--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We needed someone to recognize the…" description: "\"We needed someone to recognize the importance of check and balances, accountability, transparency. There was a real systemic problem at South Carolina ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b91/gwen-ifill-10218_accountability_we-needed-someone-to-recognize-the-impor_2164024.jpg" --- # We needed someone to recognize the importance of check and… ![“We needed someone to recognize the importance of check and balances, accountability, transparency. There was a real systemic problem at South Carolina State, a problem that has gone on for 25 or 30 years” quote by Gwen Ifill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b91/gwen-ifill-10218_accountability_we-needed-someone-to-recognize-the-impor_2164024.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b91/gwen-ifill-10218_accountability_we-needed-someone-to-recognize-the-impor_2164024.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b91/gwen-ifill-10218_accountability_we-needed-someone-to-recognize-the-impor_2164024.jpg) > “We needed someone to recognize the importance of check and balances, accountability, transparency. There was a real systemic problem at South Carolina State, a problem that has gone on for 25 or 30 years” [Gwen Ifill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-ifill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker highlights the need for recognizing and addressing systemic issues like lack of checks, accountability, and transparency that have persisted for decades. **In simple terms:** Systemic problems need oversight. Key Takeaway Advocate for stronger oversight and transparency measures. Themes governance accountability transparency Mood concerned determined Type political activist When to use this quote - corporate audits - government oversight - nonprofit governance - community activism - journalistic investigation Key Concepts institutional reform public policy ethics Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms can enforce lasting accountability? - How can citizens demand transparency effectively? A Different Perspective Change can be resisted by entrenched interests, making reforms slow. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accountability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountability/) [Accountability Transparency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountability-transparency-889610/) [Balance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance/) [Balances Accountability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balances-accountability-4604722/) [Carolina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carolina/) [Checks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/checks/) [Gone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gone/) [Importance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/importance/) [Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed/) [Needed someone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed-someone/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problem South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-south-4604721/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/south/) [South carolina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/south-carolina/) [State Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-problem-4604723/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Systemic Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/systemic-problem-2321780/) [Transparency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transparency/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [I'm quite encouraged by the finding that voters do value checks and balances and accountability. I think it's very heartening. And it has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-lim/i-m-quite-encouraged-by-the-finding-that-voters-do-value-checks-and/) [Sylvia Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-lim/) > [The problem in South is we don't have access to much of Hindi cinema.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aishwarya-r-dhanush/the-problem-in-south-is-we-don-t-have-access-to-much-of-hindi-cinema/) [Aishwarya R. Dhanush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aishwarya-r-dhanush/) > [Until someone is prepared to lay out the systemic problem, we will simply go through cycles of finding corruption, finding a scapegoat, eliminating the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/until-someone-is-prepared-to-lay-out-the-systemic-problem-we-will/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [When even those who should be happy by any reasonable measure are also not happy, there's got to be a serious systemic problem in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/when-even-those-who-should-be-happy-by-any-reasonable-measure-are/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [The biggest problem in South Africa is that we have a disrupted timeline. Historically, politically, spiritually, economically, in people's minds, in people's heads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdullah-ibrahim/the-biggest-problem-in-south-africa-is-that-we-have-a-disrupted/) [Abdullah Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdullah-ibrahim/) > [I think when people are having a hard time, we tend to blame ourselves and think we can do better. Bernie is giving rise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-o-meara-sanders/i-think-when-people-are-having-a-hard-time-we-tend-to-blame-ourselves/) [Jane O'Meara Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-o-meara-sanders/) > [The Mormon issue is a real problem in the South; it's a real problem in other parts of the country. But people are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-bartlett/the-mormon-issue-is-a-real-problem-in-the-south-it-s-a-real-problem/) [Dan Bartlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-bartlett/) > [I believe the way I describe the problems in Chicago is that it's a metropolitan area. I've said that everywhere. The uneducated child is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-daley/i-believe-the-way-i-describe-the-problems-in-chicago-is-that-it-s-a/) [Richard M. Daley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-daley/) > [To solve a problem, you have to be able to state what the problem is or at least say the name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/to-solve-a-problem-you-have-to-be-able-to-state-what-the-problem-is/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [As Estelle Jussim wrote, it is almost impossible for a single photograph to state both the problem and the solution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pfahl/as-estelle-jussim-wrote-it-is-almost-impossible-for-a-single/) [John Pfahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pfahl/) > [I had more problems with the men in our own government, and not because they were male chauvinistic pigs but because they had known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/i-had-more-problems-with-the-men-in-our-own-government-and-not/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [I fully support accountability and transparency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tubbs/i-fully-support-accountability-and-transparency/) [Michael Tubbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tubbs/) > [What you do when eyes are averted, curtains are drawn shut, the expected are delayed, wife and kids vacate for leisurely merriments, when doors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-valenzuela/what-you-do-when-eyes-are-averted-curtains-are-drawn-shut-the-2/) [Roy Valenzuela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-valenzuela/) > [One way to promote shareholder engagement and activism is through greater accountability and transparency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuka-umunna/one-way-to-promote-shareholder-engagement-and-activism-is-through/) [Chuka Umunna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuka-umunna/) > [What you do when eyes are averted, curtains are drawn shut, the expected are delayed, wife and kids vacate for leisurely merriments, when doors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-valenzula/what-you-do-when-eyes-are-averted-curtains-are-drawn-shut-the/) [Roy Valenzula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-valenzula/) ## More by Gwen Ifill > [I'm not quite certain how you can force a candidate to stick by the rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-ifill/i-m-not-quite-certain-how-you-can-force-a-candidate-to-stick-by-the/) [Gwen Ifill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-ifill/) > [I'm not in love. I'm not out of love. I'm just trying to find some version of the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-ifill/i-m-not-in-love-i-m-not-out-of-love-i-m-just-trying-to-find-some/) [Gwen Ifill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-ifill/) > [Change comes from listening, learning, caring and conversation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-ifill/change-comes-from-listening-learning-caring-and-conversation/) [Gwen Ifill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-ifill/) > [Did I say that the President's entire job is image management? Of course not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-ifill/did-i-say-that-the-president-s-entire-job-is-image-management-of/) [Gwen Ifill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-ifill/) > [If you take the conflicts we are used to dealing with, race over the years in America, and you combine that with the desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-ifill/if-you-take-the-conflicts-we-are-used-to-dealing-with-race-over-the/) [Gwen Ifill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-ifill/) > [In the media universe we're in, where there are people screaming on one end, there is no problem at all with having a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-ifill/in-the-media-universe-we-re-in-where-there-are-people-screaming-on/) [Gwen Ifill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-ifill/) > [Aspiring black leaders are often asked to transcend race, even though no one ever asked, say, Hillary Clinton to transcend gender. This is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-ifill/aspiring-black-leaders-are-often-asked-to-transcend-race-even-though/) [Gwen Ifill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-ifill/) > [I actually think agendas are more often found in State of the Union speeches than in inaugural speeches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-ifill/i-actually-think-agendas-are-more-often-found-in-state-of-the-union/) [Gwen Ifill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-ifill/) > [Poor children in Baltimore face even worse odds than low-income kids elsewhere, mostly because they remain in impoverished neighborhoods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-ifill/poor-children-in-baltimore-face-even-worse-odds-than-low-income-kids/) [Gwen Ifill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-ifill/) > [There's five factors or characteristics of places where kids from poor backgrounds don't do very well. And those are places that have more economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-ifill/there-s-five-factors-or-characteristics-of-places-where-kids-from/) [Gwen Ifill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-ifill/) > [I knew early on that I wanted to be a reporter, but I didn't know I was a political journalist until my first job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-ifill/i-knew-early-on-that-i-wanted-to-be-a-reporter-but-i-didn-t-know-i/) [Gwen Ifill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-ifill/) > [I don't think that Donald Trump represents the traditional Republican values and heritage of my party. That's one reason that I don't support him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-ifill/i-don-t-think-that-donald-trump-represents-the-traditional-republican/) [Gwen Ifill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-ifill/) > [If you start to catalog Hillary Clinton's positions between now and 2008, we're going to have a lot of conversations because there are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-ifill/if-you-start-to-catalog-hillary-clinton-s-positions-between-now-and/) [Gwen Ifill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-ifill/) > [I just think we as consumers of information media must be very clear what it is we are consuming. Whether we are choosing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-ifill/i-just-think-we-as-consumers-of-information-media-must-be-very-clear/) [Gwen Ifill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-ifill/) > [Folks who are getting their strokes in the South are not as unhappy with Howard Dean. You don't see anybody starting any movement to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-ifill/folks-who-are-getting-their-strokes-in-the-south-are-not-as-unhappy/) [Gwen Ifill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-ifill/) [Explore all 67 Gwen Ifill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-ifill/) ## More Accountability quotes > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [Democracy is not being well served as we're accustomed to. There is less information, there's less investigation, there's less analysis, there's less accountability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-greenspon/democracy-is-not-being-well-served-as-we-re-accustomed-to-there-is/) [Edward Greenspon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-greenspon/) > [I come from a world where accountability and accomplishments matter, and where titles and rhetoric take a back seat to results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/i-come-from-a-world-where-accountability-and-accomplishments-matter/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [It means a lot. It means I'm accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/champ-bailey/it-means-a-lot-it-means-i-m-accountable/) [Champ Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/champ-bailey/) > [Our particular principles of religion are a subject of accountability to our god alone. I enquire after no man's and trouble none with mine;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/our-particular-principles-of-religion-are-a-subject-of-accountability/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [This strongly asserted but ill-defined license to kill without accountability is not an entitlement which the United States or other states can have without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-alston/this-strongly-asserted-but-ill-defined-license-to-kill-without/) [Philip Alston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-alston/) > [Responsible Development shares many practices with XP but the roots are different. Responsible Development's values are honesty, transparency, accountability and responsibility. These lead me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-beck/responsible-development-shares-many-practices-with-xp-but-the-roots/) [Kent Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-beck/) > [“Opinion is really the lowest form of human knowledge. It requires no accountability, no understanding. The highest form of knowledge… is empathy, for it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bullard/opinion-is-really-the-lowest-form-of-human-knowledge-it-requires-no/) [Bill Bullard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bullard/) > [The American people deserve accountability over wasteful spending, and we accomplish that by prioritizing taxpayer dollars in a responsive and responsible manner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-britt/the-american-people-deserve-accountability-over-wasteful-spending-and/) [Katie Britt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-britt/) > [If torture is going to be administered as a last resort in the ticking-bomb case, to save enormous numbers of lives, it ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/if-torture-is-going-to-be-administered-as-a-last-resort-in-the/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [“There are many professions that require individuals, on an ongoing basis, to pass drug tests, physicals and psychological evaluations in order to keep their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hopkins/there-are-many-professions-that-require-individuals-on-an-ongoing/) [Gary Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hopkins/) > [“Expecting accountability from the UN system was akin to expecting a blind dog to catch a flying Frisbee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-soussan/expecting-accountability-from-the-un-system-was-akin-to-expecting-a/) [Michael Soussan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-soussan/) [Browse all 860 Accountability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We needed someone to recognize the importance of check and balances, accountability, transparency. 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