--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We've become, now, an oligarchy instead…" description: "\"We've become, now, an oligarchy instead of a democracy. I think that's been the worst damage to the basic moral and ethical standards to the American p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a82/jimmy-carter-479_american_we-ve-become-now-an-oligarchy-instead-of_1676827.jpg" --- # We've become, now, an oligarchy instead of a democracy. I… ![“We've become, now, an oligarchy instead of a democracy. I think that's been the worst damage to the basic moral and ethical standards to the American political system that I've ever seen in my life.” quote by Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a82/jimmy-carter-479_american_we-ve-become-now-an-oligarchy-instead-of_1676827.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a82/jimmy-carter-479_american_we-ve-become-now-an-oligarchy-instead-of_1676827.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a82/jimmy-carter-479_american_we-ve-become-now-an-oligarchy-instead-of_1676827.jpg) > “We've become, now, an oligarchy instead of a democracy. I think that's been the worst damage to the basic moral and ethical standards to the American political system that I've ever seen in my life.” [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Political power concentration erodes moral standards and democratic health **In simple terms:** Oligarchy harms democracy Key Takeaway Advocate for equitable representation Themes politics ethics governance Mood concerned determined Type political critical When to use this quote - voting reform - civic education - campaign finance reform Key Concepts democratic theory public policy Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards protect democracy? - How can citizens restore ethical standards? A Different Perspective Change is slow and resisted ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [American Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-political/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Instead Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instead-democracy-917296/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Oligarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oligarchy/) [Oligarchy Instead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oligarchy-instead-917294/) [Political system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-system/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) [Ve Oligarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ve-oligarchy-917295/) ## Related quotes > [“DEMOCRACY OF TOUCH - instead of a democracy of pocket.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/democracy-of-touch-instead-of-a-democracy-of-pocket/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [The billionaires and their super PACs increasingly control the American political process. This is not democracy. This is not what brave Americans fought and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-billionaires-and-their-super-pacs-increasingly-control-the/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [The American political system is based on the president taking the initiative and Congress responding. With President Trump, it's been the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/the-american-political-system-is-based-on-the-president-taking-the/) [H. W. 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O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## More by Jimmy Carter > [One of the most basic principles for making and keeping peace within and between nations. . . is that in political, military, moral, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/one-of-the-most-basic-principles-for-making-and-keeping-peace-within/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [I think politicians really go with the tide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/i-think-politicians-really-go-with-the-tide/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [There's no way to have a peace agreement unless the mediator or negotiator looks at both sides from an equal basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/there-s-no-way-to-have-a-peace-agreement-unless-the-mediator-or/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Jesus never said a word about homosexuality. 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He's a much better speech maker than I am. 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