---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In point of fact, 'Simpson-Bowles' has…"
description: "\"In point of fact, 'Simpson-Bowles' has become a symbol, or SimBowl, rather than an actual plan, political shorthand for the process of long-term defici..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/998/joe-klein-12661_become_in-point-of-fact-simpson-bowles-has-beco_589454.png"
---

#  In point of fact, 'Simpson-Bowles' has become a symbol, or…

![“In point of fact, 'Simpson-Bowles' has become a symbol, or SimBowl, rather than an actual plan, political shorthand for the process of long-term deficit reduction.” quote by Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/998/joe-klein-12661_become_in-point-of-fact-simpson-bowles-has-beco_589454.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/998/joe-klein-12661_become_in-point-of-fact-simpson-bowles-has-beco_589454.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/998/joe-klein-12661_become_in-point-of-fact-simpson-bowles-has-beco_589454.png)

> “In point of fact, 'Simpson-Bowles' has become a symbol, or SimBowl, rather than an actual plan, political shorthand for the process of long-term deficit reduction.”

[Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The term “Simpson‑Bowles” has turned into a shorthand for deficit reduction, losing its policy detail.

**In simple terms:** The name became a symbol for cutting debt.

Key Takeaway

Beware of oversimplified policy labels.

Themes

politics economics communication

Mood

critical analytical

Type

analytical political

When to use this quote

- budget discussions
- public debates
- media analysis

Key Concepts

fiscal policy branding of ideas

Questions to Reflect On

- How does labeling affect public understanding?
- What are the risks of policy shorthand?

A Different Perspective

Symbols can obscure nuance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Deficit reduction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deficit-reduction/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Long term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-term/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Shorthand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shorthand/) [Symbols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symbols/)

## Related quotes

> [When you're talking about long-term deficit reduction, $4 trillion worth, entitlement reform needs to be part of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/when-you-re-talking-about-long-term-deficit-reduction-4-trillion/)

[Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/)

> [The Farm Bill is one of the only bills that provides substantial deficit reduction that passed the Senate this year. It only makes sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-stabenow/the-farm-bill-is-one-of-the-only-bills-that-provides-substantial/)

[Debbie Stabenow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-stabenow/)

> [Tax rates for the wealthy should revert to Clinton-era levels, both because it is necessary for long-term deficit reduction and because fairness dictates it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-spitzer/tax-rates-for-the-wealthy-should-revert-to-clinton-era-levels-both/)

[Eliot Spitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-spitzer/)

> [The best time to make deficit reduction a priority is when the inflation rate and the bond market give you some indication that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-douthat/the-best-time-to-make-deficit-reduction-a-priority-is-when-the/)

[Ross Douthat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-douthat/)

> [Mr. Obama's choices show how fundamentally unserious he is about deficit reduction and spending restraint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-crowley/mr-obama-s-choices-show-how-fundamentally-unserious-he-is-about/)

[Monica Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-crowley/)

> [ He \[Barack Obama\] talked about deficit reduction. This got me he was talking about how the deficit's being reduced faster in the last 60… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/he-barack-obama-talked-about-deficit-reduction-this-got-me-he-was/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [Reconciliation cannot be used to pass comprehensive health care reform. It won't work because it was never designed for that kind of significant legislation;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-conrad/reconciliation-cannot-be-used-to-pass-comprehensive-health-care/)

[Kent Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-conrad/)

> [Thanks to former President George W. Bush - remember the compassionate conservative? - I have a good name for the fundamental principle that should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-romer/thanks-to-former-president-george-w-bush-remember-the-compassionate/)

[Christina Romer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-romer/)

> [Deficit reduction is not an end in itself. It is the means to an end. Canadians must now decide what kind of country they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-chretien/deficit-reduction-is-not-an-end-in-itself-it-is-the-means-to-an-end/)

[Jean Chretien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-chretien/)

