--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For the United States, our political…" description: "\"For the United States, our political system is clearly distorted. We have gerrymandering so that there is a situation where a million more voters who v..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/joseph-stiglitz-1351_campaign-contributio_for-the-united-states-our-political-syst_3165110.jpg" --- # For the United States, our political system is clearly… ![“For the United States, our political system is clearly distorted. We have gerrymandering so that there is a situation where a million more voters who vote for Democrats, yet the House is controlled by the Republicans. So clearly, the way our Congress operates is important. The other big issue is…” quote by Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/joseph-stiglitz-1351_campaign-contributio_for-the-united-states-our-political-syst_3165110.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/joseph-stiglitz-1351_campaign-contributio_for-the-united-states-our-political-syst_3165110.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/joseph-stiglitz-1351_campaign-contributio_for-the-united-states-our-political-syst_3165110.jpg) > “For the United States, our political system is clearly distorted. We have gerrymandering so that there is a situation where a million more voters who vote for Democrats, yet the House is controlled by the Republicans. So clearly, the way our Congress operates is important. The other big issue is the influence of money in politics. It's not only campaign contributions. People like Trump - either you become very dependent on your benefactors or you are very rich.” [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The US political system is skewed by gerrymandering and money, causing representation to misalign with voter preferences. **In simple terms:** Political power is distorted by districting and money. Key Takeaway Advocate for electoral reform and transparency. Themes democracy representation money in politics gerrymandering Mood frustrated concerned Type analytical critical When to use this quote - voter advocacy - policy reform - grassroots organizing - media analysis Key Concepts political science institutional bias campaign finance Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens effectively push for fair districting? - What role should campaign finance limits play? A Different Perspective Reforms face entrenched interests and legal hurdles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Campaign contributions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/campaign-contributions/) [Congress Operates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress-operates-3329391/) [Democrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrat/) [Distorted Gerrymandering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distorted-gerrymandering-5737711/) [Gerrymandering Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gerrymandering-situation-5737710/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Money in politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money-in-politics/) [Money Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money-politics/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-system/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Republican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) ## Related quotes > [Similar to how 'Abolish ICE' rang the bell on this huge crisis on immigration, unifying around not taking corporate-PAC money gets everybody to pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saikat-chakrabarti/similar-to-how-abolish-ice-rang-the-bell-on-this-huge-crisis-on/) [Saikat Chakrabarti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saikat-chakrabarti/) > [President Trump deserves credit for calling to attention the corrupting influence of money in politics throughout the course of his 2016 campaign.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-phillips/president-trump-deserves-credit-for-calling-to-attention-the/) [Dean Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-phillips/) > [It's an issue that Democrats and Republicans seem to come together on, the over-influence of money in politics and in power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-gillum/it-s-an-issue-that-democrats-and-republicans-seem-to-come-together-on/) [Andrew Gillum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-gillum/) > [I think that there are, in some ways, surprisingly little money in politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-bankman-fried/i-think-that-there-are-in-some-ways-surprisingly-little-money-in/) [Sam Bankman-Fried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-bankman-fried/) > [In a time of polarized politics there's one thing that more than ninety percent of Americans agree on, that our government is broken, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/in-a-time-of-polarized-politics-there-s-one-thing-that-more-than/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Money in politics is a huge issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russ-feingold/money-in-politics-is-a-huge-issue/) [Russ Feingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russ-feingold/) > [The overflow of big money in politics drowns out the voices of everyday people. That is part of the conundrum in this country: The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-turner/the-overflow-of-big-money-in-politics-drowns-out-the-voices-of-2/) [Nina Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-turner/) > [The way to solve all the money in politics is not to pretend we can get money out of politics. That will never happen.