--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Washington, under Democrats and…" description: "\"Washington, under Democrats and Republicans, has a profoundly neurotic attitude toward 'the people.' It is built on equal parts of suspicion, loathing,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/meg-greenfield-33661_attitude_washington-under-democrats-and-republica_1795228.jpg" --- # Washington, under Democrats and Republicans, has a… ![“Washington, under Democrats and Republicans, has a profoundly neurotic attitude toward 'the people.' It is built on equal parts of suspicion, loathing, fear, respect and dependence.” quote by Meg Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/meg-greenfield-33661_attitude_washington-under-democrats-and-republica_1795228.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/meg-greenfield-33661_attitude_washington-under-democrats-and-republica_1795228.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/meg-greenfield-33661_attitude_washington-under-democrats-and-republica_1795228.jpg) > “Washington, under Democrats and Republicans, has a profoundly neurotic attitude toward 'the people.' It is built on equal parts of suspicion, loathing, fear, respect and dependence.” [Meg Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-greenfield/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. American politics shows a deep, conflicted attitude toward citizens, mixing suspicion and respect. **In simple terms:** Politics mixes distrust and respect toward people. Key Takeaway Recognize mixed motives. Themes politics public trust division Mood critical analytical Type journalistic political When to use this quote - elections - policy making - public discourse Key Concepts democracy psychology media Questions to Reflect On - Why do leaders distrust the public? - How can trust be rebuilt? A Different Perspective May generalize all parties. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrat/) [Dependence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dependence/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Neurotic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neurotic/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Republican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Suspicion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suspicion/) ## Related quotes > [Wall Street's outsized influence in our nation's capital is something I've talked about for a long time - long before I even thought about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/wall-street-s-outsized-influence-in-our-nation-s-capital-is-something/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) > [The American people voted to restore integrity and honesty in Washington, D.C., and the Democrats intend to lead the most honest, most open and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/the-american-people-voted-to-restore-integrity-and-honesty-in/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [People in both parties are restless for change, ready to break free of old patterns in Washington. And Democrats are about to anoint someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/people-in-both-parties-are-restless-for-change-ready-to-break-free-of-2/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [We don't want Washington Democrats running the House of Representatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-don-t-want-washington-democrats-running-the-house-of/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [From the moment Donald Trump was inaugurated, Washington Democrats have been myopically focused on politically targeting his administration and impeaching him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-meadows/from-the-moment-donald-trump-was-inaugurated-washington-democrats/) [Mark Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-meadows/) > [Washington Democrats see the IRS' overextended resources and automatically think the answer is to take and spend more of your tax dollars. I disagree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-boustany/washington-democrats-see-the-irs-overextended-resources-and/) [Charles Boustany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-boustany/) > [I'm self-loathing, introverted, and neurotic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-m-self-loathing-introverted-and-neurotic/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [I think people are used to people in show business having a lot of hubris. I think I have a normal amount of self-loathing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/i-think-people-are-used-to-people-in-show-business-having-a-lot-of/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [The mind of a writer can be a truly terrifying thing. Isolated, neurotic, caffeine-addled, crippled by procrastination, consumed by feelings of panic, self-loathing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/the-mind-of-a-writer-can-be-a-truly-terrifying-thing-isolated/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [I want to confess as best I can, but my heart is void. The void is a mirror. I see my face and feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingmar-bergman/i-want-to-confess-as-best-i-can-but-my-heart-is-void-the-void-is-a/) [Ingmar Bergman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingmar-bergman/) > [Change your thoughts, change your life. —LAO TZU When I was fighting depression, I remember hearing this expression and not understanding it at first.