--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The very poor could not be counted on to…" description: "\"“The very poor could not be counted on to support the government. They were like the slaves and Indians—invisible most of the time, but frightening to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/howard-zinn-576_office-work_the-very-poor-could-not-be-counted-on-to_1033833.jpg" --- # The very poor could not be counted on to support the… ![“The very poor could not be counted on to support the government. They were like the slaves and Indians—invisible most of the time, but frightening to the elite if they started an uprising. Other citizens, though, might support the system. Farmers who owned their land, better-paid laborers, and…” quote by Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/howard-zinn-576_office-work_the-very-poor-could-not-be-counted-on-to_1033833.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/howard-zinn-576_office-work_the-very-poor-could-not-be-counted-on-to_1033833.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/howard-zinn-576_office-work_the-very-poor-could-not-be-counted-on-to_1033833.jpg) > ““The very poor could not be counted on to support the government. They were like the slaves and Indians—invisible most of the time, but frightening to the elite if they started an uprising. Other citizens, though, might support the system. Farmers who owned their land, better-paid laborers, and urban office workers were paid just enough, and flattered just enough, that in a crisis they would be loyal to the system and the upper classes that dominated it. Big”” [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The poor are excluded from political power, while a modest middle class is placated to maintain social order, revealing how economic incentives sustain hierarchy. **In simple terms:** Economic incentives keep the lower classes compliant. Key Takeaway Recognize how incentives shape loyalty. Themes class economics political power Mood critical analytical Type sociopolitical historical When to use this quote - workers - farmers - urban employees Key Concepts social control elite fear labor dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do incentives affect political loyalty? - What alternatives exist for the marginalized? A Different Perspective The poor may still resist despite incentives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Citizens Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens-support-2378640/) [Office work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office-work/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Started Uprising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-uprising-2378641/) [Support Farmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support-farmers-312382/) [Support Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support-government-429088/) [Uprising Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uprising-citizens-2378639/) ## Related quotes > [“If we citizens do not support our artists then we sacrifice our immagination on the altar of cruel reality & we end up believing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/if-we-citizens-do-not-support-our-artists-then-we-sacrifice-our/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [“That myth led ordinary people to believe that they had a voice in government and that government looked out for their interests. 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Support your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-waters/the-biggest-thing-you-can-do-is-understand-that-every-time-you-re/) [Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) > [Let's get government support for farmers to make the transition to organic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimbal-musk/let-s-get-government-support-for-farmers-to-make-the-transition-to/) [Kimbal Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimbal-musk/) > [The way you support farmers is by shopping and buying raw ingredients.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/the-way-you-support-farmers-is-by-shopping-and-buying-raw-ingredients/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [I love the idea that biodiesel has the potential to support farmers, especially the family farms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-hannah/i-love-the-idea-that-biodiesel-has-the-potential-to-support-farmers/) [Daryl Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-hannah/) > [Then I received support from the Government to compete for my country, and to represent Cuba in competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-juantorena/then-i-received-support-from-the-government-to-compete-for-my-country/) [Alberto Juantorena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-juantorena/) > [The consistent support that singles player are getting is way more than doubles, it is 100:1. 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Byington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-t-byington/) ## More by Howard Zinn > [“A black man, Benjamin Banneker, who taught himself mathematics and astronomy, predicted accurately a solar eclipse, and was appointed to plan the new city…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/a-black-man-benjamin-banneker-who-taught-himself-mathematics-and/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/there-is-no-flag-large-enough-to-cover-the-shame-of-killing-innocent/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [“a good education is a synthesis of book learning and involvement in social action, because each enrich the other. 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