--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As dismayed as Americans are with the…" description: "\"As dismayed as Americans are with the influence of the special interests that finance election campaigns, they've been reluctant to embrace the alterna..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/710/john-harwood-44435_alternative_as-dismayed-as-americans-are-with-the-in_1614312.jpg" --- # As dismayed as Americans are with the influence of the… ![“As dismayed as Americans are with the influence of the special interests that finance election campaigns, they've been reluctant to embrace the alternative: taxpayer-financed elections.” quote by John Harwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/710/john-harwood-44435_alternative_as-dismayed-as-americans-are-with-the-in_1614312.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/710/john-harwood-44435_alternative_as-dismayed-as-americans-are-with-the-in_1614312.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/710/john-harwood-44435_alternative_as-dismayed-as-americans-are-with-the-in_1614312.jpg) > “As dismayed as Americans are with the influence of the special interests that finance election campaigns, they've been reluctant to embrace the alternative: taxpayer-financed elections.” [John Harwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-harwood/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Citizens distrust special‑interest‑funded campaigns and resist taxpayer‑financed voting systems. **In simple terms:** People distrust money‑in‑politics and fear new voting funding. Key Takeaway Consider reforms that balance transparency and public financing. Themes politics campaign finance public trust Mood skeptical concerned Type political analytical When to use this quote - election reform debates - grassroots activism - policy proposals - public forums Key Concepts democracy funding mechanisms interest groups Questions to Reflect On - How can public financing stay truly independent? - What safeguards ensure accountability? A Different Perspective Taxpayer financing may still be vulnerable to misuse or elite capture. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Campaigns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/campaigns/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Dismayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dismayed/) [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Elections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elections/) [Finance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finance/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Reluctant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reluctant/) [Special interests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special-interests/) ## Related quotes > [Movies, as evidenced by a chorus of protesting and celebrating Americans, influence broader trends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-deavere-smith/movies-as-evidenced-by-a-chorus-of-protesting-and-celebrating/) [Anna Deavere Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-deavere-smith/) > [The great trouble with you Americans is that you are still under the influence of that second-rate - shall I say third-rate? - mind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-g-wells/the-great-trouble-with-you-americans-is-that-you-are-still-under-the/) [H. G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-g-wells/) > [Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/be-strong-and-of-good-courage-be-not-afraid-neither-be-thou-dismayed/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [As someone who cares about human rights, I am deeply dismayed to learn that Mr. McCain's charity has accepted money from Saudi Arabia. Their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-stone/as-someone-who-cares-about-human-rights-i-am-deeply-dismayed-to-learn/) [Roger Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-stone/) > [Sailed this day nineteen leagues, and determined to count less than the true number, that the crew might not be dismayed if the voyage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/sailed-this-day-nineteen-leagues-and-determined-to-count-less-than/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [Leibniz accepted the argument that there must be indestructible simple entities if there is to be a complex world, but Epicurean morals and politics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-wilson/leibniz-accepted-the-argument-that-there-must-be-indestructible/) [Catherine Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-wilson/) > [Be strong and of good courage; fear not or be dismayed; for the Lord, even my God, will be with thee. He will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david/be-strong-and-of-good-courage-fear-not-or-be-dismayed-for-the-lord/) [David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david/) > [I am dismayed to realize that much of the advice I used to parcel out to aspiring writers has passed its sell-by date.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-am-dismayed-to-realize-that-much-of-the-advice-i-used-to-parcel-out/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [I think my favorite fact about myself is that I have never been dismayed by a critic's bilge or bile, and have never once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/i-think-my-favorite-fact-about-myself-is-that-i-have-never-been/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [Many Liberals are rightly dismayed that on this vital issue of climate change we are not simply without a policy, without any prospect of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/many-liberals-are-rightly-dismayed-that-on-this-vital-issue-of/) [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) > [Abandon the urge to simplify everything, to look for formulas and easy answers, and to begin to think multidimensionally, to glory in the mystery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/abandon-the-urge-to-simplify-everything-to-look-for-formulas-and-easy/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [Some travelers think they want to go to foreign places but are dismayed when the places turn out actually to be foreign.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/some-travelers-think-they-want-to-go-to-foreign-places-but-are/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [The academic mind can eat away the very basis of its own assurance ... produce contortions when it tries to bend over backward ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-butterfield/the-academic-mind-can-eat-away-the-very-basis-of-its-own-assurance/) [Herbert Butterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-butterfield/) > [You switched the days," I said, dismayed. "You blew the tire. You..." I trailed off, probably because the next words out of my mouth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/you-switched-the-days-i-said-dismayed-you-blew-the-tire-you-i-trailed/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [If you ask me to tell you anything about the nature of what lies beyond the phaneron… my answer is “How should I know?”……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gardner/if-you-ask-me-to-tell-you-anything-about-the-nature-of-what-lies/) [Martin Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gardner/) ## More by John Harwood > [Congressional staff members do have a considerable amount of responsibility. But in my experience, the loyalty of the vast majority of staffers to their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-harwood/congressional-staff-members-do-have-a-considerable-amount-of/) [John Harwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-harwood/) > [As for myself, 'total liberal outlook on life and politics' is not an accurate description.