> [The poor have been sent to the front lines of a federal budget deficit reduction war that few other groups were drafted to fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/the-poor-have-been-sent-to-the-front-lines-of-a-federal-budget/)

[Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/)

> [Barack Obama came into office in the midst of an economic crisis and yet, shortly into his first term, Republicans suddenly rediscovered the urgent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/barack-obama-came-into-office-in-the-midst-of-an-economic-crisis-and/)

[Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/)

> [I don't know how anyone can keep a straight face and say they are for deficit reduction while they insist on a permanent tax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/i-don-t-know-how-anyone-can-keep-a-straight-face-and-say-they-are-for/)

[Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/)

> [I think it's very important not to confuse the importance of dealing with Social Security in the long term with these short-term deficit reduction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-it-s-very-important-not-to-confuse-the-importance-of-dealing/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [We ought to deal with Social Security in a separate conversation that is not part of deficit reduction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/we-ought-to-deal-with-social-security-in-a-separate-conversation-that/)

[Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/)

> [History is replete with examples of moments in time when we talk about deficit reduction and try to advance on it around the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/history-is-replete-with-examples-of-moments-in-time-when-we-talk/)

[Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/)

## More by Joe Klein

> [You know, when George Bush talks about freedom not being America's gift to world but God's gift to all humankind, it smells like market…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/you-know-when-george-bush-talks-about-freedom-not-being-america-s/)

[Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/)

> [When I started in the press there were really ink-stained wretches. Not everybody went to college. Now, everybody at the New York Times and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/when-i-started-in-the-press-there-were-really-ink-stained-wretches/)

[Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/)

> [In 2012 there was a megafoolish, if well-funded, effort by a group called Americans Elect to raise an independent Cincinnatus to run for president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/in-2012-there-was-a-megafoolish-if-well-funded-effort-by-a-group/)

[Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/)

> [We journalists are never so idiotic as when we analyze things that we shouldn't be analyzing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/we-journalists-are-never-so-idiotic-as-when-we-analyze-things-that-we/)

[Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/)

> [You know, larger-than-life politicians have larger-than-life strengths and larger-than-life weaknesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/you-know-larger-than-life-politicians-have-larger-than-life-strengths/)

[Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/)

> [I believe that poverty is often the result of inappropriate behavior - out-of-wedlock births, dropping out of school, crime and drugs - which should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/i-believe-that-poverty-is-often-the-result-of-inappropriate-behavior/)

[Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/)

> [That was the miracle of Abraham Lincoln, politician. He pursued the high purpose of moving justice forward via the low arts of patronage and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/that-was-the-miracle-of-abraham-lincoln-politician-he-pursued-the/)

[Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/)

> [For me, a really radical position for journalism to take is to stop being cynical. Cynicism is what passes for insight among the mediocre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/for-me-a-really-radical-position-for-journalism-to-take-is-to-stop/)

[Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/)

> [Affirmative action was always racial justice on the cheap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/affirmative-action-was-always-racial-justice-on-the-cheap/)

[Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/)

> [I'm in favour of politicians having extra-marital relationships. Oh yeah. It makes them more understanding of the flaws that the rest of us have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/i-m-in-favour-of-politicians-having-extra-marital-relationships-oh/)

[Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/)

> [I believe, I believe that the people who voted in those primaries for Donald Trump were at least helping him along with his message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/i-believe-i-believe-that-the-people-who-voted-in-those-primaries-for/)

[Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/)

> [“Faith, unaccompanied by rigorous skepticism, is a recipe for myopia and foolishness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/faith-unaccompanied-by-rigorous-skepticism-is-a-recipe-for-myopia-and/)

[Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/)

> [This dilettante notion that the global economy is evil because big corporate leaders make too much money... they do make too much money, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/this-dilettante-notion-that-the-global-economy-is-evil-because-big/)

[Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/)

> [I got into journalism because I came of age in the '60s. It just seemed one way for me to get things done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/i-got-into-journalism-because-i-came-of-age-in-the-60s-it-just-seemed/)

[Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/)