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/the-way-to-solve-all-the-money-in-politics-is-not-to-pretend-we-can/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [To my mind, if we do not get a handle on money in politics and the degree to which big money controls the political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/to-my-mind-if-we-do-not-get-a-handle-on-money-in-politics-and-the/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [The overflow of big money in politics drowns out the voices of everyday people. That is part of the conundrum in America: The more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-turner/the-overflow-of-big-money-in-politics-drowns-out-the-voices-of/) [Nina Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-turner/) > [I'm seeing too much power being concentrated in the executive branch, and so our system of government is really in jeopardy, and more importantly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-kasparian/i-m-seeing-too-much-power-being-concentrated-in-the-executive-branch/) [Ana Kasparian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-kasparian/) > [I personally think money in politics on any level is horrible. I'd like to see a set amount and have every candidate spend it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santelli/i-personally-think-money-in-politics-on-any-level-is-horrible-i-d/) [Rick Santelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santelli/) > [The realistic way to reduce the amount of money in politics is to reduce the amount of politics in money -- the importance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/the-realistic-way-to-reduce-the-amount-of-money-in-politics-is-to/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [I think it's a terrible system, but money in politics is like water running downhill -- it finds its way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-alter/i-think-it-s-a-terrible-system-but-money-in-politics-is-like-water/) [Jonathan Alter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-alter/) > [We must reduce the influence of money in politics, beginning by overturning Citizens United and taking back our system from the millionaires and billionaires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-judge/we-must-reduce-the-influence-of-money-in-politics-beginning-by/) [Patty Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-judge/) ## More by Joseph Stiglitz > [I grew up in a family in which political issues were often discussed, and debated intensely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/i-grew-up-in-a-family-in-which-political-issues-were-often-discussed/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [But individuals and firms spend an enormous amount of resources acquiring information, which affects their beliefs; and actions of others too affect their beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/but-individuals-and-firms-spend-an-enormous-amount-of-resources/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [China, with its large emerging middle class, is among the big beneficiaries of globalization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/china-with-its-large-emerging-middle-class-is-among-the-big/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [Trickle-down economics is a myth. Enriching corporations - as the TPP would - will not necessarily help those in the middle, let alone those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/trickle-down-economics-is-a-myth-enriching-corporations-as-the-tpp/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [Some people say we have this inequality because some people have been contributing much more to our society, and so it's fair that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/some-people-say-we-have-this-inequality-because-some-people-have-been/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [It's actually a tribute to the quality of economics teaching that they have persuaded so many generations of students to believe in so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/it-s-actually-a-tribute-to-the-quality-of-economics-teaching-that/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [In an economy, when the government spends more and invests in the economy, that money circulates, and recirculates again and again. So not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/in-an-economy-when-the-government-spends-more-and-invests-in-the/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [The laws of normal economics dictate that lower taxes combined with increased spending will lead to bigger deficits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/the-laws-of-normal-economics-dictate-that-lower-taxes-combined-with/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [A less healthy America is not going to be as productive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/a-less-healthy-america-is-not-going-to-be-as-productive/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [As I noted in my Nobel lecture, an early insight in my work on the economics of information concerned the problem of appropriability -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/as-i-noted-in-my-nobel-lecture-an-early-insight-in-my-work-on-the/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [We noted the psychological problems facing many of the returning from Iraq veterans - of the 700,000 returning veterans, more than a 100,000 have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/we-noted-the-psychological-problems-facing-many-of-the-returning-from/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [World War II was really unusual, because America was in the Great Depression before. So the war did help the US economy to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/world-war-ii-was-really-unusual-because-america-was-in-the-great/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [Moreover, because we chose to finance the way by borrowing, our deficits and debt has soared, and this means we have less room for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/moreover-because-we-chose-to-finance-the-way-by-borrowing-our/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [I've always been sceptical about the notion that the market is a person you can engage in an argument with, and that that person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/i-ve-always-been-sceptical-about-the-notion-that-the-market-is-a/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [The striking thing about America is - it's historically, extraordinary unusual,I don't of any other instance - is that productivity of workers and wages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/the-striking-thing-about-america-is-it-s-historically-extraordinary/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) [Explore all 251 Joseph Stiglitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) ## More Campaign contributions quotes > [What 'eminent domain' laws mean in practice is that politicians have a right to seize your property and turn it over to someone else,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/what-eminent-domain-laws-mean-in-practice-is-that-politicians-have-a/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [“Most politicians are corrupt as they do not represent the masses that voted for them, but rather they choose to return numerous favors to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/most-politicians-are-corrupt-as-they-do-not-represent-the-masses-that/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [I just think the most important aspect in being able to have a productive relationship between the teachers' unions and the districts and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-just-think-the-most-important-aspect-in-being-able-to-have-a/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Whenever the media asked me how much I have received in campaign contributions from the fossil fuel industry, my unapologetic answer was, 'Not enough.