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-harwood/as-for-myself-total-liberal-outlook-on-life-and-politics-is-not-an/) [John Harwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-harwood/) > [“Particularly in the past fifty years the world has gradually been finding out something that architects have always known—that is—that everything is architecture. Charles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-harwood/particularly-in-the-past-fifty-years-the-world-has-gradually-been/) [John Harwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-harwood/) > [I try very hard to maintain the confidence of my sources by speaking candidly with them, honoring agreements about the use of our conversation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-harwood/i-try-very-hard-to-maintain-the-confidence-of-my-sources-by-speaking/) [John Harwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-harwood/) > [Press critics worry that the rise of media polarization threatens the foundation of credible, common information that American politics needs to thrive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-harwood/press-critics-worry-that-the-rise-of-media-polarization-threatens-the/) [John Harwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-harwood/) > [“How could I be sure that I was not insane? I did not feel mad, but how was I to know what madness felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-harwood/how-could-i-be-sure-that-i-was-not-insane-i-did-not-feel-mad-but-how/) [John Harwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-harwood/) > [“It is like remembering two different lives at once...and wondering which of them is mine...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-harwood/it-is-like-remembering-two-different-lives-at-once-and-wondering/) [John Harwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-harwood/) > [“Perhaps I'd be happier if I had a boring job like Filly, but then I wouldn't have any time to myself. I waste so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-harwood/perhaps-i-d-be-happier-if-i-had-a-boring-job-like-filly-but-then-i/) [John Harwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-harwood/) [Explore all 9 John Harwood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-harwood/) ## More Alternative quotes > [The alternative comedy scene is actually pretty small, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-wilson/the-alternative-comedy-scene-is-actually-pretty-small-i-guess/) [Casey Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-wilson/) > [In my book I specifically discussed the structural nature of injustice and offered Nine Touchstones of Goddess ethics as an alternative to the Ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-p-christ/in-my-book-i-specifically-discussed-the-structural-nature-of/) [Carol P. Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-p-christ/) > [As the future is never known with certainty, the evaluation of the prospective benefits requires the formation of expectations. An acceptable house, partner or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/as-the-future-is-never-known-with-certainty-the-evaluation-of-the/) [Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/) > [Maximise the alternative forms in which a user might receive a service, and the alternative sources of supply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-chipp/maximise-the-alternative-forms-in-which-a-user-might-receive-a/) Don Chipp > [In January 2012, Google Plus started to roll out support for nicknames and pseudonyms, but those registering with a name other than their real-life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/in-january-2012-google-plus-started-to-roll-out-support-for-nicknames/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [It's American Alternative radio stations that bug me. We're considered Alternative, but don't expect us to be played next to Blink 182 and Offspring.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/it-s-american-alternative-radio-stations-that-bug-me-we-re-considered/) [Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/) > [There are some fantastic, brilliant alternative doctors out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayley-mills/there-are-some-fantastic-brilliant-alternative-doctors-out-there/) [Hayley Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayley-mills/) > [The alternative to the market process is government control, and we know where that principle leads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/the-alternative-to-the-market-process-is-government-control-and-we/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [Alternative services would mean that there would be services available to compete with Google, Facebook, Amazon, Dropbox, Skype, etc., and they would be run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikko-hypponen/alternative-services-would-mean-that-there-would-be-services/) [Mikko Hypponen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikko-hypponen/) > [I liked a lot of alternative and I like punk stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martie-maguire/i-liked-a-lot-of-alternative-and-i-like-punk-stuff/) [Martie Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martie-maguire/) > [I've thought about what is an alternative word to feminism. There isn't one. It's a perfectly good word. And it can't be changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lennox/i-ve-thought-about-what-is-an-alternative-word-to-feminism-there-isn/) [Annie Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lennox/) > [The Voice has always been an alternative paper. They have always understood that that was part of their role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-schanberg/the-voice-has-always-been-an-alternative-paper-they-have-always/) [Sydney Schanberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-schanberg/) > [Please don't eat less, eat right, don't hold it in, its okay to cry, do not hurt yourself there is always an alternative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/please-don-t-eat-less-eat-right-don-t-hold-it-in-its-okay-to-cry-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Gospel is not an alternative, it’s an ultimatum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhard-bonnke/the-gospel-is-not-an-alternative-it-s-an-ultimatum/) [Reinhard Bonnke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhard-bonnke/) > [Alternative medicine plays into this exaggerated notion that you can prevent disease simply by doing the right thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-angell/alternative-medicine-plays-into-this-exaggerated-notion-that-you-can/) [Marcia Angell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-angell/) Browse all 400 Alternative quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As dismayed as Americans are with the influence of the special interests that finance election campaigns, they've been reluctant to embrace the alternative: taxpayer-financed elections.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Harwood" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-harwood/as-dismayed-as-americans-are-with-the-influence-of-the-special/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alternative" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-harwood/as-dismayed-as-americans-are-with-the-influence-of-the-special/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/710/john-harwood-44435_alternative_as-dismayed-as-americans-are-with-the-in_1614312.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/710/john-harwood-44435_alternative_as-dismayed-as-americans-are-with-the-in_1614312.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/710/john-harwood-44435_alternative_as-dismayed-as-americans-are-with-the-in_1614312.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As dismayed as Americans are with the influence of the special interests that finance election campaigns…” — John Harwood", "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": "John Harwood", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-harwood/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As dismayed as Americans are with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-harwood/as-dismayed-as-americans-are-with-the-influence-of-the-special/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-harwood/as-dismayed-as-americans-are-with-the-influence-of-the-special/#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 } } ] } ```