--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We've heard this before; 'things are bad…" description: "\"We've heard this before; 'things are bad, we are gonna fix them,' and they remain unfixed.\" — Fred Upton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b96/fred-upton-17197_heard_we-ve-heard-this-before-things-are-bad-w_2135816.png" --- # We've heard this before; 'things are bad, we are gonna fix… ![“We've heard this before; 'things are bad, we are gonna fix them,' and they remain unfixed.” quote by Fred Upton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b96/fred-upton-17197_heard_we-ve-heard-this-before-things-are-bad-w_2135816.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b96/fred-upton-17197_heard_we-ve-heard-this-before-things-are-bad-w_2135816.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b96/fred-upton-17197_heard_we-ve-heard-this-before-things-are-bad-w_2135816.png) > “We've heard this before; 'things are bad, we are gonna fix them,' and they remain unfixed.” [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. Repeated promises to fix problems often result in no real change. **In simple terms:** Empty promises lead to no change. Key Takeaway Demand accountability for action. Themes politics trust ineffectiveness Mood skeptical concerned Type political critical When to use this quote - campaign rhetoric - legislative proposals - public expectations Key Concepts policy cycles public promises government inertia Questions to Reflect On - Why do promises remain unfulfilled? - What mechanisms ensure follow‑through? A Different Perspective Complex issues may need time beyond rhetoric. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fix Remain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fix-remain-4424546/) [Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heard/) [Heard Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heard-things-831810/) [Remain Unfixed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remain-unfixed-4424545/) [Things Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-bad/) [Unfixed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfixed-1700097/) ## Related quotes > [You can't fix everything in life; you must leave some things unfixed to move forward! Do not feel bad about this, because you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/you-can-t-fix-everything-in-life-you-must-leave-some-things-unfixed/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I'm just trying to get used to living on a fixed income. Now, it's going to get unfixed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-m-just-trying-to-get-used-to-living-on-a-fixed-income-now-it-s/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [We got him to talk to a psych doctor once, the doctor asked if he heard things other people don't. Sure, Paul answered, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-flynn/we-got-him-to-talk-to-a-psych-doctor-once-the-doctor-asked-if-he/) [Nick Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-flynn/) > [Most of us would be far enough from vanity if we heard all the things that are said about us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-rickaby/most-of-us-would-be-far-enough-from-vanity-if-we-heard-all-the-things/) [Joseph Rickaby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-rickaby/) > [“TRUE! – nervous – very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad? The disease…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/true-nervous-very-very-dreadfully-nervous-i-had-been-and-am-but-why-2/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [You might know my name, that doesn't mean you know me, just because you've heard things about me, doesn't mean you know what I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/you-might-know-my-name-that-doesn-t-mean-you-know-me-just-because-you/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I respect Mark Hughes and what he's done for me but I heard some things when he was talking about me and they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marko-arnautovic/i-respect-mark-hughes-and-what-he-s-done-for-me-but-i-heard-some/) [Marko Arnautovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marko-arnautovic/) > [I was in your spot once, I heard all the same things you do now. I think its funny you think you're any different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-in-your-spot-once-i-heard-all-the-same-things-you-do-now-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I've heard that a few things are truth but some of them are not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizthewiz/i-ve-heard-that-a-few-things-are-truth-but-some-of-them-are-not/) [lizthewiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizthewiz/) > [All the racial slurs I done heard. All the things I heard about my mom, and my basketball game and my kids, all this.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jackson/all-the-racial-slurs-i-done-heard-all-the-things-i-heard-about-my-mom/) [Stephen Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jackson/) > [All I'm saying is once you've been out in the woods and heard the things I've heard, you'd believe in Big Foot and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-lynn/all-i-m-saying-is-once-you-ve-been-out-in-the-woods-and-heard-the/) [J. Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-lynn/) > [“I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth.I heard many things in hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/i-heard-all-things-in-the-heaven-and-in-the-earth-i-heard-many-things/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [“Skulduggery placed both hands on the table and leaned over. "You've heard about me. You've heard about the things I've done." The smirk faded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/skulduggery-placed-both-hands-on-the-table-and-leaned-over-you-ve/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“I heard once that the things you own define you and I didn't want to be seen that way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-kacvinsky/i-heard-once-that-the-things-you-own-define-you-and-i-didn-t-want-to/) [Katie Kacvinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-kacvinsky/) > [People have heard about me, but they haven't heard about things my brother and my parents have gone through, and stories about growing up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmer-fredette/people-have-heard-about-me-but-they-haven-t-heard-about-things-my/) [Jimmer Fredette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmer-fredette/) ## 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 Heard quotes > [If you’re a person struggling to eat and stay healthy you might have heard about Michael Jordan or Muhammad Ali, but you’ll never have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/if-you-re-a-person-struggling-to-eat-and-stay-healthy-you-might-have/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [One of the deepest and strangest of all human moods is the mood which will suddenly strike us perhaps in a garden at night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-deepest-and-strangest-of-all-human-moods-is-the-mood-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to make myself and the crowd happy by way of something different, and that makes things difficult. I'm never playing something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiesto/i-want-to-make-myself-and-the-crowd-happy-by-way-of-something/) [Tiesto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiesto/) > [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [I have heard that if you pull a bent breath through the second hole of a harmonica tuned to the key of Georgia while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-wakefield/i-have-heard-that-if-you-pull-a-bent-breath-through-the-second-hole/) [Buddy Wakefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-wakefield/) > [I have often heard that the novel is dead. But I see novels produced, I don't know how many a week, in France. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalie-sarraute/i-have-often-heard-that-the-novel-is-dead-but-i-see-novels-produced-i/) [Nathalie Sarraute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalie-sarraute/) > ["Summer Sisters" is probably my least autobiographical book. The whole idea started with rowing down the pond. And I heard an explosion. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-blume/summer-sisters-is-probably-my-least-autobiographical-book-the-whole/) [Judy Blume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-blume/) > [I was young, but to me that was underground music. I had never heard anything like Venom or any of that stuff growing up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-pajo/i-was-young-but-to-me-that-was-underground-music-i-had-never-heard/) [David Pajo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-pajo/) > [I've heard some pretty bad things in my life. I'm just one of those people I've gotten to a point where I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-bush/i-ve-heard-some-pretty-bad-things-in-my-life-i-m-just-one-of-those/) [Sophia Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-bush/) > [If, for instance, they have heard something from the postman, they attribute it to a semi-official statement; if they have fallen into conversation with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/if-for-instance-they-have-heard-something-from-the-postman-they/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [When you hear my records today hear a vanilla sounding artist with no black inflection, although I was trying to imitate what I heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-boone/when-you-hear-my-records-today-hear-a-vanilla-sounding-artist-with-no/) [Pat Boone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-boone/) > [Have you not heard it said full oft, A woman's nay doth stand for naught?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/have-you-not-heard-it-said-full-oft-a-woman-s-nay-doth-stand-for/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If nothing that can be seen can either be God or represent Him to us as He is, then to find God we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-nothing-that-can-be-seen-can-either-be-god-or-represent-him-to-us/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [There's not much left inside me, Max" Sometimes, all she heard were echoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/there-s-not-much-left-inside-me-max-sometimes-all-she-heard-were/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [In proportion as our inward life fails, we go more constantly and desperately to the post office. 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