Bankers and banks Quote by John C. Calhoun
“A power has risen up in the government greater than the people themselves, consisting of many and various powerful interests, combined in one mass, and held together by the cohesive power of the vast surplus in banks.”
About This Quote
Source Treatise: Speech on the Constitution, John C. Calhoun, 1850
A powerful coalition of financial elites dominates government, outweighing ordinary citizens' influence.
In simple terms: Banks and elites control politics more than people.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge economic concentration.
Themes
politics
economics
power
elitism
democracy
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
political
analytical
When to use this quote
- campaign finance reform
- public awareness
- grassroots organizing
- policy advocacy
Key Concepts
olig oligopoly
political economy
institutional capture
Questions to Reflect On
- How does financial power shape policy decisions?
- What mechanisms can reduce elite influence?
A Different Perspective
Powerful interests can resist reform through entrenched networks.
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