--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know you have a problem in American…" description: "\"You know you have a problem in American politics when they're making 'House of Cards' look normal.\" — Michael Kelly" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/714/michael-kelly-18780_american_you-know-you-have-a-problem-in-american_2393290.jpg" --- # You know you have a problem in American politics when… ![“You know you have a problem in American politics when they're making 'House of Cards' look normal.” quote by Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/714/michael-kelly-18780_american_you-know-you-have-a-problem-in-american_2393290.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/714/michael-kelly-18780_american_you-know-you-have-a-problem-in-american_2393290.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/714/michael-kelly-18780_american_you-know-you-have-a-problem-in-american_2393290.jpg) > “You know you have a problem in American politics when they're making 'House of Cards' look normal.” [Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When political discourse mirrors fictional drama, it signals a breakdown in reality and the erosion of democratic norms. **In simple terms:** Politics feels like a TV drama, indicating serious problems. Key Takeaway Demand accountability and factual discourse. Themes politics media truth democracy norms Mood critical concerned urgent Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - elections - legislative debates - public policy discussions Key Concepts Political theory media criticism civic engagement Questions to Reflect On - What steps can citizens take to restore realistic political dialogue? - How does media sensationalism affect public perception? A Different Perspective Comparisons to fiction can oversimplify complex issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [American politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-politics/) [Cards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cards/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [House Cards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house-cards-247799/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Look Normal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-normal-707759/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Politics Making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics-making-1973778/) [Problem American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-american-444483/) ## Related quotes > [We don't have a problem killing off characters on 'House of Cards.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/we-don-t-have-a-problem-killing-off-characters-on-house-of-cards/) [Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/) > [Charts and learning the politics behind making a record - it's pretty soulless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-nutini/charts-and-learning-the-politics-behind-making-a-record-it-s-pretty/) [Paolo Nutini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-nutini/) > [One of the great things about the sci-fi genre is that you can kind of get away with a bit more when talking politics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-nichols/one-of-the-great-things-about-the-sci-fi-genre-is-that-you-can-kind/) [Rachel Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-nichols/) > [People have said to me, 'Oh, you are much nicer making documentaries than you were in politics.' So I should be. If you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/people-have-said-to-me-oh-you-are-much-nicer-making-documentaries/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [I've never heard Donald Trump say that he watches 'House of Cards,' but I'd be really shocked if he didn't because he appears to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/i-ve-never-heard-donald-trump-say-that-he-watches-house-of-cards-but/) [Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/) > [ I have talked to more people who are in politics who have said to me, "\[House of Cards\] is closer than you can imagine.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/i-have-talked-to-more-people-who-are-in-politics-who-have-said-to-me/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [For the fundamentalist who wants to believe every word of the Bible, however, life is a house of cards, with each card a tenet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-sullivan/for-the-fundamentalist-who-wants-to-believe-every-word-of-the-bible/) [Morris Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-sullivan/) > [People tell me the Netflix series, House of Cards, is sort of like my class come to life. The movie Margin Call portrays the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/people-tell-me-the-netflix-series-house-of-cards-is-sort-of-like-my/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [Hey, Nana... people's feelings change easily... what you see is a house of cards... nothing's sure, and nothing lasts forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-yazawa/hey-nana-people-s-feelings-change-easily-what-you-see-is-a-house-of/) [Ai Yazawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-yazawa/) > [The Eastern front is like a house of cards. If the front is broken through at one point all the rest will collapse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-guderian/the-eastern-front-is-like-a-house-of-cards-if-the-front-is-broken/) [Heinz Guderian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-guderian/) > [It's so amazing that you can give somebody like David Fincher 'House of Cards,' and he can do whatever he wants - Netflix doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-lynch/it-s-so-amazing-that-you-can-give-somebody-like-david-fincher-house/) [Jane Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-lynch/) > [“The scariest thing about crazy people is that they can look so normal - Rob Sutter”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-gibson/the-scariest-thing-about-crazy-people-is-that-they-can-look-so-normal/) [Rachel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-gibson/) > [I hope what people see in me is that I'm a normal guy, and that people who look as I do can do normal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moeen-ali/i-hope-what-people-see-in-me-is-that-i-m-a-normal-guy-and-that-people/) [Moeen Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moeen-ali/) > [“He’s been looking at my file. So the question has to be right there on the tip of his tongue right about now, waiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyma-rizwaan-khan/he-s-been-looking-at-my-file-so-the-question-has-to-be-right-there-on/) [Cyma Rizwaan Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyma-rizwaan-khan/) > [“I happen to like the strange ones," the driver said. "People who look normal and live a normal life--they're the ones you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-happen-to-like-the-strange-ones-the-driver-said-people-who-look/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) ## More by Michael Kelly > [I like to think I'm a good, kind person who does the right thing, but I don't ever feel sorry for someone who didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/i-like-to-think-i-m-a-good-kind-person-who-does-the-right-thing-but-i/) [Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/) > [I worked construction clean-up. I was driving a pickup truck at the age of 14 on a construction site. I loved building and being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/i-worked-construction-clean-up-i-was-driving-a-pickup-truck-at-the/) [Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/) > [I learn from Kevin Spacey and Tom Hardy, watching these guys work, the things they all do differently. Tom never stops exploring and discovering,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/i-learn-from-kevin-spacey-and-tom-hardy-watching-these-guys-work-the/) [Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/) > [We don't have a problem killing off characters on 'House of Cards.