--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The real power in America is held by a…" description: "\"The real power in America is held by a fast-emerging new Oligarchy of pimps and preachers who see no need for Democracy or fairness or even trees, exce..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/hunter-s-thompson-278_admitting_the-real-power-in-america-is-held-by-a-f_2638854.jpg" --- # The real power in America is held by a fast-emerging new… ![“The real power in America is held by a fast-emerging new Oligarchy of pimps and preachers who see no need for Democracy or fairness or even trees, except maybe the ones in their own yards, and they don't mind admitting it.” quote by Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/hunter-s-thompson-278_admitting_the-real-power-in-america-is-held-by-a-f_2638854.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/hunter-s-thompson-278_admitting_the-real-power-in-america-is-held-by-a-f_2638854.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/hunter-s-thompson-278_admitting_the-real-power-in-america-is-held-by-a-f_2638854.jpg) > “The real power in America is held by a fast-emerging new Oligarchy of pimps and preachers who see no need for Democracy or fairness or even trees, except maybe the ones in their own yards, and they don't mind admitting it.” [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A powerful elite of exploiters and moralists dominate America, caring only about their own interests and ignoring democracy, fairness, or even basic nature. **In simple terms:** A selfish ruling class controls America, caring only about themselves. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge elite exploitation. Themes power corruption elitism social critique environment Mood cynical defiant critical Type political satirical When to use this quote - political activism - journalism - community organizing - environmental advocacy Key Concepts political economy moral decay elitist ideology Questions to Reflect On - Who holds real power in your community? - How can ordinary people counteract elite influence? A Different Perspective The claim may overgeneralize and ignore grassroots resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Admitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admitting/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Emerging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emerging/) [Fairness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairness/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [New Oligarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-oligarchy-1258002/) [Oligarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oligarchy/) [Oligarchy Pimps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oligarchy-pimps-2252816/) [Pimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pimp/) [Pimps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pimps/) [Pimps Preachers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pimps-preachers-2252817/) [Preacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preacher/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-power/) [Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree/) [Yards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yards/) ## Related quotes > [“The real power in America is held by a fast-emerging new Oligarchy of pimps and preachers who see no need for Democracy or fairness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/the-real-power-in-america-is-held-by-a-fast-emerging-new-oligarchy-of/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [The real challenge is figuring out how the United States can regain control of its future from its new oligarchy and restore its position…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-ferguson/the-real-challenge-is-figuring-out-how-the-united-states-can-regain/) [Charles Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-ferguson/) > [“The new oligarchy must increasingly rely on the advice of scientists until in the end the politicians become merely the scientists’ puppets.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/the-new-oligarchy-must-increasingly-rely-on-the-advice-of-scientists/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [Golf is a game where white men can dress up as black pimps and get away with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/golf-is-a-game-where-white-men-can-dress-up-as-black-pimps-and-get/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [As far as women who are being abused by pimps, I think if you see women who do incalls or outcalls rather than work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-brown/as-far-as-women-who-are-being-abused-by-pimps-i-think-if-you-see/) [Chester Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-brown/) > [Man hardly comes in more than two varieties, wherever he is, whatever he does: workers and pimps ... they're either one or the other!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/man-hardly-comes-in-more-than-two-varieties-wherever-he-is-whatever/) [Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [Back in the day they had the prophecy that one day there would be a pimp of all pimps & his name would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-situation/back-in-the-day-they-had-the-prophecy-that-one-day-there-would-be-a/) [The Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-situation/) > [I didn't mind working in the clubs, but I resented it being a club where pimps hang out. Because the music that I create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-white/i-didn-t-mind-working-in-the-clubs-but-i-resented-it-being-a-club/) [Barry White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-white/) > [Little by little, the pimps have taken over the world. They don't do anything, they don't make anything - they just stand there and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-giraudoux/little-by-little-the-pimps-have-taken-over-the-world-they-don-t-do/) [Jean Giraudoux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-giraudoux/) > [There are no pimps, no whores, no transvestites - gone. Now that's more the culture I'm comfortable in ... I don't like it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-pop/there-are-no-pimps-no-whores-no-transvestites-gone-now-that-s-more/) [Iggy Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-pop/) > [If pimps and thieves everywhere were always punished, honest people would all believe themselves always to be innocent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/if-pimps-and-thieves-everywhere-were-always-punished-honest-people/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [All fighters are prostitutes and all promoters are pimps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/all-fighters-are-prostitutes-and-all-promoters-are-pimps/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [Every age, race, socio-economic background of men are 'johns.' It's a little more complicated who's doing the selling. The truth is that the average…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-lloyd/every-age-race-socio-economic-background-of-men-are-johns-it-s-a/) [Rachel Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-lloyd/) > [Everyone has favorite criminals. Mine are pimps. We can all rob a bank; we can all sell drugs. Being a pimp is a whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rock/everyone-has-favorite-criminals-mine-are-pimps-we-can-all-rob-a-bank/) [Chris Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rock/) > [That's ended, that's over. I want you to meet my pimps. I thought, I'm a show-business ho already, so I might as well be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/that-s-ended-that-s-over-i-want-you-to-meet-my-pimps-i-thought-i-m-a/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) ## More by Hunter S. Thompson > [“There was also the fact that sending a penniless writer to get $135 worth of beer was — as Khrushchev said of Nixon —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-was-also-the-fact-that-sending-a-penniless-writer-to-get-135/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“Cases of champagne and scotch lay broken in the street, and everyone I saw had a bottle. They were screaming and dancing, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/cases-of-champagne-and-scotch-lay-broken-in-the-street-and-everyone-i/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [No music + Bad TV = Bad mood & no pages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-music-bad-tv-bad-mood-no-pages/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [By disgracing and degrading the presidency of the United States, by fleeing the White House like a diseased cur, Richard Nixon broke the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/by-disgracing-and-degrading-the-presidency-of-the-united-states-by/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [No one holds command over me. No man. No god. No Prince. What is a claim of age for ones who are immortal? