--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Governments don't get elected saying…" description: "\"Governments don't get elected saying, 'We're going to lower GDP next year,' governments get elected on saying, 'We're going to increase prosperity and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f70/james-righton-9782_capitalism_governments-don-t-get-elected-saying-we_2441257.jpg" --- # Governments don't get elected saying, 'We're going to… ![“Governments don't get elected saying, 'We're going to lower GDP next year,' governments get elected on saying, 'We're going to increase prosperity and the happiness and the wealth of our nations.' But that kind of capitalism will only lead to the destruction of our planet.” quote by James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f70/james-righton-9782_capitalism_governments-don-t-get-elected-saying-we_2441257.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f70/james-righton-9782_capitalism_governments-don-t-get-elected-saying-we_2441257.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f70/james-righton-9782_capitalism_governments-don-t-get-elected-saying-we_2441257.jpg) > “Governments don't get elected saying, 'We're going to lower GDP next year,' governments get elected on saying, 'We're going to increase prosperity and the happiness and the wealth of our nations.' But that kind of capitalism will only lead to the destruction of our planet.” [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Governments promise prosperity, not lower GDP, yet unchecked capitalism harms the planet. **In simple terms:** Governments promise wealth, but capitalism can damage Earth. Key Takeaway Balance growth with environmental stewardship. Themes economics politics environment prosperity Mood concerned urgent Type political environmental When to use this quote - campaign speeches - policy debates - business strategy - environmental activism Key Concepts capitalism sustainability public policy Questions to Reflect On - How can policies promote wealth without harming nature? - What trade‑offs are acceptable for prosperity? A Different Perspective Economic growth can conflict with ecological limits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Capitalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism/) [Capitalism Lead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism-lead-489373/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Governments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governments/) [Governments Don](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governments-don-489374/) [Governments Elected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governments-elected-489372/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Next year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-year/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) [Year Governments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/year-governments-489371/) ## Related quotes > [Capitalism is always in danger of inspiring men to be more concerned about making a living than making a life. We are prone to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/capitalism-is-always-in-danger-of-inspiring-men-to-be-more-concerned-2/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Unbridled capitalism will lead to some very real problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-rogoff/unbridled-capitalism-will-lead-to-some-very-real-problems/) [Kenneth Rogoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-rogoff/) > [And as a matter of fact, governments don't act, governments only react. The bankers make the decisions, and then governments decide how are we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/and-as-a-matter-of-fact-governments-don-t-act-governments-only-react/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [We're not going to meddle in the internal life of other peoples and other governments, because we don't want them meddling in ours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andres-manuel-lopez-obrador/we-re-not-going-to-meddle-in-the-internal-life-of-other-peoples-and/) [Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andres-manuel-lopez-obrador/) > [Governments don't control people like they used to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/governments-don-t-control-people-like-they-used-to/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I cannot be any clearer, minority governments don't work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annastacia-palaszczuk/i-cannot-be-any-clearer-minority-governments-don-t-work/) [Annastacia Palaszczuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annastacia-palaszczuk/) > [Governments don't want a population capable of critical thinking, they want obedient workers, people just smart enough to run the machines and just dumb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/governments-don-t-want-a-population-capable-of-critical-thinking-they/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“Governments don't protect people, people protect governments." "Order is organic, it can’t just be ordered up." "The more complexity, the more unpredictability and therefore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-samuels/governments-don-t-protect-people-people-protect-governments-order-is/) [Lawrence Samuels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-samuels/) > [Governments that don't need to broaden their tax base have few incentives to respond to the needs of their people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-dresser/governments-that-don-t-need-to-broaden-their-tax-base-have-few/) [Denise Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-dresser/) > [Governments don't like harmony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anubhav-sinha/governments-don-t-like-harmony/) [Anubhav Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anubhav-sinha/) > [Governments mostly don't do much. And you've also got to understand the level of incompetence out there. Nobody knows what they're doing. They just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-breslin/governments-mostly-don-t-do-much-and-you-ve-also-got-to-understand/) [Jimmy Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-breslin/) > [“governments don't produce economic growth people do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/governments-don-t-produce-economic-growth-people-do/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Governments don't reduce deficits by raising taxes on the people; governments reduce deficits by controlling spending and stimulating new wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/governments-don-t-reduce-deficits-by-raising-taxes-on-the-people/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Governments don't control things. A government can't control the economy without controlling people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/governments-don-t-control-things-a-government-can-t-control-the/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [“As I have often said, governments don’t produce economic growth, people do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/as-i-have-often-said-governments-don-t-produce-economic-growth-people/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## More by James Righton > [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [I will probably always be remembered as the person who used to be in Klaxons and there was a period of my life when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/i-will-probably-always-be-remembered-as-the-person-who-used-to-be-in/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [We didn't want to be another post-Libertines band singing about London and playing chords.