--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Washington, as we know it, is essentially…" description: "\"Washington, as we know it, is essentially run by men and women who are not elected or even appointed to their posts, staff members unaccountable to tra..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb0/jake-tapper-4443_men_washington-as-we-know-it-is-essentially_2075092.jpg" --- # Washington, as we know it, is essentially run by men and… ![“Washington, as we know it, is essentially run by men and women who are not elected or even appointed to their posts, staff members unaccountable to traditional constituencies. They rise according to the needs and whims of their own special constituency of elites.” quote by Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb0/jake-tapper-4443_men_washington-as-we-know-it-is-essentially_2075092.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb0/jake-tapper-4443_men_washington-as-we-know-it-is-essentially_2075092.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb0/jake-tapper-4443_men_washington-as-we-know-it-is-essentially_2075092.jpg) > “Washington, as we know it, is essentially run by men and women who are not elected or even appointed to their posts, staff members unaccountable to traditional constituencies. They rise according to the needs and whims of their own special constituency of elites.” [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It critiques the lack of accountability in government, highlighting elite-driven power structures. **In simple terms:** Elite control without accountability. Key Takeaway Demand transparency in governance. Themes politics accountability elite power democracy bureaucracy Mood critical concerned Type analytical political When to use this quote - voting - policy advocacy - journalism - civic engagement Key Concepts political science ethics institutional critique Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens enforce accountability? - What mechanisms ensure democratic representation? A Different Perspective Complex political realities may oversimplify nuanced governance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Constituency Elites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constituency-elites-4025138/) [Elected Appointed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elected-appointed-4025139/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men and women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-and-women/) [Rise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rise/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/washington/) [Washington Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/washington-know-1794654/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) [Women Elected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-elected-721062/) ## Related quotes > [Often, when people like me are elected or appointed to positions of senior leadership, the rules of the game seem to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annamie-paul/often-when-people-like-me-are-elected-or-appointed-to-positions-of/) [Annamie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annamie-paul/) > [One has to live in Washington to know what a city of rumors it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/one-has-to-live-in-washington-to-know-what-a-city-of-rumors-it-is/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [If you actually are an educated, thinking person, you will not be welcome in Washington, D.C. I know a couple of bright seventh graders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/if-you-actually-are-an-educated-thinking-person-you-will-not-be/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [I didn't particularly want to go to Westminster - not that there were many seats available or chances for women to get elected. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-lamont/i-didn-t-particularly-want-to-go-to-westminster-not-that-there-were/) [Johann Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-lamont/) > [As co-chair of the Iraqi Women's Caucus in the House, I've enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate with and hear from Iraqi women elected to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-tauscher/as-co-chair-of-the-iraqi-women-s-caucus-in-the-house-i-ve-enjoyed-the/) [Ellen Tauscher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-tauscher/) > [With a measly 18 percent of our Congress composed of women, the U.S. ranks just 77th in the world in terms of women in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-speier/with-a-measly-18-percent-of-our-congress-composed-of-women-the-u-s/) [Jackie Speier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-speier/) > [I am encouraged to see women are being elected in Chile, Argentina, Liberia, Ireland. More is more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-dee-myers/i-am-encouraged-to-see-women-are-being-elected-in-chile-argentina/) [Dee Dee Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-dee-myers/) > [Few things give me more pride and hope for our future than when I see women, of all ages and backgrounds, in leadership roles.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/few-things-give-me-more-pride-and-hope-for-our-future-than-when-i-see/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [Much of the responsibility to get more women elected is down to political parties. I am proud that a third of Lib Dem MPs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-swinson/much-of-the-responsibility-to-get-more-women-elected-is-down-to/) [Jo Swinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-swinson/) > [The very qualities that make it harder for women to get elected - not being part of the old boy's network - gives them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-m-kunin/the-very-qualities-that-make-it-harder-for-women-to-get-elected-not/) [Madeleine M. Kunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-m-kunin/) > [Do I want more women elected to Parliament? Absolutely. I devote significant amounts of time to getting more women in that situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-swinson/do-i-want-more-women-elected-to-parliament-absolutely-i-devote/) [Jo Swinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-swinson/) > [“1924, the first two women were elected governors, and both were uninspiring stand-ins for their husbands. Nellie Tayloe Ross, the widow of the governor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/1924-the-first-two-women-were-elected-governors-and-both-were/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [The United States and Russia probably do not have common aims and dreams, but they have common worries: Both Washington and Moscow are concerned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-krastev/the-united-states-and-russia-probably-do-not-have-common-aims-and/) [Ivan Krastev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-krastev/) > [It's not empirically wrong to say that Washington isn't working for the American people and Washington does too many things for powerful special interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/it-s-not-empirically-wrong-to-say-that-washington-isn-t-working-for/) [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) ## More by Jake Tapper > [You know what takes effort? Being kind, being patient, being respectful, telling someone how you feel politely instead of just avoiding them for six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/you-know-what-takes-effort-being-kind-being-patient-being-respectful/) [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) > [My job, in general, is nonfiction, so writing fiction was liberating. If you can't find the answer to something, you just make it up!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/my-job-in-general-is-nonfiction-so-writing-fiction-was-liberating-if/) [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) > [I listen to a lot of criticism. From the Left and the Right and from everywhere. I mean, everybody's a media critic. And sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/i-listen-to-a-lot-of-criticism-from-the-left-and-the-right-and-from/) [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) > [I don't really get nervous anymore unless there's a big interview.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/i-don-t-really-get-nervous-anymore-unless-there-s-a-big-interview/) [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) > [People mess up. 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My job is to tell the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/my-job-is-not-to-be-liked-my-job-is-to-tell-the-truth/) [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) > [It took me years to realize I wanted to be in journalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/it-took-me-years-to-realize-i-wanted-to-be-in-journalism/) [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) > [There are news sources that are just out-and-out lies coming from Europe, coming from other parts of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/there-are-news-sources-that-are-just-out-and-out-lies-coming-from/) [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) > [It matters to people that the president tell them the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/it-matters-to-people-that-the-president-tell-them-the-truth/) [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) > [My job is to be skeptical: skeptical of people like Edward Snowden and skeptical of the U.S. government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/my-job-is-to-be-skeptical-skeptical-of-people-like-edward-snowden-and/) [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) > [I did freelance cartooning off and on from college graduation in 1991 through ABC News hiring me in 2003. I did a weekly comic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/i-did-freelance-cartooning-off-and-on-from-college-graduation-in-1991/) [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) > [I definitely pack coffee if I'm going someplace where it might not be available. When I went to Afghanistan in 2011, I brought a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/i-definitely-pack-coffee-if-i-m-going-someplace-where-it-might-not-be/) [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) > [ The estimated 11 or so million undocumented immigrants currently in the United States. This is what Mr. \[Donald \] Trump promised back in November. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/the-estimated-11-or-so-million-undocumented-immigrants-currently-in/) [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) > [I think it's important to have as diverse of a feed as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/i-think-it-s-important-to-have-as-diverse-of-a-feed-as-possible/) [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) [Explore all 110 Jake Tapper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) ## More Men quotes > [When I passed the Chancellor he arose, waved his hand at me, and I waved back at him. 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The 'Harry Potter' men and women had,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellan-lutz/hats-off-to-starting-a-franchise-younger-than-we-all-did-in-twilight/) [Kellan Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellan-lutz/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. 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