--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the US, first of all, the electoral…" description: "\"In the US, first of all, the electoral system has been almost totally shredded. For a long time it's been pretty much run by private concentrated spend..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cce/noam-chomsky-42_democracy_in-the-us-first-of-all-the-electoral-sys_641045.jpg" --- # In the US, first of all, the electoral system has been… ![“In the US, first of all, the electoral system has been almost totally shredded. For a long time it's been pretty much run by private concentrated spending but now it's over the top. Elections increasingly over the years have been [public relations] extravaganzas.” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cce/noam-chomsky-42_democracy_in-the-us-first-of-all-the-electoral-sys_641045.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cce/noam-chomsky-42_democracy_in-the-us-first-of-all-the-electoral-sys_641045.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cce/noam-chomsky-42_democracy_in-the-us-first-of-all-the-electoral-sys_641045.jpg) > “In the US, first of all, the electoral system has been almost totally shredded. For a long time it's been pretty much run by private concentrated spending but now it's over the top. Elections increasingly over the years have been \[public relations\] extravaganzas.” [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The American electoral process is dominated by massive private money, turning elections into PR spectacles rather than democratic contests. **In simple terms:** Money controls US elections, making them PR shows. Key Takeaway Demand transparency and limit campaign spending. Themes democracy political finance media influence Mood critical concerned Type political analytical When to use this quote - voter education - activism - policy advocacy - media literacy Key Concepts public relations campaign finance reform elite capture Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens reduce the influence of money in politics? - What alternatives to current campaign funding exist? A Different Perspective Even with reforms, entrenched interests may resist change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Elections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elections/) [Over the top](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/over-the-top/) [Public relations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-relations/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [The two party electoral system performs the essential function of helping to legitimate the existing social order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parenti/the-two-party-electoral-system-performs-the-essential-function-of/) [Michael Parenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parenti/) > [Many militarists would like to see California's votes vanish from the national electoral system, which would then become more Republican.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-swanson/many-militarists-would-like-to-see-california-s-votes-vanish-from-the/) [David Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-swanson/) > [I think it is a cornerstone of our electoral system that you raise electoral funds for elections but that doesn't mean that therefore the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-shorten/i-think-it-is-a-cornerstone-of-our-electoral-system-that-you-raise/) [Bill Shorten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shorten/) > [We need a Supreme Court that will stand up on behalf of women's rights, on behalf of the rights of the LGBT community, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-need-a-supreme-court-that-will-stand-up-on-behalf-of-women-s/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [ It's one of the reasons \[professional politicians\] why people's confidence in the electoral system has declined so much. They have all become shadowy political… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-howe/it-s-one-of-the-reasons-professional-politicians-why-people-s/) [Geoffrey Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-howe/) > [We Americans are focused on Russia's attacks with our electoral system and we're consumed with that. But Russia is pushing against the West generally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-fried/we-americans-are-focused-on-russia-s-attacks-with-our-electoral/) [Daniel Fried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-fried/) > [“appeal to non-business interests) and let them be effective. Although there is marked and frequently observed dissatisfaction with the Republicans and Democrats, electoral politics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/appeal-to-non-business-interests-and-let-them-be-effective-although/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There's a very striking fact about the elections which you can't miss if you looked at the red-and-blue electoral map the next day: it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-a-very-striking-fact-about-the-elections-which-you-can-t-miss/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Fed and electoral college could use some tinkering, but they are not the source of the problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/fed-and-electoral-college-could-use-some-tinkering-but-they-are-not/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Fact is, the work place to a great extent is "where we live." We need star accountants. Boffo saleswomen. Over-the-top creatives in marketing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/fact-is-the-work-place-to-a-great-extent-is-where-we-live-we-need/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [Part of what made 'The Bling Ring' such a fun, freeing experience was that we got to wear these really over-the-top clothes we'd never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taissa-farmiga/part-of-what-made-the-bling-ring-such-a-fun-freeing-experience-was/) [Taissa Farmiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taissa-farmiga/) > [On nights that I'm feeling a need to stretch personally and artistically, I tend to put together outfits that are very quirky, mismatched and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esperanza-spalding/on-nights-that-i-m-feeling-a-need-to-stretch-personally-and/) [Esperanza Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esperanza-spalding/) > [Everyone plays the ball over the top and, at the moment, we only concede goals from crosses or balls over the top. I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/everyone-plays-the-ball-over-the-top-and-at-the-moment-we-only/) [Arsene Wenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/) > [Figure skating is theatrical, and a part of it is wearing