> [Bush the Elder's stature as president grows with every passing year. He was the finest foreign policy president I've ever covered and a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/bush-the-elder-s-stature-as-president-grows-with-every-passing-year/)

[Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/)

[Explore all 54 Joe Klein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/)

## More Become quotes

> [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/)

[Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/)

> [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/)

[Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/)

> [A strong, responsible Israel can become a stabilizer in such a turbulent region.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/a-strong-responsible-israel-can-become-a-stabilizer-in-such-a/)

[Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/)

> [If someone has the opportunity to become a model, I would say, 'Do it.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-russell/if-someone-has-the-opportunity-to-become-a-model-i-would-say-do-it/)

[Cameron Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-russell/)

> [I had a talent for copying the signatures of dignitaries like Indira Gandhi, Amitabh Bachchan and so on. So, I wanted to become someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjay-mishra/i-had-a-talent-for-copying-the-signatures-of-dignitaries-like-indira/)

[Sanjay Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjay-mishra/)

> [In the Tea Party era, it is the restless conservative Republican who has become passion's plaything, the toy of impetuous romance, an erotomania only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/in-the-tea-party-era-it-is-the-restless-conservative-republican-who/)

[James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/)

> [You can never tell when a commercial space venture will suddenly become viable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/you-can-never-tell-when-a-commercial-space-venture-will-suddenly/)

[Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/)

> [Food as a hobby used to be an elite pastime, and it has become something that is totally ordinary for people of every background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/food-as-a-hobby-used-to-be-an-elite-pastime-and-it-has-become/)

[Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/)

> ['Inequality' has become the political theme/slogan of our time in both Europe and the U.S., yet political leaders do not even bother to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-singer/inequality-has-become-the-political-theme-slogan-of-our-time-in-both/)

[Paul Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-singer/)

> [My first bill to become law repeals regulations to make everyday life easier and more affordable for Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/my-first-bill-to-become-law-repeals-regulations-to-make-everyday-life/)

[Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/)

> [At one point when I was very young, when I was first starting out, I thought, 'Well, one day I'll be able to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/at-one-point-when-i-was-very-young-when-i-was-first-starting-out-i/)

[Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/)

> [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/)

[Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/)

> [With every interview you feel like you lose a piece of yourself, and with every bad review you become just that little bit more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-march/with-every-interview-you-feel-like-you-lose-a-piece-of-yourself-and/)

[Jane March](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-march/)

> [Canada has become such a staging area for Chinese money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kwan/canada-has-become-such-a-staging-area-for-chinese-money/)

[Kevin Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kwan/)

> [Sometimes when you're in different countries, everything has become so homogenised and there's a Starbucks and McDonald's everywhere, and you could feel like you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-yun-lee/sometimes-when-you-re-in-different-countries-everything-has-become-so/)

[Will Yun Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-yun-lee/)

Browse all 4,184 Become quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "In point of fact, 'Simpson-Bowles' has become a symbol, or SimBowl, rather than an actual plan, political shorthand for the process of long-term deficit reduction.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Joe Klein"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/in-point-of-fact-simpson-bowles-has-become-a-symbol-or-simbowl-rather/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Become"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/in-point-of-fact-simpson-bowles-has-become-a-symbol-or-simbowl-rather/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/998/joe-klein-12661_become_in-point-of-fact-simpson-bowles-has-beco_589454.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/998/joe-klein-12661_become_in-point-of-fact-simpson-bowles-has-beco_589454.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/998/joe-klein-12661_become_in-point-of-fact-simpson-bowles-has-beco_589454.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In point of fact, 'Simpson-Bowles' has become a symbol, or SimBowl, rather than an actual plan, political…” — Joe Klein",
                "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": "Joe Klein",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "In point of fact, 'Simpson-Bowles' has...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/in-point-of-fact-simpson-bowles-has-become-a-symbol-or-simbowl-rather/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/in-point-of-fact-simpson-bowles-has-become-a-symbol-or-simbowl-rather/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
