Politics Quote by Kenneth Minogue
““Public respect for politicians has long been declining, even as the population at large has been seduced into responding to each new problem by demanding that the government should act. That we should be constantly demanding that an institution we rather despise should solve large problems argues a notable lack of logic in the demos. The statesmen of times past have been replaced by a set of barely competent social workers eager to help 'ordinary people' solve daily problems in their lives. This strange aspiration is a very large change in public life. The electorates of earlier times would have responded with derision to politicians seeking power in order to solve our problems. Todays, the demos votes for them.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The New Politics of the Right, Kenneth Minogue, 1995
Public trust in politicians is eroding while citizens increasingly demand government solutions to everyday issues, revealing a paradox of reliance on often incompetent officials.
In simple terms: People rely on government even as they distrust politicians.
Key Takeaway
Question the logic of demanding solutions from disliked leaders.
Themes
politics
public trust
government responsibility
citizen expectations
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
political
When to use this quote
- voting behavior
- policy advocacy
- community problem solving
- public discourse
Key Concepts
democratic theory
political legitimacy
social contract
Questions to Reflect On
- Do we truly need government to solve personal problems?
- How can citizens balance skepticism with civic engagement?
A Different Perspective
The quote assumes all politicians are incompetent, ignoring effective leaders.
![“Their [realists'] concern is that utopian aspirations towards a new peaceful world order will simply absolutize conflicts and make them more intractable. National interests are in some degree negotiable; rights, in principle, are not. International organizations such as the United Nations have not…” quote by Kenneth Minogue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/93f/kenneth-minogue-28215_bringing-peace_their-realists-concern-is-that-utopian-a_516332.jpg)