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-one-holds-command-over-me-no-man-no-god-no-prince-what-is-a-claim/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“The person who doesn't scatter the morning dew will not comb grey hairs”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/the-person-who-doesn-t-scatter-the-morning-dew-will-not-comb-grey/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Hope rises and dreams flicker and die. Love plans for tomorrow and loneliness thinks of yesterday. Life is beautiful and living is pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/hope-rises-and-dreams-flicker-and-die-love-plans-for-tomorrow-and/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [If we get chased out of Iraq with our tail between our legs, that will be the fifth consecutive Third-world country with no hint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/if-we-get-chased-out-of-iraq-with-our-tail-between-our-legs-that-will/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [At age 22 I set what I insist is an all-time record for distance hitchhiking in Bermuda shorts: 3,700 miles in three weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/at-age-22-i-set-what-i-insist-is-an-all-time-record-for-distance/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Paranoia is just another mask for ignorance. The truth, when you finally chase it down is almost always far worse than your darkest visions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/paranoia-is-just-another-mask-for-ignorance-the-truth-when-you/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“No doubt they all Got What Was Coming To Them. All those pathetically eager acid freaks who thought they could buy Peace and Understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-doubt-they-all-got-what-was-coming-to-them-all-those-pathetically/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“For several months they'd been drifting toward political involvement, but the picture was hazy and one of the most confusing elements was their geographical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/for-several-months-they-d-been-drifting-toward-political-involvement/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [He wandered into the Newsroom and asked for a job the same way he’d walk into a barbershop and ask for a haircut, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/he-wandered-into-the-newsroom-and-asked-for-a-job-the-same-way-he-d/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [There's no point in getting into politics at all unless you plan to lash things around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-s-no-point-in-getting-into-politics-at-all-unless-you-plan-to/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [There’s a lot of things wrong with this country, but one of the few things still right with it is that a man can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-s-a-lot-of-things-wrong-with-this-country-but-one-of-the-few/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) [Explore all 765 Hunter S. Thompson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) ## More Admitting quotes > [I think there's a lot of power in admitting that you don't know everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kit-williamson/i-think-there-s-a-lot-of-power-in-admitting-that-you-don-t-know/) [Kit Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kit-williamson/) > [“The truth is I do love you. Admitting that means opening myself up to all that pain when you leave. After you realize this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-moran/the-truth-is-i-do-love-you-admitting-that-means-opening-myself-up-to/) [Kelly Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-moran/) > [“Admitting we're not heroic is when we're the most heroic of all”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dorian-scrubs/admitting-we-re-not-heroic-is-when-we-re-the-most-heroic-of-all/) [John Dorian- scrubs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dorian-scrubs/) > [“Maybe that is what growing up was all about. It was about changing your mind. Opening it right up. Admitting to yourself that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/maybe-that-is-what-growing-up-was-all-about-it-was-about-changing/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [Admitting weakness seems to be such a severe psychic threat for Bush that when he makes a mistake it's safer just to reinforce it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-brown/admitting-weakness-seems-to-be-such-a-severe-psychic-threat-for-bush/) [Tina Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-brown/) > [Another person is, at the heart of it, unknowable. And if you cannot know a person enough to always guess what they’re capable of,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/another-person-is-at-the-heart-of-it-unknowable-and-if-you-cannot/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [The first step is always admitting you have a problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-first-step-is-always-admitting-you-have-a-problem/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only tough thing is admitting to my wife how much a certain article of clothing costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taye-diggs/the-only-tough-thing-is-admitting-to-my-wife-how-much-a-certain/) [Taye Diggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taye-diggs/) > [There is a difference between admitting and confessing. Admitting involves softening, making excuses for things that cannot be excused; confessing just names the crimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/there-is-a-difference-between-admitting-and-confessing-admitting/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Nobody likes me!" "I wish I could like you, Charlie Brown, but I can't... If I were to like you, it would be admitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/nobody-likes-me-i-wish-i-could-like-you-charlie-brown-but-i-can-t-if/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) > [how can he love me then not? He went,he ran. And I cannot bring him back. Yet I left the door metaphorically wide open,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-north/how-can-he-love-me-then-not-he-went-he-ran-and-i-cannot-bring-him/) [Freya North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-north/) > [First and foremost, be faithful to your superiors, keep all promises, refuse the friendship of all who are not like you; and if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/first-and-foremost-be-faithful-to-your-superiors-keep-all-promises/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Oust me if you want, but if I stepped down, I would be admitting guilt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-temer/oust-me-if-you-want-but-if-i-stepped-down-i-would-be-admitting-guilt/) [Michel Temer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-temer/) > [I think that lawyers are terrible at admitting that they're wrong. And not just admitting it; also realizing it. Most lawyers are very successful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/i-think-that-lawyers-are-terrible-at-admitting-that-they-re-wrong-and/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [Courageous? Courageous would have been admitting weakness and leaving Dauntless, no matter what shame accompanied it. Pride is what killed Al, and it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/courageous-courageous-would-have-been-admitting-weakness-and-leaving/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) [Browse all 302 Admitting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admitting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The real power in America is held by a fast-emerging new Oligarchy of pimps and preachers who see no need for Democracy or fairness or even trees, except maybe the ones in their own yards, and they don't mind admitting it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hunter S. 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