San diego Quote by Hunter S. Thompson
““The prevailing wisdom today is that any candidate in a standard-brand, two-party election will get about 40 percent of the vote. The root assumption here is that neither party would nominate a man more than 20 percent different from the type of person most Americans consider basically right and acceptable. Which almost always happens. There is no potentially serious candidate in either major party this year who couldn’t pass for the executive vice-president for mortgage loans in any hometown bank from Bangor to San Diego.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Great Shark Hunt” by Hunter S. Thompson, 1979
Political commentary that mainstream candidates converge toward a narrow, centrist profile, limiting genuine choice.
In simple terms: Candidates are all similar, making real choice hard.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and support alternatives outside the two‑party norm.
Themes
politics
conformity
choice
media
democracy
Mood
cynical
critical
inquisitive
Type
analytical
political
skeptical
When to use this quote
- local elections
- primary campaigns
- grassroots organizing
- independent runs
- voter education
Key Concepts
centrist bias
political homogeneity
voter disenfranchisement
Questions to Reflect On
- How can voters break the centrist cycle?
- What structures keep parties centered?
A Different Perspective
The analysis may overlook viable reformist candidates within parties.
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