--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Americans don't like the way Washington…" description: "\"Americans don't like the way Washington operates. They don't like Washington. They don't like the way things are going.\" — Mark Shields" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e17/mark-shields-1572_americans_americans-don-t-like-the-way-washington_1115018.jpg" --- # Americans don't like the way Washington operates. They… ![“Americans don't like the way Washington operates. They don't like Washington. They don't like the way things are going.” quote by Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e17/mark-shields-1572_americans_americans-don-t-like-the-way-washington_1115018.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e17/mark-shields-1572_americans_americans-don-t-like-the-way-washington_1115018.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e17/mark-shields-1572_americans_americans-don-t-like-the-way-washington_1115018.jpg) > “Americans don't like the way Washington operates. They don't like Washington. They don't like the way things are going.” [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He criticizes Washington’s operations and the direction of the country. **In simple terms:** Discontent with political leadership. Key Takeaway Engage in informed civic dialogue. Themes politics disillusionment leadership Mood critical concerned Type political analytical When to use this quote - voting - community meetings - activism Key Concepts government accountability public trust Questions to Reflect On - What reforms could improve governance? - How can citizens influence policy? A Different Perspective Criticism may overlook complexities of governance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans/) [Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/washington/) ## Related quotes > [Americans don't like powerful figures who punch down, that is, who pick on someone less powerful and less able to speak for themselves than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/americans-don-t-like-powerful-figures-who-punch-down-that-is-who-pick/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [I figured there's nobody who's going to beat me or shoot me or crucify me. I can't help if people don't like me up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-hall/i-figured-there-s-nobody-who-s-going-to-beat-me-or-shoot-me-or/) [Ralph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-hall/) > [I served three terms in the U.S. Senate and was co-chairman of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform in 2010. So I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-k-simpson/i-served-three-terms-in-the-u-s-senate-and-was-co-chairman-of-the/) [Alan K. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-k-simpson/) > [If we don't change the way Washington operates we're going to bankrupt our children and grandchildren.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dewhurst/if-we-don-t-change-the-way-washington-operates-we-re-going-to/) [David Dewhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dewhurst/) > [When I came from Europe, I was told that Americans don't care about soccer and this and that. But the way people cared was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-ljungberg/when-i-came-from-europe-i-was-told-that-americans-don-t-care-about/) [Freddie Ljungberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-ljungberg/) > [The religiosity of Americans I don't think has ever been determined by how much money they make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-murray/the-religiosity-of-americans-i-don-t-think-has-ever-been-determined/) [Charles Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-murray/) > [I make a pretty good living compared to most Americans, but I don't hang out with a lot of people who aren't blue collar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/everlast/i-make-a-pretty-good-living-compared-to-most-americans-but-i-don-t/) [Everlast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/everlast/) > [Most Americans don't even know that Minnie Driver is English or that Catherine Zeta Jones is Welsh, but people are reminded every time 'ER'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-kingston/most-americans-don-t-even-know-that-minnie-driver-is-english-or-that/) [Alex Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-kingston/) > [People - and I think this is particularly true of Americans - don't like to be passive. They like to seize control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/people-and-i-think-this-is-particularly-true-of-americans-don-t-like/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [Americans don't want cowboys to be gay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/americans-don-t-want-cowboys-to-be-gay/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [Americans don't learn about the world; they don't study world history, other than American history in a very one-sided fashion, and they don't study…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/americans-don-t-learn-about-the-world-they-don-t-study-world-history/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Most Americans don't know how beautiful an area of the country Kentucky is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amul-thapar/most-americans-don-t-know-how-beautiful-an-area-of-the-country/) [Amul Thapar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amul-thapar/) > [Henry, this isn't about us. I mean it is, but they don't define you by the button you wear. They define you by what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-ford/henry-this-isn-t-about-us-i-mean-it-is-but-they-don-t-define-you-by/) [Jamie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-ford/) > [The language skill in the U.S. for the most part has been awful. Many Americans don't learn any foreign language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-schwarzman/the-language-skill-in-the-u-s-for-the-most-part-has-been-awful-many/) [Stephen A. Schwarzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-schwarzman/) > [The problem that we have is that most Americans don't even study American history, let alone Pinochet, Mussolini, Hitler, Stalin and all these guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/the-problem-that-we-have-is-that-most-americans-don-t-even-study/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) ## More by Mark Shields > [I'm not sure Betsy DeVos has ever spent a day in a public school. And I don't - I'm pretty sure Donald Trump hasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/i-m-not-sure-betsy-devos-has-ever-spent-a-day-in-a-public-school-and/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Donald Trump is sounding the same theme he has sounded since May or June of 2015.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/donald-trump-is-sounding-the-same-theme-he-has-sounded-since-may-or/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [I do look upon the secretary of education's primary responsibility as the quality of education that - and improving the education that every child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/i-do-look-upon-the-secretary-of-education-s-primary-responsibility-as/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Dan Coats, retiring senator from Indiana, a mild-mannered man, a former United States ambassador to Germany, former congressman, said of Ted Cruz he's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/dan-coats-retiring-senator-from-indiana-a-mild-mannered-man-a-former/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [It's interesting how identity politics and Ann Coulter-style tactics have now blossomed. But they were always there in CPAC.