--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Given the slow pace of Washington's…" description: "\"Given the slow pace of Washington's bureaucracy, policymakers are often busy solving yesterday's problems. This rearview mirror approach afflicts Mr. O..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc6/fred-upton-17197_allies_given-the-slow-pace-of-washington-s-bure_3125981.jpg" --- # Given the slow pace of Washington's bureaucracy… ![“Given the slow pace of Washington's bureaucracy, policymakers are often busy solving yesterday's problems. This rearview mirror approach afflicts Mr. Obama and his Democratic allies in Congress.” quote by Fred Upton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc6/fred-upton-17197_allies_given-the-slow-pace-of-washington-s-bure_3125981.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc6/fred-upton-17197_allies_given-the-slow-pace-of-washington-s-bure_3125981.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc6/fred-upton-17197_allies_given-the-slow-pace-of-washington-s-bure_3125981.jpg) > “Given the slow pace of Washington's bureaucracy, policymakers are often busy solving yesterday's problems. This rearview mirror approach afflicts Mr. Obama and his Democratic allies in Congress.” [Fred Upton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-upton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Policymakers focus on outdated issues, neglecting future challenges. **In simple terms:** Government often solves yesterday's problems. Key Takeaway Address future issues now. Themes bureaucracy policy timeliness Mood frustrated critical Type political commentary When to use this quote - legislative planning - strategic forecasting - public administration - policy reform Key Concepts governmental inertia short-term focus Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders balance current and future problems? - What mechanisms ensure forward‑looking policy? A Different Perspective Focusing only on past issues can miss emerging crises. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allies/) [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Bureaucracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bureaucracy/) [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Mirrors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirrors/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problem solving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-solving/) [Yesterday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yesterday/) ## Related quotes > [Even non-democratic allies no longer trust America. Barack Obama has alienated our most important and longest standing Arab allies, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/even-non-democratic-allies-no-longer-trust-america-barack-obama-has/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [We need to listen to the views and respect the collective will of our democratic allies. When we believe that international action is necessary,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/we-need-to-listen-to-the-views-and-respect-the-collective-will-of-our/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [The Washington bureaucracy is too arrogant and imperial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/the-washington-bureaucracy-is-too-arrogant-and-imperial/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [To serve taxpayers better - and at a lower cost for the long haul - Congress should clean up the Washington bureaucracy itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/to-serve-taxpayers-better-and-at-a-lower-cost-for-the-long-haul/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [“I glance over my shoulder, at the car following close behind us. It’s impossible to see the driver. To tell if it’s Cassian. After…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-jordan/i-glance-over-my-shoulder-at-the-car-following-close-behind-us-it-s/) [Sophie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-jordan/) > [“What I needed was an emotional Geiger counter that could objectively measure other people for sadness. I looked at the woman in the car…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-porter/what-i-needed-was-an-emotional-geiger-counter-that-could-objectively/) Jason Porter > [When you're a regular gal, you look in the rearview mirror, and in the bright daylight you see that line around your mouth, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-stone/when-you-re-a-regular-gal-you-look-in-the-rearview-mirror-and-in-the/) [Sharon Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-stone/) > [“Sometimes the most important moments in your life can only be seen in the rearview mirror.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dete-meserve/sometimes-the-most-important-moments-in-your-life-can-only-be-seen-in/) Dete Meserve > [“Competition is the spice of sports; but if you make spice the whole meal you'll be sick. The simplest single-celled organism oscillates to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-leonard/competition-is-the-spice-of-sports-but-if-you-make-spice-the-whole/) [George Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-leonard/) > [Every woman needs secrets,' her mother said with a smile then, her eyes meeting Sally's in the rearview mirror. 'Remember that when you're old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-courtney-sullivan/every-woman-needs-secrets-her-mother-said-with-a-smile-then-her-eyes/) [J. Courtney Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-courtney-sullivan/) > [“Sometimes you can only understand why things happen when you see them in the rearview mirror.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-hall-denver-moore/sometimes-you-can-only-understand-why-things-happen-when-you-see-them/) [Ron Hall, Denver Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-hall-denver-moore/) > [“The last thing I remembered was making eye contact with Emanuel in the rearview mirror before slipping out of consciousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-allen/the-last-thing-i-remembered-was-making-eye-contact-with-emanuel-in/) [Danielle Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-allen/) > [“It occurs to me now that we mostly live facing “forward” – toward the future. Goals stretch away before us; we reach them one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-barton/it-occurs-to-me-now-that-we-mostly-live-facing-forward-toward-the/) Peter Barton > [“The accident in your rearview mirror already happened. The one in front of you is still preventable. Pay attention.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nakia-r-laushaul/the-accident-in-your-rearview-mirror-already-happened-the-one-in/) [Nakia R. Laushaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nakia-r-laushaul/) > [“A dog wash?” Bird repeated the next morning. I’d called her to let her know I needed to talk. She was making her Scoopin’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawthorne/a-dog-wash-bird-repeated-the-next-morning-i-d-called-her-to-let-her/) [Rachel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawthorne/) ## More by Fred Upton > [I look forward to standing shoulder to shoulder with Speaker Boehner, Leader Cantor, Whip McCarthy and the entire republican conference as we repeal Obamacare,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-upton/i-look-forward-to-standing-shoulder-to-shoulder-with-speaker-boehner/) [Fred Upton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-upton/) > [Our work on light bulbs wasn't an arbitrary mandate. We didn't just pick a standard out of the air, or look for a catchy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-upton/our-work-on-light-bulbs-wasn-t-an-arbitrary-mandate-we-didn-t-just/) [Fred Upton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-upton/) > [I do know that all of the Michigan delegation worked very hard as related to the revival of the auto industry. There was really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-upton/i-do-know-that-all-of-the-michigan-delegation-worked-very-hard-as/) [Fred Upton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-upton/) > [New discoveries and production of resources like shale oil and gas are dramatically altering our energy supply outlook and the entire global geopolitical landscape.