--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People vote against their own interests…" description: "\"People vote against their own interests that all the time. But when you do the polling in the U.S., it has gone from less than 50 percent who thought c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/michael-bloomberg-1293_change_people-vote-against-their-own-interests_648681.png" --- # People vote against their own interests that all the time… ![“People vote against their own interests that all the time. But when you do the polling in the U.S., it has gone from less than 50 percent who thought climate change was real to 70-odd percent. And if you listen to the Republicans in Congress, they used to say, "Oh, climate change doesn't exist."…” quote by Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/michael-bloomberg-1293_change_people-vote-against-their-own-interests_648681.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/michael-bloomberg-1293_change_people-vote-against-their-own-interests_648681.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/michael-bloomberg-1293_change_people-vote-against-their-own-interests_648681.png) > “People vote against their own interests that all the time. But when you do the polling in the U.S., it has gone from less than 50 percent who thought climate change was real to 70-odd percent. And if you listen to the Republicans in Congress, they used to say, "Oh, climate change doesn't exist." Then they switched to "Well, it exists, but it's not man-made," to "Well, I'm going to address the issue." Why? Because when they go home, the local constituent says, "Wait a second. What are you talking about? We just had a flood. We haven't had rain in a long time." They can't get away from it.” [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often deny facts that conflict with personal or political interests, yet direct experiences can shift opinions dramatically. **In simple terms:** People ignore facts until they feel the impact personally. Key Takeaway Personal experience can change opinions. Themes politics psychology climate change behavior public opinion Mood concerned hopeful urgent Type political motivational educational When to use this quote - campaign messaging - community outreach - personal storytelling - policy advocacy Key Concepts cognitive bias motivational interviewing social proof Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders translate personal experiences into collective action? - What strategies overcome identity‑based resistance? A Different Perspective People may still resist change due to entrenched identities or misinformation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Climate change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate-change/) [Flood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flood/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rain/) [Republican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) ## Related quotes > [How to get people to vote against their interests and to really think against their interests is very clever. It's the cleverest ruling class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/how-to-get-people-to-vote-against-their-interests-and-to-really-think/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [It's always interesting for me that people vote against their interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-niccol/it-s-always-interesting-for-me-that-people-vote-against-their/) [Andrew Niccol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-niccol/) > [Most people have thought of ... climate change as a problem about the environment that is separate and distinct from problems of human wellbeing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-oreskes/most-people-have-thought-of-climate-change-as-a-problem-about-the/) [Naomi Oreskes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-oreskes/) > [I thought if the climate was heating that CO2 was the only forcing, and it would be late in the century before we had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-r-ehrlich/i-thought-if-the-climate-was-heating-that-co2-was-the-only-forcing/) [Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/) > [I believed Justin Trudeau in 2015. I thought he would be a climate leader. I was wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/i-believed-justin-trudeau-in-2015-i-thought-he-would-be-a-climate/) [Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/) > [“Since Marco Polo, he thought, this climate has defeated Western civilization.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-johnson/since-marco-polo-he-thought-this-climate-has-defeated-western/) [Denis Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-johnson/) > [The fallacy is that politicians don't really do much about social issues. They just demonize their opponents as elitists and reap the benefit. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/the-fallacy-is-that-politicians-don-t-really-do-much-about-social/) [Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/) > [The truth is there are people who are quite informed who still vote against their interests. I would argue that, as a Green Party…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-lamont-hill/the-truth-is-there-are-people-who-are-quite-informed-who-still-vote/) [Marc Lamont Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-lamont-hill/) > [Ideal legislators do not vote their interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/ideal-legislators-do-not-vote-their-interests/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [With all of the talk about polling and demographics, I think too many people have lost touch with the human and moral crisis of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene-holt-baker/with-all-of-the-talk-about-polling-and-demographics-i-think-too-many/) Arlene Holt Baker > [On February 7, 2.2 million Haitians went to the polls and exercised their constitutional right to select a leader. They went by foot, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-foley/on-february-7-2-2-million-haitians-went-to-the-polls-and-exercised/) [Mark Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-foley/) > [According to a Public Policy Polling survey, most Americans find lice and colonoscopies more appealing than Capitol Hill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/according-to-a-public-policy-polling-survey-most-americans-find-lice/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [Congress as a whole is less popular than it's been since polling was invented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/congress-as-a-whole-is-less-popular-than-it-s-been-since-polling-was/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [ Ted Cruz who's been gaining on \[Donald\] Trump in Iowa and is polling ahead of him in the latest Monmouth poll would be quite… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/ted-cruz-who-s-been-gaining-on-donald-trump-in-iowa-and-is-polling/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [I know that a lot of people love to say that polls are wrong or don't matter, and from time to time they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/i-know-that-a-lot-of-people-love-to-say-that-polls-are-wrong-or-don-t/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) ## More by Michael Bloomberg > [I'm not going to run for president. No way, no how.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/i-m-not-going-to-run-for-president-no-way-no-how/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [Now, you might say – “But why should we pay people for doing what they’re supposed to do?” It’s a fair question – but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/now-you-might-say-but-why-should-we-pay-people-for-doing-what-they-re/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [What I'm trying to do is to create excitement. So people looking at the Bloomberg's office building say, "My goodness, what's going on here?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/what-i-m-trying-to-do-is-to-create-excitement-so-people-looking-at/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [You have to understand, we have better communications and better transportation, so people know what's available elsewhere and can get a message out, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/you-have-to-understand-we-have-better-communications-and-better/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [ 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/) > [If you want to do something for your children and show how much you love them, the single best thing-by far-is to support organizations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/if-you-want-to-do-something-for-your-children-and-show-how-much-you/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [We haven't had a world war in a long time. We do have mass movements of people out of Syria and North Africa. But,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/we-haven-t-had-a-world-war-in-a-long-time-we-do-have-mass-movements/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [I think one of the great dangers here is going and categorizing anybody from one religion as a terrorist. That's not true... That would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/i-think-one-of-the-great-dangers-here-is-going-and-categorizing/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [Stubborn isn't a word I would use to describe myself; pigheaded is more appropriate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/stubborn-isn-t-a-word-i-would-use-to-describe-myself-pigheaded-is/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [Many of America's and New York's sons and daughters are around the world fighting for the freedoms that the Statue of Liberty stands for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/many-of-america-s-and-new-york-s-sons-and-daughters-are-around-the/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [If you really believe that you're making a difference and that you can leave a legacy of better schools and jobs and safer streets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/if-you-really-believe-that-you-re-making-a-difference-and-that-you/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [The next day after I got fired, literally the next day, I started a new company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/the-next-day-after-i-got-fired-literally-the-next-day-i-started-a-new/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [We all must recognize that homeland security funds should be allocated by threat and no other reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/we-all-must-recognize-that-homeland-security-funds-should-be/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [In New York City, a lot of people think "the great outdoors" is the area between your front door and a taxi cab.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/in-new-york-city-a-lot-of-people-think-the-great-outdoors-is-the-area/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [Is your company so small you have to do everything for yourself? Wait until you're so big that you can't. That's worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/is-your-company-so-small-you-have-to-do-everything-for-yourself-wait/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) [Explore all 259 Michael Bloomberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People vote against their own interests that all the time. But when you do the polling in the U.S., it has gone from less than 50 percent who thought climate change was real to 70-odd percent. And if you listen to the Republicans in Congress, they used to say, \"Oh, climate change doesn't exist.\" Then they switched to \"Well, it exists, but it's not man-made,\" to \"Well, I'm going to address the issue.\" Why? Because when they go home, the local constituent says, \"Wait a second. What are you talking about? We just had a flood. 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