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/change-your-thoughts-change-your-life-lao-tzu-when-i-was-fighting/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [Listen, young people, I understand narcissism - clearly. But at least I have the decency to hate myself. And that's what's missing from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/listen-young-people-i-understand-narcissism-clearly-but-at-least-i/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [“Don't worry, nothing speaks louder than a lifetime of regret and self-loathing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/don-t-worry-nothing-speaks-louder-than-a-lifetime-of-regret-and-self/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is perfect in the same way that The Great Gatsby is perfect. Take a pencil and read these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mckeen/fear-and-loathing-in-las-vegas-is-perfect-in-the-same-way-that-the/) [William McKeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mckeen/) > [I spend a lot of time loathing the sentences that I put down on the page. Once I'm past that phase, it doesn't really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/i-spend-a-lot-of-time-loathing-the-sentences-that-i-put-down-on-the/) [Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/) ## More by Meg Greenfield > [Ninety percent of politics is deciding whom to blame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-greenfield/ninety-percent-of-politics-is-deciding-whom-to-blame/) [Meg Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-greenfield/) > [The forces of retribution are always listening. They never sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-greenfield/the-forces-of-retribution-are-always-listening-they-never-sleep/) [Meg Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-greenfield/) > [In Washington it is an honor to be disgraced. you have to have been somebody to fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-greenfield/in-washington-it-is-an-honor-to-be-disgraced-you-have-to-have-been/) [Meg Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-greenfield/) > [In government and out, there are vast realms of the bureaucracy dedicated to seeking more information, in perpetuity if need be, in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-greenfield/in-government-and-out-there-are-vast-realms-of-the-bureaucracy/) [Meg Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-greenfield/) > [Everyone seems to be running against a liar, but nobody seems to be one. Odd - I mean, the math doesn't work out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-greenfield/everyone-seems-to-be-running-against-a-liar-but-nobody-seems-to-be/) [Meg Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-greenfield/) > [Among all the complaints you hear these days about the crimes of the media, it seems to me the critics miss the big one.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-greenfield/among-all-the-complaints-you-hear-these-days-about-the-crimes-of-the/) [Meg Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-greenfield/) > [Since when do grown men and women, who presume to hold high government office and exercise what they think of as "moral leadership," require…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-greenfield/since-when-do-grown-men-and-women-who-presume-to-hold-high-government/) [Meg Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-greenfield/) > [Thin skin is the only kind of skin human beings come with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-greenfield/thin-skin-is-the-only-kind-of-skin-human-beings-come-with/) [Meg Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-greenfield/) > [There's nothing so dangerous for manipulators as people who choose to think for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-greenfield/there-s-nothing-so-dangerous-for-manipulators-as-people-who-choose-to/) [Meg Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-greenfield/) > [Everybody's for democracy in principle. It's only in practice that the thing gives rise to stiff objections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-greenfield/everybody-s-for-democracy-in-principle-it-s-only-in-practice-that-the/) [Meg Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-greenfield/) > [If a politician murders his mother, the first response of the press or of his opponents will likely be not that it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-greenfield/if-a-politician-murders-his-mother-the-first-response-of-the-press-or/) [Meg Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-greenfield/) > [There is such a thing as tempting the gods. Talking too much, too soon and with too much self-satisfaction has always seemed to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-greenfield/there-is-such-a-thing-as-tempting-the-gods-talking-too-much-too-soon/) [Meg Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-greenfield/) > [If you were starting from scratch to invent an instrument that could impose fiscal discipline, the last one on earth you would come up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-greenfield/if-you-were-starting-from-scratch-to-invent-an-instrument-that-could/) [Meg Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-greenfield/) [Explore all 14 Meg Greenfield quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-greenfield/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) Isaiah Harden (Me > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) Sheye Hassan > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Washington, under Democrats and Republicans, has a profoundly neurotic attitude toward 'the people.' It is built on equal parts of suspicion, loathing, fear, respect and dependence.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Meg Greenfield" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-greenfield/washington-under-democrats-and-republicans-has-a-profoundly-neurotic/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attitude" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-greenfield/washington-under-democrats-and-republicans-has-a-profoundly-neurotic/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/meg-greenfield-33661_attitude_washington-under-democrats-and-republica_1795228.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/meg-greenfield-33661_attitude_washington-under-democrats-and-republica_1795228.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/meg-greenfield-33661_attitude_washington-under-democrats-and-republica_1795228.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Washington, under Democrats and Republicans, has a profoundly neurotic attitude toward 'the people.' It is…” — Meg Greenfield", "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": "Meg Greenfield", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-greenfield/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Washington, under Democrats and Republicans, has...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-greenfield/washington-under-democrats-and-republicans-has-a-profoundly-neurotic/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-greenfield/washington-under-democrats-and-republicans-has-a-profoundly-neurotic/#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 } } ] } ```