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-upton/new-discoveries-and-production-of-resources-like-shale-oil-and-gas/) [Fred Upton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-upton/) > [The Obama administration is on notice - they will not be allowed to regulate what they have been unable to legislate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-upton/the-obama-administration-is-on-notice-they-will-not-be-allowed-to/) [Fred Upton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-upton/) > [People in Michigan are good at separating fact from fiction. They know, better than most of the country, what happens to the economy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-upton/people-in-michigan-are-good-at-separating-fact-from-fiction-they-know/) [Fred Upton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-upton/) > [I think we can lower our emissions. I think the world will be better off if we did that, and we can do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-upton/i-think-we-can-lower-our-emissions-i-think-the-world-will-be-better/) [Fred Upton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-upton/) > [Cuts in carbon emissions would mean significantly higher electricity prices. We think the American consumer would prefer not to be skinned by Obama's EPA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-upton/cuts-in-carbon-emissions-would-mean-significantly-higher-electricity/) [Fred Upton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-upton/) > [I support an all of the above energy policy, so that's not only just Keystone, that's not only just drilling, that's clean coal, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-upton/i-support-an-all-of-the-above-energy-policy-so-that-s-not-only-just/) [Fred Upton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-upton/) > [Giving governors more leeway in administering health care could represent a small, positive development in the ongoing saga of Obamacare. Unfortunately, instead of choosing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-upton/giving-governors-more-leeway-in-administering-health-care-could/) [Fred Upton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-upton/) > [It's critical - that the people that are benefiting today from Medicare and Social Security that they not see benefit reductions. It's awfully hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-upton/it-s-critical-that-the-people-that-are-benefiting-today-from-medicare/) [Fred Upton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-upton/) > [Nuclear is not only emissions-free, but renewing our commitment to nuclear power will create countless jobs at a time when our nation endures nearly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-upton/nuclear-is-not-only-emissions-free-but-renewing-our-commitment-to/) [Fred Upton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-upton/) > [While the Left seems obsessed with increasing taxes and spending even more money, conservatives have focused more heavily on the need for spending restraint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-upton/while-the-left-seems-obsessed-with-increasing-taxes-and-spending-even/) [Fred Upton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-upton/) > [I'm not a rubber stamp, and people know that. If you can convince me of the merits, you will have my vote every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-upton/i-m-not-a-rubber-stamp-and-people-know-that-if-you-can-convince-me-of/) [Fred Upton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-upton/) > [An imposing wall prominently divides the visions of President Obama and congressional Republicans when it comes to economic growth and creating jobs. Solyndra is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-upton/an-imposing-wall-prominently-divides-the-visions-of-president-obama/) [Fred Upton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-upton/) [Explore all 37 Fred Upton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-upton/) ## More Allies quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) Brian Reade > [If the women in the factories stopped work for twenty minutes, the Allies would lose the war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joffre/if-the-women-in-the-factories-stopped-work-for-twenty-minutes-the/) Joseph Joffre > [As far as Japan is concerned, I want to help all of our allies, but we are losing billions and billions of dollars. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/as-far-as-japan-is-concerned-i-want-to-help-all-of-our-allies-but-we/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [ No wonder that Churchill described this effort \[the British codebreakers working at Bletchley Park\] as "Britian"s secret weapon," a weapon far more effective than… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hilton/no-wonder-that-churchill-described-this-effort-the-british/) [Peter Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hilton/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Our security depends on having good relationships with our allies. Donald Trump mainly shows contempt for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wolfowitz/our-security-depends-on-having-good-relationships-with-our-allies/) [Paul Wolfowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wolfowitz/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What would your life be like if your body were your friend and ally?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-northrup/what-would-your-life-be-like-if-your-body-were-your-friend-and-ally/) [Christiane Northrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-northrup/) > [“Bacteria and viruses were the most effective allies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-hughes-galeano/bacteria-and-viruses-were-the-most-effective-allies/) [Eduardo Hughes Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-hughes-galeano/) > [When black women are down with you and in your corner, you have an ally that will move Heaven and Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/when-black-women-are-down-with-you-and-in-your-corner-you-have-an/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) > [There is an irreplaceable ally. It's called the United States of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-netanyahu/there-is-an-irreplaceable-ally-it-s-called-the-united-states-of/) [Benjamin Netanyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-netanyahu/) > [It would have been easier to fight alone with inadequate forces than to have to accept...responsibility for our ally's lack of fighting qualities and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-kesselring/it-would-have-been-easier-to-fight-alone-with-inadequate-forces-than/) [Albert Kesselring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-kesselring/) > [It isn't until you begin to fight in your own cause that you become really committed to winning and become a genuine ally of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-morgan/it-isn-t-until-you-begin-to-fight-in-your-own-cause-that-you-become/) [Robin Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-morgan/) > [ Again, I hear almost everyday from atheists who write off religion as primitive, premodern nonsense. I summon Aquinas, Augustine, Paul \[of Tarsus\], Teresa of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/again-i-hear-almost-everyday-from-atheists-who-write-off-religion-as/) [Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barron/) > [My own take on the word "transgender" is that it's an umbrella term for anyone who breaks any rules, laws, guidelines or protocol of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bornstein/my-own-take-on-the-word-transgender-is-that-it-s-an-umbrella-term-for/) [Kate Bornstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bornstein/) [Browse all 1,053 Allies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Given the slow pace of Washington's bureaucracy, policymakers are often busy solving yesterday's problems. 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