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/)

> [“I understood her, trusted her, and loved her as a dear friend. None of that had changed, or could be changed by anything as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/i-understood-her-trusted-her-and-loved-her-as-a-dear-friend-none-of/)

[Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/)

> [“Dilettantes,’ Art3mis said. ‘It’s their own fault for not knowing all the Schoolhouse Rock! lyrics by heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/dilettantes-art3mis-said-it-s-their-own-fault-for-not-knowing-all-the/)

[Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/)

> [“I fired a last volley of plasma bolts at the unprotected enemy ship, which was already vibrating from the buildup of power in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/i-fired-a-last-volley-of-plasma-bolts-at-the-unprotected-enemy-ship/)

[Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/)

> [I've heard Stephen King say that when you write a novel you end up revealing everything about yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/i-ve-heard-stephen-king-say-that-when-you-write-a-novel-you-end-up/)

[Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/)

> [Everybody uses pop culture as a shorthand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/everybody-uses-pop-culture-as-a-shorthand/)

[Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/)

> [“Something Daito had left to me in his will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/something-daito-had-left-to-me-in-his-will/)

[Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/)

> [The clans began to bombard the outer force field with rockets, missiles, nukes, and harsh language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/the-clans-began-to-bombard-the-outer-force-field-with-rockets/)

[Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/)

> [“tried to keep my cool. I tried to remain skeptical. I reminded myself that I was a man of science, even if I did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/tried-to-keep-my-cool-i-tried-to-remain-skeptical-i-reminded-myself/)

[Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/)

> [I notice when I'm at a party where I don't know anybody - even if I have nothing in common with somebody - we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/i-notice-when-i-m-at-a-party-where-i-don-t-know-anybody-even-if-i/)

[Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/)

> [“Not trusting my instincts any further, I loaded up a piece of high-end avatar dance software called Travoltra, which I’d downloaded and tested earlier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/not-trusting-my-instincts-any-further-i-loaded-up-a-piece-of-high-end/)

[Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/)

> [I burned through all of my extra lives in a matter of minutes, and my two least-favorite words appeared on the screen: GAME OVER.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/i-burned-through-all-of-my-extra-lives-in-a-matter-of-minutes-and-my/)

[Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/)

[Explore all 184 Ernest Cline quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/)

## More Elected quotes

> [No matter how unusual a personality may be who gets elected to office, there are constraints in this country. You don't get to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/no-matter-how-unusual-a-personality-may-be-who-gets-elected-to-office/)

[Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/)

> [Realizing that they can't get their agenda across: against religious liberty, against a culture of life, they can't get those issues across through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-parsley/realizing-that-they-can-t-get-their-agenda-across-against-religious/)

[Rod Parsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-parsley/)

> [When I was elected governor of my state, I had a legislature 87 percent Democrat. It was not lost on me that to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/when-i-was-elected-governor-of-my-state-i-had-a-legislature-87/)

[Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/)

> [When you're running, when you're in elected office, you're surrounded with power. And, so every single day, you have to remind yourself why you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rasoul/when-you-re-running-when-you-re-in-elected-office-you-re-surrounded/)

[Sam Rasoul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rasoul/)

> [We hope that the elected officials will respond positively to a ground swell of letters, phone calls, e-mails and visits from parents. The law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-hope-that-the-elected-officials-will-respond-positively-to-a/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I came into office to do what was correct, not to see what was politically expedient to get re-elected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fortuno/i-came-into-office-to-do-what-was-correct-not-to-see-what-was/)

[Luis Fortuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fortuno/)

> [The American people, in their own families, they understand that you have to do that. You have to make the tough decisions. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-mcmorris-rodgers/the-american-people-in-their-own-families-they-understand-that-you/)

[Cathy McMorris Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-mcmorris-rodgers/)

> [You now have the potential of 200 people deciding who ends up being elected president every single time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/you-now-have-the-potential-of-200-people-deciding-who-ends-up-being/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [If elected, I shall see to it that every man has a square deal, no less and no more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/if-elected-i-shall-see-to-it-that-every-man-has-a-square-deal-no-less/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Others will have opinions on how I do and that's just fine... I've been elected four times, delivered results for my constituents and delivered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-poilievre/others-will-have-opinions-on-how-i-do-and-that-s-just-fine-i-ve-been/)

[Pierre Poilievre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-poilievre/)

> [I was elected to Parliament as a Conservative three times, most recently in 2017.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-boles/i-was-elected-to-parliament-as-a-conservative-three-times-most/)

[Nick Boles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-boles/)

> [My goal was never to get re-elected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mccallum/my-goal-was-never-to-get-re-elected/)

[Scott McCallum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mccallum/)

> [I was elected because I believed in what we call "grassroots politics," politics from the bottom up, not the top down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-was-elected-because-i-believed-in-what-we-call-grassroots-politics/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [There are many Israelis who are not keen on Barack Obama - they did not want to see him elected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/there-are-many-israelis-who-are-not-keen-on-barack-obama-they-did-not/)

[Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/)

> [Now we have black and white elected officials working together. Today, we have gone beyond just passing laws. Now we have to create a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/now-we-have-black-and-white-elected-officials-working-together-today/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

Browse all 542 Elected quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Besides, now that everyone could vote from home, via the OASIS, the only people who could get elected were movie stars, reality TV personalities, or radical televangelists. I”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ernest Cline"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/besides-now-that-everyone-could-vote-from-home-via-the-oasis-the-only/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Elected"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/besides-now-that-everyone-could-vote-from-home-via-the-oasis-the-only/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f92/ernest-cline-1857_elected_besides-now-that-everyone-could-vote-fro_603235.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f92/ernest-cline-1857_elected_besides-now-that-everyone-could-vote-fro_603235.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f92/ernest-cline-1857_elected_besides-now-that-everyone-could-vote-fro_603235.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Besides, now that everyone could vote from home, via the OASIS, the only people who could get elected were…” — Ernest Cline",
                "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": "Ernest Cline",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Besides, now that everyone could vote...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/besides-now-that-everyone-could-vote-from-home-via-the-oasis-the-only/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/besides-now-that-everyone-could-vote-from-home-via-the-oasis-the-only/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
