--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We not only heard it before 20 years ago…" description: "\"We not only heard it before 20 years ago, before George Bush in 2001 passed his tax relief, before in 2003 the tax relief were past, we were told they ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/556/ken-mehlman-19497_before_we-not-only-heard-it-before-20-years-ago_2927555.jpg" --- # We not only heard it before 20 years ago, before George… ![“We not only heard it before 20 years ago, before George Bush in 2001 passed his tax relief, before in 2003 the tax relief were past, we were told they were dead. Before we provided prescription drugs for Medicare, we were told it wasn't going to happen.” quote by Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/556/ken-mehlman-19497_before_we-not-only-heard-it-before-20-years-ago_2927555.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/556/ken-mehlman-19497_before_we-not-only-heard-it-before-20-years-ago_2927555.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/556/ken-mehlman-19497_before_we-not-only-heard-it-before-20-years-ago_2927555.jpg) > “We not only heard it before 20 years ago, before George Bush in 2001 passed his tax relief, before in 2003 the tax relief were past, we were told they were dead. Before we provided prescription drugs for Medicare, we were told it wasn't going to happen.” [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Predictive statements about tax and healthcare reforms were dismissed as impossible before they occurred. **In simple terms:** People doubted future policy changes. Key Takeaway Don’t assume current limitations are permanent. Themes politics policy skepticism Mood cautious skeptical Type analytical critical When to use this quote - legislative debates - public health planning - advocacy campaigns Key Concepts forecasting healthcare reform tax policy Questions to Reflect On - How can we better evaluate policy feasibility? - What signs indicate a dismissed idea may become reality? A Different Perspective Predictions can be wrong; opposition may block progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Prescription drugs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prescription-drugs/) [Relief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relief/) [Tax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tax/) [Tax relief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tax-relief/) ## Related quotes > [I believe in prescription drugs. I believe in feeling better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/i-believe-in-prescription-drugs-i-believe-in-feeling-better/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [I will not rest until seniors get the cost-of-living adjustments they have earned and we lower the cost of prescription drugs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conner-eldridge/i-will-not-rest-until-seniors-get-the-cost-of-living-adjustments-they/) [Conner Eldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conner-eldridge/) > [The Prescription Drug Benefit we passed in Congress is already working to make prescription drugs available and affordable for all seniors who depend on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kennedy/the-prescription-drug-benefit-we-passed-in-congress-is-already/) [Mark Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kennedy/) > [I definitely think that prescription drugs, like antidepressants, are prescribed so cavalierly, anyone can get anything, but I need it. I do think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/i-definitely-think-that-prescription-drugs-like-antidepressants-are/) [Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/) > [It is time that we provide clarity for our seniors, informing them of the services available that will lower the costs of their prescription…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-snowe/it-is-time-that-we-provide-clarity-for-our-seniors-informing-them-of/) [Olympia Snowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-snowe/) > [More than five million seniors have already saved money on their prescription drugs, and almost 33 million have benefited from free preventive services. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-sebelius/more-than-five-million-seniors-have-already-saved-money-on-their/) [Kathleen Sebelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-sebelius/) > [“Approximately 1 in 4 people in the USA cannot afford their prescription drugs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/approximately-1-in-4-people-in-the-usa-cannot-afford-their/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [I hate prescription drugs! They don't tell you everything that is in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/i-hate-prescription-drugs-they-don-t-tell-you-everything-that-is-in/) [Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) > [“With approximately 50% of the USA population on prescription drugs and 10% on anti-depressants, it is clear that things are going seriously wrong with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/with-approximately-50-of-the-usa-population-on-prescription-drugs-and/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [I want a schedule-keeping, waking-up-early, wallet-carrying, picture-hanging man. I don't care if he takes prescription drugs for cholesterol or hair loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-want-a-schedule-keeping-waking-up-early-wallet-carrying-picture/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [Luckily I'm on prescription drugs that prevent me from worrying about anything too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alissa-nutting/luckily-i-m-on-prescription-drugs-that-prevent-me-from-worrying-about/) [Alissa Nutting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alissa-nutting/) > [We must oppose programs that would take food from the mouths of younger generations to buy prescription drugs for old people, and we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/we-must-oppose-programs-that-would-take-food-from-the-mouths-of/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [“You do not want to be taking doctors prescription drugs. They will turn you into a drug addict! Many of their drugs damage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/you-do-not-want-to-be-taking-doctors-prescription-drugs-they-will/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Time heals without prescriptions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamerlan-kuzgov/time-heals-without-prescriptions/) [Tamerlan Kuzgov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamerlan-kuzgov/) > [“Your doctors have the ability to legally kill you with a cocktail of potent prescription drugs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/your-doctors-have-the-ability-to-legally-kill-you-with-a-cocktail-of/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) ## More by Ken Mehlman > [Some Republicans gave up on winning the African-American vote, looking the other way or trying to benefit politically from racial polarization. I am here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/some-republicans-gave-up-on-winning-the-african-american-vote-looking/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) > [John Danforth, I thought, was a great senator and did a great job with the United Nations. I think he's a good man. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/john-danforth-i-thought-was-a-great-senator-and-did-a-great-job-with/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) > [I will always remember and we must all remember that Democrats are our political rivals, not our enemies, and they deserve our respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/i-will-always-remember-and-we-must-all-remember-that-democrats-are/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) > [There's nothing more powerful than coming out and being who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/there-s-nothing-more-powerful-than-coming-out-and-being-who-you-are/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) > [For a generation, terrorists learned they could make war on free nations without fear of war in return. On September 12, the terrorists got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/for-a-generation-terrorists-learned-they-could-make-war-on-free/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) > [I don't think the American people, if you look historically, elect angry candidates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/i-don-t-think-the-american-people-if-you-look-historically-elect/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) > [We've suffered a war, and one thing we know: Whenever our nation's faced war, whether it was in the 1980s when we were winning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/we-ve-suffered-a-war-and-one-thing-we-know-whenever-our-nation-s/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) > [I don't know the answer to that question. I don't think it matters to the fundamental question here because at bottom, this president believes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/i-don-t-know-the-answer-to-that-question-i-don-t-think-it-matters-to/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) > [So what we have is a president that has brought this issue before the American people. We now understand that we can't wait. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/so-what-we-have-is-a-president-that-has-brought-this-issue-before-the/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) > [Making the case (for same-sex marriage) from a conservative values perspective is an imperative, not an option.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/making-the-case-for-same-sex-marriage-from-a-conservative-values/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) > [The president strongly believes that marriage in this country ought to be between a man and a woman. He also believes it is something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/the-president-strongly-believes-that-marriage-in-this-country-ought/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) > [The fact is five months ago this was an issue that people weren't really talking that much about. Because of the president's leadership, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/the-fact-is-five-months-ago-this-was-an-issue-that-people-weren-t/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) > [While countless Americans are pulling together to lend a helping hand, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are pointing fingers in a shameless effort to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/while-countless-americans-are-pulling-together-to-lend-a-helping-hand/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) > [As I've been involved in the fight for marriage equality, one of the things I've learned is how many people were harmed by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/as-i-ve-been-involved-in-the-fight-for-marriage-equality-one-of-the/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) > [Democratic leaders always seem to blame America first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/democratic-leaders-always-seem-to-blame-america-first/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) [Explore all 32 Ken Mehlman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) ## More Before quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I want to make myself and the crowd happy by way of something different, and that makes things difficult. I'm never playing something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiesto/i-want-to-make-myself-and-the-crowd-happy-by-way-of-something/) [Tiesto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiesto/) > [My writing routine is: get son off to school and sit down at 8 A.M. I read what I wrote the day before, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chevalier/my-writing-routine-is-get-son-off-to-school-and-sit-down-at-8-a-m-i/) [Tracy Chevalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chevalier/) > [There aren't traditions of freedom in a place like Iraq. They're going to have to come to grips with a concept that they hadn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-wallop/there-aren-t-traditions-of-freedom-in-a-place-like-iraq-they-re-going/) [Malcolm Wallop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-wallop/) > [I don't like just traveling in for a short time. I've done that before, because sometimes you work for magazines and they have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sacco/i-don-t-like-just-traveling-in-for-a-short-time-i-ve-done-that-before/) [Joe Sacco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sacco/) > [Music is almost like a therapy for me. It helps keep me centered and think straight. Before I discovered it, I was walking around,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/music-is-almost-like-a-therapy-for-me-it-helps-keep-me-centered-and/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [My first company, Pure Software, was exciting and innovative in the first few years and bureaucratic and painful in the last few before it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/my-first-company-pure-software-was-exciting-and-innovative-in-the/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [For the Russian masses, the proletarians, knew for certain, and already saw during the war, and in part before their very eyes, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-gorter/for-the-russian-masses-the-proletarians-knew-for-certain-and-already/) [Herman Gorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-gorter/) > [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) Joe Pitts > [I've been told before, and I tend to believe it, I'm not like most actresses out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moira-kelly/i-ve-been-told-before-and-i-tend-to-believe-it-i-m-not-like-most/) [Moira Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moira-kelly/) > [Before I got addicted to comedy, I was seriously thinking about playing tennis full time. I joined the tennis team and played with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrot-top/before-i-got-addicted-to-comedy-i-was-seriously-thinking-about/) [Carrot Top](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrot-top/) > [But even before I was in the military, I was extremely jumpy when asleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/but-even-before-i-was-in-the-military-i-was-extremely-jumpy-when/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [When I'm making stuff, the thing that excites me most is not the result, but the process and trying to do something I've never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-jonze/when-i-m-making-stuff-the-thing-that-excites-me-most-is-not-the/) [Spike Jonze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-jonze/) > [I've pulled ticks off of me before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-ve-pulled-ticks-off-of-me-before/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [You know, before I would think, my cab driver hates me. Now I think my limo driver hates me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-romano/you-know-before-i-would-think-my-cab-driver-hates-me-now-i-think-my/) [Ray Romano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-romano/) Browse all 4,123 Before quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We not only heard it before 20 years ago, before George Bush in 2001 passed his tax relief, before in 2003 the tax relief were past, we were told they were dead. 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