--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In The United States, the only real…" description: "\"In The United States, the only real change I know has been Instant Runoff, which is usually applied to municipal elections. I see no real improvement. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c97/kenneth-arrow-14948_aspect_in-the-united-states-the-only-real-chang_691755.jpg" --- # In The United States, the only real change I know has been… ![“In The United States, the only real change I know has been Instant Runoff, which is usually applied to municipal elections. I see no real improvement. There's another aspect which comes out of the two-party system, which the primary, a funny kind of two-stage election. And people certainly have…” quote by Kenneth Arrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c97/kenneth-arrow-14948_aspect_in-the-united-states-the-only-real-chang_691755.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c97/kenneth-arrow-14948_aspect_in-the-united-states-the-only-real-chang_691755.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c97/kenneth-arrow-14948_aspect_in-the-united-states-the-only-real-chang_691755.jpg) > “In The United States, the only real change I know has been Instant Runoff, which is usually applied to municipal elections. I see no real improvement. There's another aspect which comes out of the two-party system, which the primary, a funny kind of two-stage election. And people certainly have complained.” [Kenneth Arrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-arrow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Instant runoff voting is a notable reform, yet broader systemic issues remain unresolved. **In simple terms:** Instant runoff is a change, but bigger problems persist. Key Takeaway Seek deeper electoral reforms beyond single changes. Themes politics reform elections Mood analytical critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - municipal elections - primary elections - two‑party dynamics Key Concepts democracy institutional design Questions to Reflect On - What other reforms could improve the system? - How does the two‑party structure hinder change? A Different Perspective May overstate impact of one reform. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Elections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elections/) [Improvement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvement/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Real change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-change/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Two party system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-party-system/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) ## Related quotes > [I think, at the end of the day, especially for municipal elections, we see relatively low voter turnout. So the goal is to expand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-wu/i-think-at-the-end-of-the-day-especially-for-municipal-elections-we/) [Michelle Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-wu/) > [A colored man is precisely as much entitled to submit his candidacy in a party primary, as is any other citizen. The decision must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/a-colored-man-is-precisely-as-much-entitled-to-submit-his-candidacy/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [We have a two-party system: The Democratic Party, which is a party of no ideas, and the Republican Party, which is a party of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-black/we-have-a-two-party-system-the-democratic-party-which-is-a-party-of/) [Lewis Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-black/) > [In America, we are not lacking solutions. We are lacking a two-party system that is willing to agree on solutions. Part of this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kotler/in-america-we-are-not-lacking-solutions-we-are-lacking-a-two-party/) [Philip Kotler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kotler/) > [I was never interested in the two-party system per se. I was interested in how authority was abused by government, and how lies were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-feiffer/i-was-never-interested-in-the-two-party-system-per-se-i-was/) [Jules Feiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-feiffer/) > [The War Party has two wings: the Democrats and the Republicans. All others are outsiders, whose ability to storm the gates is 'legally' restricted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-raimondo/the-war-party-has-two-wings-the-democrats-and-the-republicans-all/) [Justin Raimondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-raimondo/) > [The only thing dumber than a Democrat or a Republican is when those pricks work together. You see, in our two-party system, the Democrats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-black/the-only-thing-dumber-than-a-democrat-or-a-republican-is-when-those/) [Lewis Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-black/) > [A two-party system is way too good for those two parties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/a-two-party-system-is-way-too-good-for-those-two-parties/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [In a two-party system, if both parties ignore public opinion, there is no place voters can turn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/in-a-two-party-system-if-both-parties-ignore-public-opinion-there-is/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [We are inclined to confuse freedom and democracy, which we regard as moral principles, with the way in which they are practiced in America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/we-are-inclined-to-confuse-freedom-and-democracy-which-we-regard-as/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [Politics is a damn expensive business. I had one hell of a time trying to raise money as a candidate. I had to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/politics-is-a-damn-expensive-business-i-had-one-hell-of-a-time-trying/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [People have been unhappy for a long time about the two-party system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-malveaux/people-have-been-unhappy-for-a-long-time-about-the-two-party-system/) [Julianne Malveaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-malveaux/) > [The two-party system is a bad joke on the American people; when it comes to Republicans and Democrats remember they are two sides of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-russo/the-two-party-system-is-a-bad-joke-on-the-american-people-when-it/) [Aaron Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-russo/) > [When you are guaranteed you will win, you can take very inflammatory, very extreme positions. If you have to run in a district where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/when-you-are-guaranteed-you-will-win-you-can-take-very-inflammatory/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [ The system \[in U.S.