Mean Quote by Eugene McCarthy
“Vote against anything introduced with a "re" in it, especially reforms, reorganizations, and recodifications. This usually means going back to something that failed once and is likely to do so again.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Political commentary, 1970s, United States
Caution against adopting policies that merely rebrand past failures, suggesting they will likely repeat.
In simple terms: Beware of new versions of old failed ideas.
Question the value of rebranded reforms.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- legislative voting
- organizational restructuring
- public policy debates
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence shows a "re" policy truly differs?
- How can we balance caution with openness to innovation?
May overlook genuinely improved solutions that share a prefix.