costumes. My costumes were very over-the-top and outrageous for figure skating. But for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-weir/figure-skating-is-theatrical-and-a-part-of-it-is-wearing-costumes-my/) [Johnny Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-weir/) > [Keep it simple. You don't want to overdo it with too much makeup or crazy, over-the-top hairstyles. Let your natural beauty show through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-klum/keep-it-simple-you-don-t-want-to-overdo-it-with-too-much-makeup-or/) [Heidi Klum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-klum/) ## More by Noam Chomsky > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It’s a shameful moment for U.S. media when it insists on being subservient to the grotesque propaganda agencies of a violent, aggressive state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-s-a-shameful-moment-for-u-s-media-when-it-insists-on-being/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There are questions as to whether it should even exist. Who should corporations be responsive to, the management of a corporation? Theoretically they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-questions-as-to-whether-it-should-even-exist-who-should/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Governments regard their own citizens as their main enemy, and they have to be - protect themselves. That's why you have state secret laws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/governments-regard-their-own-citizens-as-their-main-enemy-and-they/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I don't join the New Atheists. So, for example, I wouldn't have the arrogance to lecture some mother who hopes to see her dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-don-t-join-the-new-atheists-so-for-example-i-wouldn-t-have-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The first thing you ought to do is verify what I present. Just because I say it doesn't make it true. So check it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-first-thing-you-ought-to-do-is-verify-what-i-present-just-because/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [ I wrote an article about the marine landing \[in Haiti\] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-landing-in-haiti-right-away-but/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [American society is now remarkably atomized. Political organizations have collapsed. In fact, it seems like even bowling leagues are collapsing. The left has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/american-society-is-now-remarkably-atomized-political-organizations/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Discovery is the ability to be puzzled by simple things. Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/discovery-is-the-ability-to-be-puzzled-by-simple-things-noam-chomsky/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There's an interesting book about that called The Third Reich and the Ivory Tower, written by Stephen H. Norwood. It has a long discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-an-interesting-book-about-that-called-the-third-reich-and-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [This is class war on an international scale, and power is in the hands of those who control the international economic system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/this-is-class-war-on-an-international-scale-and-power-is-in-the-hands/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There are big, extremely irrational parts of the society, and they have now been mobilized politically by the Republican establishment, hoping that these people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-big-extremely-irrational-parts-of-the-society-and-they-have/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There's plenty to criticize about the mass media, but they are the source of regular information about a wide range of topics. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-plenty-to-criticize-about-the-mass-media-but-they-are-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The 50,000 Korean mercenaries we had in Vietnam were professional killers and just massacred people outright. And the American army did plenty of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-50-000-korean-mercenaries-we-had-in-vietnam-were-professional/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) [Explore all 2,129 Noam Chomsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## More Democracy quotes > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [There is plenty of time for Republicans to have a Macaca moment. But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/) [Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Failure to find a way to incorporate political Islam in democracy, however uncomfortable its ideology is for secular liberals, will mean we have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/failure-to-find-a-way-to-incorporate-political-islam-in-democracy/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Browse all 11,220 Democracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the US, first of all, the electoral system has been almost totally shredded. For a long time it's been pretty much run by private concentrated spending but now it's over the top. Elections increasingly over the years have been [public relations] extravaganzas.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Noam Chomsky" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/in-the-us-first-of-all-the-electoral-system-has-been-almost-totally/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Democracy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/in-the-us-first-of-all-the-electoral-system-has-been-almost-totally/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cce/noam-chomsky-42_democracy_in-the-us-first-of-all-the-electoral-sys_641045.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cce/noam-chomsky-42_democracy_in-the-us-first-of-all-the-electoral-sys_641045.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cce/noam-chomsky-42_democracy_in-the-us-first-of-all-the-electoral-sys_641045.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In the US, first of all, the electoral system has been almost totally shredded. For a long time it's been…” — Noam Chomsky", "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": "Noam Chomsky", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In the US, first of all,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/in-the-us-first-of-all-the-electoral-system-has-been-almost-totally/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/in-the-us-first-of-all-the-electoral-system-has-been-almost-totally/#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 } } ] } ```