--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Part of the problem in politics is that…" description: "\"Part of the problem in politics is that people only look at the next four to eight years: kick the can down the road and say, 'Hey, it's the next perso..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/michael-nutter-14707_down_part-of-the-problem-in-politics-is-that_2834495.jpg" --- # Part of the problem in politics is that people only look… ![“Part of the problem in politics is that people only look at the next four to eight years: kick the can down the road and say, 'Hey, it's the next person's problem.'” quote by Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/michael-nutter-14707_down_part-of-the-problem-in-politics-is-that_2834495.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/michael-nutter-14707_down_part-of-the-problem-in-politics-is-that_2834495.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/michael-nutter-14707_down_part-of-the-problem-in-politics-is-that_2834495.jpg) > “Part of the problem in politics is that people only look at the next four to eight years: kick the can down the road and say, 'Hey, it's the next person's problem.'” [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People focus on short‑term political cycles, avoiding long‑term responsibility and passing problems to successors. **In simple terms:** Politicians think only a few years ahead. Key Takeaway Consider long‑term impacts. Themes politics short‑term thinking responsibility Mood critical concerned Type political ethical When to use this quote - government decision‑making - public budgeting - future planning - civic engagement Key Concepts intergenerational equity policy planning Questions to Reflect On - How can we incentivize long‑term thinking? - What structures could prevent passing problems forward? A Different Perspective Short‑term pressures can make long‑term planning difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down/) [Down the road](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down-the-road/) [Eight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eight/) [Four](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four/) [Hey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hey/) [Kick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kick/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Look Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-years-1051986/) [Next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Part](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/part/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person/) [Person Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person-problem-348830/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Politics People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics-people/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problem Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-politics-396019/) [Road](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/road/) [Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [I suppose people also have to be a little more careful or circumspect if they're going to leverage their celebrity to promote their political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/i-suppose-people-also-have-to-be-a-little-more-careful-or-circumspect/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [“The problem is politics is made a sport, almost as much a sport as football or baseball. When it comes to politics, adults and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-problem-is-politics-is-made-a-sport-almost-as-much-a-sport-as/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Part of the problem with politics is we don't have people who want to get in the fray because of guys like Sen. McConnell,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/part-of-the-problem-with-politics-is-we-don-t-have-people-who-want-to/) [Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) > [Every nations problem is politics by ignoring the country,religion without considering god.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sumesh-nair/every-nations-problem-is-politics-by-ignoring-the-country-religion/) [Sumesh Nair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sumesh-nair/) > [Despite the insanity of using whether you would want to have a beer with someone as a legitimate reason for voting for or against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-schur/despite-the-insanity-of-using-whether-you-would-want-to-have-a-beer/) [Michael Schur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-schur/) > [The problem with politics isn't the money; it's the power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/the-problem-with-politics-isn-t-the-money-it-s-the-power/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [One problem with politics is that it is a zero sum game, i.e. politicians argue how to cut the pie smaller and smaller, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/one-problem-with-politics-is-that-it-is-a-zero-sum-game-i-e/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [The biggest problem in politics is that you help some S.O.B. get what he wants and then he throws you out of the train.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-griffiths/the-biggest-problem-in-politics-is-that-you-help-some-s-o-b-get-what/) [Martha Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-griffiths/) > [“The problem of politics is the problem of tribes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/the-problem-of-politics-is-the-problem-of-tribes/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [There is a disconnect between Arkansas and Washington, D.C. The career politicians in Washington are not listening to people here in Arkansas, and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conner-eldridge/there-is-a-disconnect-between-arkansas-and-washington-d-c-the-career/) [Conner Eldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conner-eldridge/) > [That's the problem in politics. One wrong word and it's over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/that-s-the-problem-in-politics-one-wrong-word-and-it-s-over/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [You can't solve a spiritual problem with politics. You may as well as throw the Parliament to a drowning man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinead-o-connor/you-can-t-solve-a-spiritual-problem-with-politics-you-may-as-well-as/) [Sinead O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinead-o-connor/) > [When you are equal with another person, the problem of integration doesn't even arise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/when-you-are-equal-with-another-person-the-problem-of-integration/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Just because one person's problem is less traumatic than another's doesn't mean they're required to hurt less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-because-one-person-s-problem-is-less-traumatic-than-another-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I'm the most famous person, problem is people don't know it yet…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-focke/i-m-the-most-famous-person-problem-is-people-don-t-know-it-yet/) [Kevin Focke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-focke/) ## More by Michael Nutter > [Politics in Philadelphia is a contact sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/politics-in-philadelphia-is-a-contact-sport/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [For those of us in the political business, generally, it's been pretty much an unwritten but understood rule that family and children are out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/for-those-of-us-in-the-political-business-generally-it-s-been-pretty/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [Everyone felt comfortable with these guys and what their vision was, and when they said they want to keep the staff intact, that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/everyone-felt-comfortable-with-these-guys-and-what-their-vision-was/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [There is no Democratic or Republican way to fill a pothole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/there-is-no-democratic-or-republican-way-to-fill-a-pothole/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [Mayors could never get away with the kind of nonsense that goes on in Washington. In our world, you either picked up the trash…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/mayors-could-never-get-away-with-the-kind-of-nonsense-that-goes-on-in/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [If you want to act like a butthead, your butt is going to get