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/we-don-t-have-a-problem-killing-off-characters-on-house-of-cards/) [Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/) > [I had actually studied political science in college. I had dreams of being a lawyer at one time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/i-had-actually-studied-political-science-in-college-i-had-dreams-of/) [Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/) > [I had a dream to be an attorney. I don't know if I ever would've passed the bar or not, but that was my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/i-had-a-dream-to-be-an-attorney-i-don-t-know-if-i-ever-would-ve/) [Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/) > [Back when Donald Trump was just starting in the primaries, and I was asked, 'What do you think of Trump?' I would say, 'Donald…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/back-when-donald-trump-was-just-starting-in-the-primaries-and-i-was/) [Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/) > [In the beginning, I aspired just to make a comfortable living in acting. I still feel the same - it's just that my standards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/in-the-beginning-i-aspired-just-to-make-a-comfortable-living-in/) [Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/) > [The most important thing you can do as an actor is bring as much of yourself to the character to ground the character in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/the-most-important-thing-you-can-do-as-an-actor-is-bring-as-much-of/) [Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/) > [I've done so many jobs. As an actor, you have to. I didn't have my parents footing the bill when I moved to New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/i-ve-done-so-many-jobs-as-an-actor-you-have-to-i-didn-t-have-my/) [Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/) > [I've never heard Donald Trump say that he watches 'House of Cards,' but I'd be really shocked if he didn't because he appears to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/i-ve-never-heard-donald-trump-say-that-he-watches-house-of-cards-but/) [Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/) > [First and foremost, it's my mom and dad who gave me the foundation, the belief in me that I could do anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/first-and-foremost-it-s-my-mom-and-dad-who-gave-me-the-foundation-the/) [Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/) > [Yeah, I probably got in too much trouble as a youth to be a politician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/yeah-i-probably-got-in-too-much-trouble-as-a-youth-to-be-a-politician/) [Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/) > [People always ask me, 'Hey, what's Matt Damon like?' He's just a dude, just a really good person and one hell of an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/people-always-ask-me-hey-what-s-matt-damon-like-he-s-just-a-dude-just/) [Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/) > [I studied political science, and when I fell into acting in college - it was just a total fluke that I became an actor.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/i-studied-political-science-and-when-i-fell-into-acting-in-college-it/) [Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/) [Explore all 34 Michael Kelly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/) ## More American quotes > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [I have fallen in love with American names, the sharp names that never get fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-american-names-the-sharp-names-that-never/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in a tremendous investment to support millions of workers without a paycheck and behind on bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/congress-passed-the-american-rescue-plan-act-in-a-tremendous/) [Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/) > [Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and employ almost half of the working population. Yet because of their size, they rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-lipinski/small-businesses-are-the-backbone-of-the-american-economy-and-employ/) [Dan Lipinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-lipinski/) > [Although I write in English, and despite the fact that I'm from America, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [Firefighters and rescue workers are American superheroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/firefighters-and-rescue-workers-are-american-superheroes/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [New York and San Francisco are distinctly different. San Francisco is driving the American media, not New York. You have young, microwaved millionaires and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/new-york-and-san-francisco-are-distinctly-different-san-francisco-is/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [Food as a hobby used to be an elite pastime, and it has become something that is totally ordinary for people of every background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/food-as-a-hobby-used-to-be-an-elite-pastime-and-it-has-become/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > [It's important for American soldiers to be culturally sensitive when deployed in foreign countries. But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) [Browse all 7,717 American quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You know you have a problem in American politics when they're making 'House of Cards' look normal.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Kelly" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/you-know-you-have-a-problem-in-american-politics-when-they-re-making/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/you-know-you-have-a-problem-in-american-politics-when-they-re-making/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/714/michael-kelly-18780_american_you-know-you-have-a-problem-in-american_2393290.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/714/michael-kelly-18780_american_you-know-you-have-a-problem-in-american_2393290.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/714/michael-kelly-18780_american_you-know-you-have-a-problem-in-american_2393290.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You know you have a problem in American politics when they're making 'House of Cards' look normal.” — Michael Kelly", "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": "Michael Kelly", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You know you have a problem...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/you-know-you-have-a-problem-in-american-politics-when-they-re-making/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/you-know-you-have-a-problem-in-american-politics-when-they-re-making/#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 } } ] } ```