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/it-s-interesting-how-identity-politics-and-ann-coulter-style-tactics/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [When you run for president of the United States, everybody does the same thing in the campaign-they talk about veterans, how much they admire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/when-you-run-for-president-of-the-united-states-everybody-does-the/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Americans don't like powerful figures who punch down, that is, who pick on someone less powerful and less able to speak for themselves than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/americans-don-t-like-powerful-figures-who-punch-down-that-is-who-pick/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Everyone has to take Donald Trump seriously, and I think that's what we're seeing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/everyone-has-to-take-donald-trump-seriously-and-i-think-that-s-what/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Donald Trump defies gravity. And so I guess he has to be Donald Trump. It's gotten him so far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/donald-trump-defies-gravity-and-so-i-guess-he-has-to-be-donald-trump/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [ My church \[Catholisism\] is hurting from arrogance and from its indifference to the suffering of children that were abused and the inclination of the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/my-church-catholisism-is-hurting-from-arrogance-and-from-its/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [America is Republican until 5:00 or 6:00 at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/america-is-republican-until-5-00-or-6-00-at-night/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [John Kerry's biography was central to his campaign.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/john-kerry-s-biography-was-central-to-his-campaign/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [I think Guantanamo, has been synonymous with the staining of American values and American legal tradition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/i-think-guantanamo-has-been-synonymous-with-the-staining-of-american/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Stronger together is, I think, a preposition and a comparative adjective, but it's not really an action verb or what it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/stronger-together-is-i-think-a-preposition-and-a-comparative/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [If you only make fights that you're going to win, there would be no women's vote in America, there would be no civil rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/if-you-only-make-fights-that-you-re-going-to-win-there-would-be-no/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) [Explore all 227 Mark Shields quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) ## More Americans quotes > [“People – Americans, mostly – realise how attached they are to material comforts when they arrive in India.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-william-roberts/people-americans-mostly-realise-how-attached-they-are-to-material/) Paul William Roberts > [Music has an intrinsic value that touches Americans - they love their music, and want more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-rosen/music-has-an-intrinsic-value-that-touches-americans-they-love-their/) [Hilary Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-rosen/) > [Americans are very friendly and very suspicious, that is what Americans are and that is what always upsets the foreigner, who deals with them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/americans-are-very-friendly-and-very-suspicious-that-is-what/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [Just because the Americans are so good at rattling out accessible and cheap junk food, nobody looks twice when it comes to their food.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-oliver/just-because-the-americans-are-so-good-at-rattling-out-accessible-and/) [Jamie Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-oliver/) > [My parents don't care what Americans think of us; we just care what the other Indian people in our community think of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himanshu-suri/my-parents-don-t-care-what-americans-think-of-us-we-just-care-what/) [Himanshu Suri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/himanshu-suri/) > [When Americans, who have no idea who I am, laugh at my jokes, it's exactly the same if someone loves you even if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gad-elmaleh/when-americans-who-have-no-idea-who-i-am-laugh-at-my-jokes-it-s/) [Gad Elmaleh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gad-elmaleh/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We Americans tend to be a prodigal lot. We are as careless with our personal resources as we are with the resources of nature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-crook-de-camp/we-americans-tend-to-be-a-prodigal-lot-we-are-as-careless-with-our/) [Catherine Crook de Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-crook-de-camp/) > [Americans will put up with anything provided it doesn't block traffic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/americans-will-put-up-with-anything-provided-it-doesn-t-block-traffic/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [Most Americans believe in fairness; we believe that people should work hard but there should be a safety net. We believe in saving the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-maclean/most-americans-believe-in-fairness-we-believe-that-people-should-work/) [Nancy MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-maclean/) > [“Using a wide variety of media, we could demonstrate for our fellow Americans their anxieties, desires, insufficiencies, and frustrations--and how to assuage them all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ferris/using-a-wide-variety-of-media-we-could-demonstrate-for-our-fellow/) [Joshua Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ferris/) > [The Americans say that we are ungrateful-but I ask them for heaven's sake, what should we be grateful to them for-for murdering our fathers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walker/the-americans-say-that-we-are-ungrateful-but-i-ask-them-for-heaven-s/) [David Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walker/) > [So many Korean Americans like me came to this country with the hope of achieving their own American Dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-steel/so-many-korean-americans-like-me-came-to-this-country-with-the-hope/) [Michelle Steel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-steel/) > [You are Americans. You love this country. Together we are entrusted with the principles that represent mankind's greatest political and social achievement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tsongas/you-are-americans-you-love-this-country-together-we-are-entrusted/) [Paul Tsongas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tsongas/) [Browse all 1,536 Americans quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Americans don't like the way Washington operates. They don't like Washington. 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