Accepted Quote by George Packer
“Before the nineteen-seventies, most Republicans in Washington accepted the institutions of the welfare state, and most Democrats agreed with the logic of the Cold War. Despite the passions over various issues, government functioned pretty well. Legislators routinely crossed party lines when they voted, and when they drank; filibusters in the Senate were reserved for the biggest bills; think tanks produced independent research, not partisan talking points. The "D." or "R." after a politician's name did not tell you what he thought about everything, or everything you thought about him.”
About This Quote
Source Book: "The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America" (2005)
Describes a bygone era of bipartisan cooperation and functional governance before ideological polarization intensified.
In simple terms: Politics used to be more collaborative.
Key Takeaway
Value cross‑party dialogue.
Themes
politics
history
bipartisanship
government
polarization
Mood
reflective
analytical
nostalgic
Type
historical
political
critical
When to use this quote
- legislative negotiations
- bipartisan committees
- public trust building
- policy research
- media analysis
Key Concepts
Civic culture
institutional trust
policy making
Questions to Reflect On
- How can modern legislators rebuild trust?
- What incentives encourage bipartisan voting?
A Different Perspective
Current climate makes such cooperation rare.
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