\] is designed for a two-party system. And those two parties have an interest in keeping third parties out. There's too… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/the-system-in-u-s-is-designed-for-a-two-party-system-and-those-two/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) ## More by Kenneth Arrow > [The health care provisions are presumably for individuals. And whoever pays for them, whether it's paid by the individual, state, whatever, the value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-arrow/the-health-care-provisions-are-presumably-for-individuals-and-whoever/) [Kenneth Arrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-arrow/) > [From the time I first understood economic principles, I was always concerned also that any system be operated on an efficient basis, which meant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-arrow/from-the-time-i-first-understood-economic-principles-i-was-always/) [Kenneth Arrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-arrow/) > [Knowledge is a free good. The biggest cost in its transmission is not in the production or distribution of knowledge, but in its assimilation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-arrow/knowledge-is-a-free-good-the-biggest-cost-in-its-transmission-is-not/) [Kenneth Arrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-arrow/) > [Family is a difficult matter. I must admit I do not know that the state can intervene successfully in a family. It's a fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-arrow/family-is-a-difficult-matter-i-must-admit-i-do-not-know-that-the/) [Kenneth Arrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-arrow/) > [The MD is well aware that the forecasts are no good but he needs them for planning purposes ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-arrow/the-md-is-well-aware-that-the-forecasts-are-no-good-but-he-needs-them/) [Kenneth Arrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-arrow/) > [The trouble is that the risks that are being hedged very well by new financial securities are financial risks. And it appears to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-arrow/the-trouble-is-that-the-risks-that-are-being-hedged-very-well-by-new/) [Kenneth Arrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-arrow/) > [One way of looking at Impossibility Theorem is that we proposed some criteria for what a good system should be: what is it you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-arrow/one-way-of-looking-at-impossibility-theorem-is-that-we-proposed-some/) [Kenneth Arrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-arrow/) > [Vast ills have followed a belief in certainty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-arrow/vast-ills-have-followed-a-belief-in-certainty/) [Kenneth Arrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-arrow/) > [I do sense, as compared with let's say the early '50s, there's somewhat more of a careerism. I don't think it's anything special to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-arrow/i-do-sense-as-compared-with-let-s-say-the-early-50s-there-s-somewhat/) [Kenneth Arrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-arrow/) > [The switch to the market in Eastern Europe, of course, has not exactly been one of the greatest advertisements for the market. There's no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-arrow/the-switch-to-the-market-in-eastern-europe-of-course-has-not-exactly/) [Kenneth Arrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-arrow/) > [I think the development of the venture capital system has been an example of something which is a successful improvement in risk-bearing. It doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-arrow/i-think-the-development-of-the-venture-capital-system-has-been-an/) [Kenneth Arrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-arrow/) > [I think the idea that a society has to be responsible for all of its citizens, those who do well and those who do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-arrow/i-think-the-idea-that-a-society-has-to-be-responsible-for-all-of-its/) [Kenneth Arrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-arrow/) > [Now virtue may not always be its own reward, but in any case it is not usually bought and paid for at market rates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-arrow/now-virtue-may-not-always-be-its-own-reward-but-in-any-case-it-is-not/) [Kenneth Arrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-arrow/) > [The general uncertainty about the prospects of medical treatment is socially handled by rigid entry requirements. These are designed to reduce the uncertainty in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-arrow/the-general-uncertainty-about-the-prospects-of-medical-treatment-is/) [Kenneth Arrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-arrow/) > [I don't believe that unemployment is all voluntary, by anticipation of future wage movements or this sort of thing. I know you can modify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-arrow/i-don-t-believe-that-unemployment-is-all-voluntary-by-anticipation-of/) [Kenneth Arrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-arrow/) [Explore all 44 Kenneth Arrow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-arrow/) ## More Aspect quotes > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? 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To try to micromanage and dictate every little aspect. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/there-is-so-much-temptation-to-hold-on-to-my-career-even-more-now-to/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [I do miss the social aspect of sitting in a pub with a pint but you know what when I get down to it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/i-do-miss-the-social-aspect-of-sitting-in-a-pub-with-a-pint-but-you/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [Some say that you should not want money at all because the desire for money is materialistic and not Spiritual. But we want you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/some-say-that-you-should-not-want-money-at-all-because-the-desire-for/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [Death is but an aspect of life, and the destruction of one material form is but a prelude to building up of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/death-is-but-an-aspect-of-life-and-the-destruction-of-one-material/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I would call myself a Gnostic. Which means, I'm interested in pursuing and understanding the spiritual nature of things. A Gnostic is somebody seeking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/i-would-call-myself-a-gnostic-which-means-i-m-interested-in-pursuing/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) > [One can be a great artist without being a great technician. There have been many famous ballet stars who did not have the ideal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-bujones/one-can-be-a-great-artist-without-being-a-great-technician-there-have/) Fernando Bujones > [I love fall because I love the whole cuddling aspect of it, and a sweater dress has that vibe of I'm going to hunker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-chastain/i-love-fall-because-i-love-the-whole-cuddling-aspect-of-it-and-a/) [Jessica Chastain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-chastain/) > [The socially redeeming aspect of golf lies in the vast number of lawyers and bankers and managers who play it, and when you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/the-socially-redeeming-aspect-of-golf-lies-in-the-vast-number-of/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [I didnt like the Survivor shows because of the mean-spirited aspect, and women certainly were part of whatever conflict they would create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-lawrence/i-didnt-like-the-survivor-shows-because-of-the-mean-spirited-aspect/) [Sharon Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-lawrence/) > [MAC allowed me to have complete freedom on the collaborations—from the shades, the look-and-feel, to the campaign visuals. 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It's the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/styles-p/i-mean-family-is-more-important-than-anything-in-life-family-is/) [Styles P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/styles-p/) > [Wealth is measured by the level of experience in all aspects of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/wealth-is-measured-by-the-level-of-experience-in-all-aspects-of-life/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) Browse all 3,171 Aspect quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In The United States, the only real change I know has been Instant Runoff, which is usually applied to municipal elections. I see no real improvement. There's another aspect which comes out of the two-party system, which the primary, a funny kind of two-stage election. 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