Country Quote by Franklin Foer
“It's very un-American to say nice things about elites. Elites are often terrible. It's not like we've ever had a perfect set of benevolent democratic elites ruling over our country. But the fact of the matter is that a representative system of democracy delegates power to elites.”
About This Quote
Democracy inevitably relies on elite decision‑makers, even though idealized perfect elites are unrealistic.
In simple terms: Democracy depends on elites.
Key Takeaway
Accept elite influence while demanding accountability.
Themes
politics
democracy
elitism
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
analytical
political
When to use this quote
- elections
- policy advocacy
- civic engagement
Key Concepts
representative government
power dynamics
public trust
Questions to Reflect On
- How can citizens hold elites accountable?
- What reforms improve representation?
A Different Perspective
Elite power can become entrenched and unresponsive.
![“That country [Carthage] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws; and every step of intestine discord was marked by some deplorable victory of savage man over civilized society.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70c/edward-gibbon-710_barbarism_that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinkin_393.jpg)