locked up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/if-you-want-to-act-like-a-butthead-your-butt-is-going-to-get-locked-up/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [Somehow, someway, for some people there's an automatic assumption that a mayor who is African-American or some other elected official has to support another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/somehow-someway-for-some-people-there-s-an-automatic-assumption-that/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [Philly is a place where people love change as long as things stay the same for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/philly-is-a-place-where-people-love-change-as-long-as-things-stay-the/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [If you walk into somebody's office with your hair uncombed and a pick in the back, and your shoes untied, and your pants half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/if-you-walk-into-somebody-s-office-with-your-hair-uncombed-and-a-pick/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [I'm honored to serve as mayor of my hometown where our founders started America with three simple words: 'We, the people.' And when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/i-m-honored-to-serve-as-mayor-of-my-hometown-where-our-founders/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [We need sensible gun safety measures. The federal government could do something about this; they could show up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/we-need-sensible-gun-safety-measures-the-federal-government-could-do/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [What the mayors care about is, 'How can I get money to invest in the infrastructure in my city? How do we put people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/what-the-mayors-care-about-is-how-can-i-get-money-to-invest-in-the/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [We are serious about our music here in Philadelphia, and jazz has meant a lot to this city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/we-are-serious-about-our-music-here-in-philadelphia-and-jazz-has/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [A father is a person who's around, participating in a child's life. He's a teacher who helps to guide and shape and mold that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/a-father-is-a-person-who-s-around-participating-in-a-child-s-life-he/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [Our economy grows from the middle out, not the top down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/our-economy-grows-from-the-middle-out-not-the-top-down/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) [Explore all 45 Michael Nutter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) ## More Down quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I like to sit down, relax, have a cup of coffee on the terrace and read a book. I like to travel the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-vos/i-like-to-sit-down-relax-have-a-cup-of-coffee-on-the-terrace-and-read/) [Marianne Vos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-vos/) > [I turn a lot of stuff down - big, big movies, the kind I wouldn't want to go to the cinema to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-turn-a-lot-of-stuff-down-big-big-movies-the-kind-i-wouldn-t-want-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [What I was concerned about when I wrote the 'Downward Spiral' record was being a self-centred destructive force. The point was tearing down everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/what-i-was-concerned-about-when-i-wrote-the-downward-spiral-record/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [When it really comes down to it, the job you do is more important and is more representative of who you are than your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/when-it-really-comes-down-to-it-the-job-you-do-is-more-important-and/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [My writing routine is: get son off to school and sit down at 8 A.M. I read what I wrote the day before, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chevalier/my-writing-routine-is-get-son-off-to-school-and-sit-down-at-8-a-m-i/) [Tracy Chevalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chevalier/) > [Back in the really olden days, dinner was seldom a ceremonial event for U.S. families. Only the very wealthy had a separate dining room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/back-in-the-really-olden-days-dinner-was-seldom-a-ceremonial-event/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [No matter how brilliant an actor is, there's always a point where they let you down, but that's all part of their journey. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hale/no-matter-how-brilliant-an-actor-is-there-s-always-a-point-where-they/) [Amanda Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hale/) > [When I go to my health club, and it's in the basement, you have to take the elevator down. And this drives me crazy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/when-i-go-to-my-health-club-and-it-s-in-the-basement-you-have-to-take/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [My dad's quite a conservative person, and he brought me up to be very questioning of the commercial world. He looked down on pop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-and-the-diamonds/my-dad-s-quite-a-conservative-person-and-he-brought-me-up-to-be-very/) [Marina and the Diamonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-and-the-diamonds/) > [I was strictly after hits when it came down to the Jackson 5. That's all I was concerned with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deke-richards/i-was-strictly-after-hits-when-it-came-down-to-the-jackson-5-that-s/) [Deke Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deke-richards/) > [Down where I grew up, able-bodied people do that which we believe God created them to do. Work is a blessing; it's not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-southerland/down-where-i-grew-up-able-bodied-people-do-that-which-we-believe-god/) [Steve Southerland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-southerland/) > [I have a tendency to campaign positively and campaign on issues, not try to tear someone else down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-k-davis/i-have-a-tendency-to-campaign-positively-and-campaign-on-issues-not/) [Danny K. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-k-davis/) > [I met Tyler Perry and we did 'House of Payne' and a movie. We've done a couple other films since then, but it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-gross/i-met-tyler-perry-and-we-did-house-of-payne-and-a-movie-we-ve-done-a/) [Lance Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-gross/) > [Especially for those of us who lived in single cells, you had the time to sit down and think, and we discovered that sitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/especially-for-those-of-us-who-lived-in-single-cells-you-had-the-time/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) [Browse all 4,283 Down quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Part of the problem in politics is that people only look at the next four to eight years: kick the can down the road and say, 'Hey, it's the next person's problem.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Nutter" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/part-of-the-problem-in-politics-is-that-people-only-look-at-the-next/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Down" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/part-of-the-problem-in-politics-is-that-people-only-look-at-the-next/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/michael-nutter-14707_down_part-of-the-problem-in-politics-is-that_2834495.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/michael-nutter-14707_down_part-of-the-problem-in-politics-is-that_2834495.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/michael-nutter-14707_down_part-of-the-problem-in-politics-is-that_2834495.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Part of the problem in politics is that people only look at the next four to eight years: kick the can down…” — Michael Nutter", "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 Nutter", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Part of the problem in politics...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/part-of-the-problem-in-politics-is-that-people-only-look-at-the-next/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/part-of-the-problem-in-politics-is-that-people-only-look-at-the-next/#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 } } ] } ```