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/we-didn-t-want-to-be-another-post-libertines-band-singing-about/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [We like people who come to our gigs to dress sharp and to impress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/we-like-people-who-come-to-our-gigs-to-dress-sharp-and-to-impress/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [The Smiths did that well, putting words in pop songs you wouldn't hear anywhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/the-smiths-did-that-well-putting-words-in-pop-songs-you-wouldn-t-hear/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [If you look at the whole New Rave movement, the big common ground is definitely the fun element. It's more outward-looking music than introspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/if-you-look-at-the-whole-new-rave-movement-the-big-common-ground-is/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [I've always loved melody and pop hooks, slightly left of centre but I have always tried to balance it with songs that have lyrics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/i-ve-always-loved-melody-and-pop-hooks-slightly-left-of-centre-but-i/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [We are indeed a party band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/we-are-indeed-a-party-band/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [There's nothing better than looking out into the audience and having a whole sea of glowsticks staring back at you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/there-s-nothing-better-than-looking-out-into-the-audience-and-having/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [New Rave was like the 60s - if you can remember it then you weren't there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/new-rave-was-like-the-60s-if-you-can-remember-it-then-you-weren-t/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [We want our audience to enjoy themselves, we want every gig to feel like an event - of course there are musical elements of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/we-want-our-audience-to-enjoy-themselves-we-want-every-gig-to-feel/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [When you're growing up you also like to go out and party a lot, and the music that we would hear going out would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-growing-up-you-also-like-to-go-out-and-party-a-lot-and/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [I always liked music that was melodic, but that had something a bit more wonky and odd going on too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/i-always-liked-music-that-was-melodic-but-that-had-something-a-bit/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [I think the best pop is always subversive in its nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/i-think-the-best-pop-is-always-subversive-in-its-nature/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [Even things like Abba - I think it's always got a dark, subversive element to it. You've got these four blonde Swedish people singing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/even-things-like-abba-i-think-it-s-always-got-a-dark-subversive/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) [Explore all 70 James Righton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) ## More Capitalism quotes > [Don't let's lose sight of what creates wealth. It is open markets, it is capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/don-t-let-s-lose-sight-of-what-creates-wealth-it-is-open-markets-it/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [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/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [ Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a \[Soviet socialistic\] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-national-socialism-have-anything/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [Corporations have nothing to do with values, and they know it, and sometimes say it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kierans/corporations-have-nothing-to-do-with-values-and-they-know-it-and/) [Eric Kierans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kierans/) > [Both fact and logic seem to me to support the view that savings invested in privately owned economic tools of production amount to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-a-harper/both-fact-and-logic-seem-to-me-to-support-the-view-that-savings/) [F. A. Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-a-harper/) > [The free market is ugly and stupid, like going to the mall; the unfree market is just as ugly and just as stupid, except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-free-market-is-ugly-and-stupid-like-going-to-the-mall-the-unfree/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Capitalism, communism ... it's all garbage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mstislav-rostropovich/capitalism-communism-it-s-all-garbage/) [Mstislav Rostropovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mstislav-rostropovich/) > [There are no two countries with the same style of economic mechanism, with the same capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoly-chubais/there-are-no-two-countries-with-the-same-style-of-economic-mechanism/) [Anatoly Chubais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoly-chubais/) > [It is more than a little ironic that "capital accumulation" once a rather tendentious Marxian view of a supposed capitalist obsession, should have become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kuttner/it-is-more-than-a-little-ironic-that-capital-accumulation-once-a/) [Robert Kuttner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kuttner/) > [Historically, usury was defined as any interest whatever on an unproductive loan.Our whole banking system I have ever abhorred, I continue to abhor, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/historically-usury-was-defined-as-any-interest-whatever-on-an/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Socialism is humanity's second nature. All politicians do is turn human vice into votes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilana-mercer/socialism-is-humanity-s-second-nature-all-politicians-do-is-turn/) [Ilana Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilana-mercer/) > [“Scholars have long debated whether capital markets lead to appropriate levels of saving and investment for future generations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-l-weimer/scholars-have-long-debated-whether-capital-markets-lead-to/) [David L. Weimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-l-weimer/) > [“A car is one of the most interesting inventions, but driving is one of the most boring activities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-car-is-one-of-the-most-interesting-inventions-but-driving-is-one-of/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) [Browse all 3,832 Capitalism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Governments don't get elected saying, 'We're going to lower GDP next year,' governments get elected on saying, 'We're going to increase prosperity and the happiness and the wealth of our nations.' But that kind of capitalism will only lead to the destruction of our planet.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Righton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/governments-don-t-get-elected-saying-we-re-going-to-lower-gdp-next/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Capitalism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/governments-don-t-get-elected-saying-we-re-going-to-lower-gdp-next/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f70/james-righton-9782_capitalism_governments-don-t-get-elected-saying-we_2441257.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f70/james-righton-9782_capitalism_governments-don-t-get-elected-saying-we_2441257.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f70/james-righton-9782_capitalism_governments-don-t-get-elected-saying-we_2441257.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Governments don't get elected saying, 'We're going to lower GDP next year,' governments get elected on…” — James Righton", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "James Righton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Governments don't get elected saying, 'We're...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/governments-don-t-get-elected-saying-we-re-going-to-lower-gdp-next/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/governments-don-t-get-elected-saying-we-re-going-to-lower-gdp-next/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```