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-inhofe/whenever-the-media-asked-me-how-much-i-have-received-in-campaign/) [Jim Inhofe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-inhofe/) > [“Campaign contributions don’t buy votes. What they buy is access.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/campaign-contributions-don-t-buy-votes-what-they-buy-is-access/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [The reality is we that have a corrupt campaign finance system which separates the American people's needs and desires from what Congress is doing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-reality-is-we-that-have-a-corrupt-campaign-finance-system-which/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [The lobbying over China most favored nation trading status was disgusting. There's no way in hell that MFN would have passed in '95, '96,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/the-lobbying-over-china-most-favored-nation-trading-status-was/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [The only way you do anything is to become really active. And the most effective way to get your message to your elected representatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krist-novoselic/the-only-way-you-do-anything-is-to-become-really-active-and-the-most/) [Krist Novoselic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krist-novoselic/) > [Who do you think controls the Republican Party? Big money controls the Republican Party. This is where their campaign contributions come from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/who-do-you-think-controls-the-republican-party-big-money-controls-the/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [Most successful American politicians look well-fed on endorsements, campaign contributions and chicken dinners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/most-successful-american-politicians-look-well-fed-on-endorsements/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [Ultimately, the question of campaign contributions will be decided by the public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/ultimately-the-question-of-campaign-contributions-will-be-decided-by/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [The case may very well be that Congress is willing to restrict campaign contributions because it has these privileges. It is true that incumbents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-tullock/the-case-may-very-well-be-that-congress-is-willing-to-restrict/) [Gordon Tullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-tullock/) > [Well, the elected officials in both parties are receiving campaign contributions and support through electioneering communications from groups that aren't technically affiliated with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/well-the-elected-officials-in-both-parties-are-receiving-campaign/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [Let me thank the 2 1/2 million Americans who helped fund our campaign with an unprecedented 8 million individual campaign contributions. Anyone know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/let-me-thank-the-2-1-2-million-americans-who-helped-fund-our-campaign/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [But please know, whether you believe campaign contributions are speech or property, that I learned to love very dearly the right of free expression…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/but-please-know-whether-you-believe-campaign-contributions-are-speech/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) [Browse all 37 Campaign contributions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/campaign-contributions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For the United States, our political system is clearly distorted. We have gerrymandering so that there is a situation where a million more voters who vote for Democrats, yet the House is controlled by the Republicans. So clearly, the way our Congress operates is important. The other big issue is the influence of money in politics. It's not only campaign contributions. People like Trump - either you become very dependent on your benefactors or you are very rich.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joseph Stiglitz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/for-the-united-states-our-political-system-is-clearly-distorted-we/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Campaign contributions" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/for-the-united-states-our-political-system-is-clearly-distorted-we/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/joseph-stiglitz-1351_campaign-contributio_for-the-united-states-our-political-syst_3165110.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/joseph-stiglitz-1351_campaign-contributio_for-the-united-states-our-political-syst_3165110.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/joseph-stiglitz-1351_campaign-contributio_for-the-united-states-our-political-syst_3165110.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For the United States, our political system is clearly distorted. We have gerrymandering so that there is a…” — Joseph Stiglitz", "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": "Joseph Stiglitz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "For the United States, our political...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/for-the-united-states-our-political-system-is-clearly-distorted-we/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/for-the-united-states-our-political-system-is-clearly-distorted-we/#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 } } ] } ```