--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How on earth can we have a true democracy…" description: "\"How on earth can we have a true democracy when oligarchs like Elon Musk can buy elections? How can we have a democracy when the world's richest man - t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bc/humza-yousaf-5585_democracy_how-on-earth-can-we-have-a-true-democrac_1523010.jpg" --- # How on earth can we have a true democracy when oligarchs… ![“How on earth can we have a true democracy when oligarchs like Elon Musk can buy elections? How can we have a democracy when the world's richest man - through his money, wealth, platforms, influence - can overthrow or attempt to overthrow democratically elected heads of government?” quote by Humza Yousaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bc/humza-yousaf-5585_democracy_how-on-earth-can-we-have-a-true-democrac_1523010.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bc/humza-yousaf-5585_democracy_how-on-earth-can-we-have-a-true-democrac_1523010.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bc/humza-yousaf-5585_democracy_how-on-earth-can-we-have-a-true-democrac_1523010.jpg) > “How on earth can we have a true democracy when oligarchs like Elon Musk can buy elections? How can we have a democracy when the world's richest man - through his money, wealth, platforms, influence - can overthrow or attempt to overthrow democratically elected heads of government?” [Humza Yousaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humza-yousaf/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy is threatened when wealth concentrates power, allowing the rich to sway elections and governance. **In simple terms:** Wealth can corrupt democracy. Key Takeaway Guard against money’s influence in politics. Themes democracy wealth power corruption Mood urgent critical Type political activist When to use this quote - elections - campaign finance reform - media regulation - civic activism Key Concepts political theory ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens reduce elite influence? - What reforms protect fair voting? A Different Perspective Changing laws alone may not shift cultural norms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-world-713870/) [Elections Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elections-democracy-970247/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Overthrow Democratically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overthrow-democratically-467202/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Richest Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/richest-man/) [True democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-democracy/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [To win the cause we all believe in, the spread of true democracy all over the world, we need to win by example, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/to-win-the-cause-we-all-believe-in-the-spread-of-true-democracy-all/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [“The coup that overthrew President Chavez of Venezuela in April 2002 was greeted with euphoria in Washington. The new president—a businessman—was instantly recognized and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harvey/the-coup-that-overthrew-president-chavez-of-venezuela-in-april-2002/) [David Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harvey/) > [The report produced by my commission, the Global Commission on Elections, Democracy and Security, in 2012 showed the corrosive impact of money in US…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/the-report-produced-by-my-commission-the-global-commission-on/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Our goal is not to crush the enemy at any price, but to make it realize that it is illegal to take up arms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-eduardo-dos-santos/our-goal-is-not-to-crush-the-enemy-at-any-price-but-to-make-it/) [Jose Eduardo Dos Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-eduardo-dos-santos/) > [The Arab spring reminds me a bit of the decolonisation process where one country gets independence and everybody else wants it. How about us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/the-arab-spring-reminds-me-a-bit-of-the-decolonisation-process-where-2/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [There is us living the Cuban experience that we believe is ours. We do not believe that it is perfect, but it has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-castro-espin/there-is-us-living-the-cuban-experience-that-we-believe-is-ours-we-do/) [Alejandro Castro Espin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-castro-espin/) > [The majority of Arab people see the United States and Israel (definitely not Iran or Syria) as the greatest danger to the world. Could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-vltchek/the-majority-of-arab-people-see-the-united-states-and-israel/) [Andre Vltchek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-vltchek/) > [From my intimate discussions with President Obama, it is evident that India figures significantly in American geo-political, economic and strategic thinking. India is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/from-my-intimate-discussions-with-president-obama-it-is-evident-that/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Despite all the gains for democracy in the world, in many countries anyone who wants to publish truths unwelcome to the government risks suppression…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-lewis/despite-all-the-gains-for-democracy-in-the-world-in-many-countries/) [Anthony Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-lewis/) > [The Orange Revolution was a powerful example of democracy around the world. The people of Ukraine are continuing to shape their own future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/the-orange-revolution-was-a-powerful-example-of-democracy-around-the/) [Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) > [Americans cannot teach democracy to the world until they restore their own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-greider/americans-cannot-teach-democracy-to-the-world-until-they-restore/) [William Greider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-greider/) > [Democratic institutions, even in the oldest operating democracy in the world, are anything but perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-remnick/democratic-institutions-even-in-the-oldest-operating-democracy-in-the/) [David Remnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-remnick/) > [Our history is imperfect, but it has laid the groundwork for the