--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I understand why so many Americans are…" description: "\"I understand why so many Americans are fed up with government. The 112th Congress was almost universally derided as the worst ever. It was the most pol..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19e/olympia-snowe-22161_according_i-understand-why-so-many-americans-are-f_2320780.jpg" --- # I understand why so many Americans are fed up with… ![“I understand why so many Americans are fed up with government. The 112th Congress was almost universally derided as the worst ever. It was the most polarized body since the end of Reconstruction, according to one study, and I grew embarrassed by its partisan bickering, inactivity, and refusal to…” quote by Olympia Snowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19e/olympia-snowe-22161_according_i-understand-why-so-many-americans-are-f_2320780.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19e/olympia-snowe-22161_according_i-understand-why-so-many-americans-are-f_2320780.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19e/olympia-snowe-22161_according_i-understand-why-so-many-americans-are-f_2320780.jpg) > “I understand why so many Americans are fed up with government. The 112th Congress was almost universally derided as the worst ever. It was the most polarized body since the end of Reconstruction, according to one study, and I grew embarrassed by its partisan bickering, inactivity, and refusal to address the vital challenges facing America.” [Olympia Snowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-snowe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote criticizes extreme partisanship and dysfunction in Congress, noting its negative impact on governance and public trust. **In simple terms:** Congress is too divided and ineffective. Key Takeaway Demand accountability and bipartisan cooperation. Themes politics governance polarization public trust accountability Mood frustrated concerned Type political critical When to use this quote - voter education - policy reform - civic engagement - media analysis Key Concepts partisanship institutional dysfunction civic disengagement Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens foster constructive dialogue? - What reforms could reduce partisan deadlock? A Different Perspective Partisan gridlock can also stem from ideological diversity and regional interests. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [112Th Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/112th-congress-5546967/) [According](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/according/) [Address](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/address/) [Addresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addresses/) [Almost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/almost/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [Bickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bickering/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Embarrassed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embarrassed/) [Embarrassed Partisan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embarrassed-partisan-5546968/) [End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Ever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ever/) [Facing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facing/) [Fed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fed/) [Fed up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fed-up/) [Feds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feds/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Grew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew/) [Inactivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inactivity/) [Many](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/many/) [Most](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/most/) [Partisan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/partisan/) [Partisan Bickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/partisan-bickering-854988/) [Partisans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/partisans/) [Polarized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polarized/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Reconstruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reconstruction/) [Refusal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refusal/) [Since](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/since/) [Study](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/study/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand/) [Understand Americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand-americans-1423395/) [Universally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universally/) [Universally Derided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universally-derided-5546966/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Vital](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vital/) [Why](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/why/) [Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst/) ## Related quotes > [One of the many things I do not understand about Americans is this: what is it like to be a citizen of a superpower,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/one-of-the-many-things-i-do-not-understand-about-americans-is-this/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [I think progressives understand that we are Americans at the same time as we are global citizens. We are interested first and foremost in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-murphy/i-think-progressives-understand-that-we-are-americans-at-the-same/) [Chris Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-murphy/) > [Occasionally, I've been asked to do American roles, and once or twice I have, but I don't understand Americans. I don't have any real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-broadbent/occasionally-i-ve-been-asked-to-do-american-roles-and-once-or-twice-i/) [Jim Broadbent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-broadbent/) > [As a Republican, I know that myself and the overwhelming majority of the Republicans I have served or interacted with understand that Americans have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-lopez-cantera/as-a-republican-i-know-that-myself-and-the-overwhelming-majority-of/) [Carlos Lopez-Cantera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-lopez-cantera/) > [“I look at the people at Trump’s rallies, cheering for his hateful rants, and I wonder: Where’s their empathy and understanding? Why are they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/i-look-at-the-people-at-trump-s-rallies-cheering-for-his-hateful/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [This is the extreme left's problem in both television and in politics. Whether it be lousy ratings on TV or getting votes, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trish-regan/this-is-the-extreme-left-s-problem-in-both-television-and-in-politics/) [Trish Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trish-regan/) > [I understand why so many Americans were angry when I was first discovered in Afghanistan. I realize many still are, but I hope in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-walker-lindh/i-understand-why-so-many-americans-were-angry-when-i-was-first/) [John Walker Lindh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-walker-lindh/) > [I feel an enormous responsibility to bridge the gap between England and America, and be a sort of very quiet ambassador for my country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-andrews/i-feel-an-enormous-responsibility-to-bridge-the-gap-between-england/) [Julie Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-andrews/) > [We haven't done anything. That has devolved into a partisan bickering of the kind that says Nero was fiddling while Rome burned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scheuer/we-haven-t-done-anything-that-has-devolved-into-a-partisan-bickering/) [Michael Scheuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scheuer/) > [While I have worked hard to bring folks to the middle to craft common-sense solutions to the many problems that confront our nation, Washington…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-ross/while-i-have-worked-hard-to-bring-folks-to-the-middle-to-craft-common/) [Mike Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-ross/) > [It is time to set aside the old partisan bickering and finger-pointing and name-calling that comes from freeing parents to make different choices for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/it-is-time-to-set-aside-the-old-partisan-bickering-and-finger/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [This is not the time for partisan bickering. This is not the time for politics as usual. Some of us are Democrats. Some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-henry/this-is-not-the-time-for-partisan-bickering-this-is-not-the-time-for/) [Brad Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-henry/) > [Demanding an end to partisan bickering on foreign policy is not an unrealistic requirement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-hoekstra/demanding-an-end-to-partisan-bickering-on-foreign-policy-is-not-an/) [Pete Hoekstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-hoekstra/) > [The nation, as you know, is at a critical point. At a time like this we can't risk partisan bickering and political posturing. Our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/the-nation-as-you-know-is-at-a-critical-point-at-a-time-like-this-we/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I am confident that this legislature will rise above partisan bickering, especially after the public promises its members made last fall, and that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-edison/i-am-confident-that-this-legislature-will-rise-above-partisan/) [Charles Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-edison/) ## More by Olympia Snowe > [One difficulty in making the Senate work the way it was intended is that America's electorate is increasingly divided into red and blue states,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-snowe/one-difficulty-in-making-the-senate-work-the-way-it-was-intended-is/) [Olympia Snowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-snowe/) > [What motivated me to dedicate myself to public service for nearly two-thirds of my life was the chance to produce results for those people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-snowe/what-motivated-me-to-dedicate-myself-to-public-service-for-nearly-two/) [Olympia Snowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-snowe/) > [When my first husband died, what I tried to do is to sort of, you know, try to bring some rationale to the circumstance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-snowe/when-my-first-husband-died-what-i-tried-to-do-is-to-sort-of-you-know/) [Olympia Snowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-snowe/) > [I have been immeasurably honored to serve the people of Maine for nearly 40 years in public office and for the past 17 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-snowe/i-have-been-immeasurably-honored-to-serve-the-people-of-maine-for/) [Olympia Snowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-snowe/) > [When history calls, history calls,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-snowe/when-history-calls-history-calls/) [Olympia Snowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-snowe/) > [The American spirit is stronger than stone and mortar, tougher than steel and glass, and more enduring than any pain or suffering that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-snowe/the-american-spirit-is-stronger-than-stone-and-mortar-tougher-than/) [Olympia Snowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-snowe/) > [You can never solve a problem without talking to people with whom you disagree. The United States Senate is predicated and based on consensus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-snowe/you-can-never-solve-a-problem-without-talking-to-people-with-whom-you/) [Olympia Snowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-snowe/) > [It is time that we provide clarity for our seniors, informing them of the services available that will lower the costs of their prescription…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-snowe/it-is-time-that-we-provide-clarity-for-our-seniors-informing-them-of/) [Olympia Snowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-snowe/) > [The United States Senate wasn't designed to be a majority-rule institution. It was designed to include and accommodate the rights of the minority in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-snowe/the-united-states-senate-wasn-t-designed-to-be-a-majority-rule/) [Olympia Snowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-snowe/) > [Indeed, we must foster cost-saving competition. And that means joining the marketplace of other industrialized countries - not just for the manufacturers who sell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-snowe/indeed-we-must-foster-cost-saving-competition-and-that-means-joining/) [Olympia Snowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-snowe/) > [Ive never backed down from a fight and I relish a good debate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-snowe/ive-never-backed-down-from-a-fight-and-i-relish-a-good-debate/) [Olympia Snowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-snowe/) > [Hopefully, 21 years later, Judge Roberts possesses an openness with respect to issues of gender-based wage discrimination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-snowe/hopefully-21-years-later-judge-roberts-possesses-an-openness-with/) [Olympia Snowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-snowe/) > [You can't have the legislative and executive branch working in a parallel universe...the partisanship that has gripped Washington has prevented us from dealing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-snowe/you-can-t-have-the-legislative-and-executive-branch-working-in-a/) [Olympia Snowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-snowe/) > [What is the purpose of public service? It's to solve problems for the people you represent and certainly in the United States Senate, thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-snowe/what-is-the-purpose-of-public-service-it-s-to-solve-problems-for-the/) [Olympia Snowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-snowe/) > [Joining the Bipartisan Policy Center is a natural extension of my efforts to achieve results throughout my tenure in Congress, and it provides an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-snowe/joining-the-bipartisan-policy-center-is-a-natural-extension-of-my/) [Olympia Snowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-snowe/) [Explore all 28 Olympia Snowe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-snowe/) ## More According quotes > [If you want to to be a smart cricketer, you have to play according to the situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardik-pandya/if-you-want-to-to-be-a-smart-cricketer-you-have-to-play-according-to/) [Hardik Pandya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardik-pandya/) > [“life can seem either very long or very short, according to how you live it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/life-can-seem-either-very-long-or-very-short-according-to-how-you/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Modern capitalism seeks to assure us that it operates according to the principles of free creativity, endless development and diversity. 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I don't judge my relationship with Puff or Bad Boy according to other people or past artists. At the end of the day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/french-montana/umm-i-don-t-judge-my-relationship-with-puff-or-bad-boy-according-to/) [French Montana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/french-montana/) > [When Caroline Kennedy endorsed Barack Obama in 2008 as her father's rightful heir, she laid upon him the mantle of Camelot and the enduring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty-kelley/when-caroline-kennedy-endorsed-barack-obama-in-2008-as-her-father-s/) [Kitty Kelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty-kelley/) > [I believe the game should really feel what the players are feeling and change according to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hideo-kojima/i-believe-the-game-should-really-feel-what-the-players-are-feeling/) [Hideo Kojima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hideo-kojima/) > [The Muslim world just doesn't believe that skin color is all that important. 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Characters in fiction are not simply as alive as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-ozick/i-think-a-fictional-invention-grows-according-to-its-own-development/) [Cynthia Ozick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-ozick/) > [I can't keep changing myself according to how someone sees me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richa-chadha/i-can-t-keep-changing-myself-according-to-how-someone-sees-me/) [Richa Chadha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richa-chadha/) > [“God has a way of working things out according to His will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shana-burton/god-has-a-way-of-working-things-out-according-to-his-will/) [Shana Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shana-burton/) [Browse all 246 According quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/according/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I understand why so many Americans are fed up with government. 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