greatest experiment in democracy the world has ever known: America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-drew/our-history-is-imperfect-but-it-has-laid-the-groundwork-for-the/) [Jeff Van Drew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-drew/) > [I think as the largest democracy in the world, we have self-conscious filmmakers who can handle sensitive themes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoojit-sircar/i-think-as-the-largest-democracy-in-the-world-we-have-self-conscious/) [Shoojit Sircar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shoojit-sircar/) > [We should recall that during the Second World War and the Great Depression there was an upsurge in popular, radical democracy. In all over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/we-should-recall-that-during-the-second-world-war-and-the-great/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## More by Humza Yousaf > [Nigel Farage has spent his entire political career making money from dog whistle politics. If there's a dog whistle to be blown, he'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humza-yousaf/nigel-farage-has-spent-his-entire-political-career-making-money-from/) [Humza Yousaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humza-yousaf/) > [I've never paid much attention to those who have written me off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humza-yousaf/i-ve-never-paid-much-attention-to-those-who-have-written-me-off/) [Humza Yousaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humza-yousaf/) > [I could give you example after example, of where the language of the far Right, driven by Islamophobia, has now become institutionalised in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humza-yousaf/i-could-give-you-example-after-example-of-where-the-language-of-the/) [Humza Yousaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humza-yousaf/) > [If you or a family member have waited for an ambulance too long, waited for treatment for too long, I am sorry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humza-yousaf/if-you-or-a-family-member-have-waited-for-an-ambulance-too-long/) [Humza Yousaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humza-yousaf/) > [I'm unequivocal about my belief in the rights of our marginalized communities, including our trans community, because I'm a minority myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humza-yousaf/i-m-unequivocal-about-my-belief-in-the-rights-of-our-marginalized/) [Humza Yousaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humza-yousaf/) > [The truth is that the Scottish Labour party within an independent Scotland will be allowed to flourish; no longer constrained by having to walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humza-yousaf/the-truth-is-that-the-scottish-labour-party-within-an-independent/) [Humza Yousaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humza-yousaf/) > [If we had powers in our own hands we wouldn't have cruel Westminster policies foisted upon us. So that's the message - independence is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humza-yousaf/if-we-had-powers-in-our-own-hands-we-wouldn-t-have-cruel-westminster/) [Humza Yousaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humza-yousaf/) > [People who looked like me were not in positions of political influence, let alone leading governments when I was younger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humza-yousaf/people-who-looked-like-me-were-not-in-positions-of-political/) [Humza Yousaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humza-yousaf/) > [When one chapter begins to close, you often spend time reflecting on your achievements, mistakes and even regrets - I have all three.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humza-yousaf/when-one-chapter-begins-to-close-you-often-spend-time-reflecting-on/) [Humza Yousaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humza-yousaf/) > [I'm a Muslim. I'm somebody who's proud of my faith... But what I don't do is, I don't use my faith as a basis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humza-yousaf/i-m-a-muslim-i-m-somebody-who-s-proud-of-my-faith-but-what-i-don-t-do/) [Humza Yousaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humza-yousaf/) > [Like all men, I have had to reflect on my own behaviour and language over the years. Without doubt, in my younger years I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humza-yousaf/like-all-men-i-have-had-to-reflect-on-my-own-behaviour-and-language/) [Humza Yousaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humza-yousaf/) > [You can't say that you agree with a two-state solution but only choose to recognize one state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humza-yousaf/you-can-t-say-that-you-agree-with-a-two-state-solution-but-only/) [Humza Yousaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humza-yousaf/) > [I've thought to myself, 'goodness, is there more that I can take personally' because I also come under a tremendous amount of abuse online…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humza-yousaf/i-ve-thought-to-myself-goodness-is-there-more-that-i-can-take/) [Humza Yousaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humza-yousaf/) > [We would never prop up a Conservative government, ever. And underline that and put that in bold. But of course if Labour do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humza-yousaf/we-would-never-prop-up-a-conservative-government-ever-and-underline/) [Humza Yousaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humza-yousaf/) > [I'm a supporter of equal marriage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humza-yousaf/i-m-a-supporter-of-equal-marriage/) [Humza Yousaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humza-yousaf/) [Explore all 100 Humza Yousaf quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humza-yousaf/) ## More Democracy quotes > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [There is plenty of time for Republicans to have a Macaca moment. But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/) [Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Failure to find a way to incorporate political Islam in democracy, however uncomfortable its ideology is for secular liberals, will mean we have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/failure-to-find-a-way-to-incorporate-political-islam-in-democracy/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Browse all 11,220 Democracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "How on earth can we have a true democracy when oligarchs like Elon Musk can buy elections? 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