--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: America's political landscape is infested…" description: "\"America's political landscape is infested with many zombie ideas - beliefs about policy that have been repeatedly refuted with evidence and analysis bu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/paul-krugman-2255_america_america-s-political-landscape-is-infeste_990122.png" --- # America's political landscape is infested with many zombie… ![“America's political landscape is infested with many zombie ideas - beliefs about policy that have been repeatedly refuted with evidence and analysis but refuse to die. The most prominent zombie is the insistence that low taxes on rich people are the key to prosperity.” quote by Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/paul-krugman-2255_america_america-s-political-landscape-is-infeste_990122.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/paul-krugman-2255_america_america-s-political-landscape-is-infeste_990122.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/paul-krugman-2255_america_america-s-political-landscape-is-infeste_990122.png) > “America's political landscape is infested with many zombie ideas - beliefs about policy that have been repeatedly refuted with evidence and analysis but refuse to die. The most prominent zombie is the insistence that low taxes on rich people are the key to prosperity.” [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) ## 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 argues that certain policy beliefs persist despite strong evidence disproving them, especially the notion that low taxes on the wealthy drive prosperity. **In simple terms:** Some ideas keep coming back even when facts show they’re wrong, especially low taxes for rich people. Key Takeaway Challenge entrenched beliefs with evidence. Themes economics politics policy misinformation Mood frustrated critical Type analytical commentary When to use this quote - budget debates - tax reform discussions - public opinion shaping - media analysis Key Concepts public choice theory confirmation bias political economy Questions to Reflect On - Why do people cling to disproven ideas? - How can policymakers effectively counteract such “zombie” beliefs? A Different Perspective Evidence alone may not change public opinion without addressing underlying values. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Analysis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/analysis/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Insistence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insistence/) [Landscape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/landscape/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Prosperity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosperity/) [Rich people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-people/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/) [Zombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zombie/) ## Related quotes > [My mum's got morals and principles, and I've been brought up with those ideas and beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-nash/my-mum-s-got-morals-and-principles-and-i-ve-been-brought-up-with/) [Kate Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-nash/) > [“Our problem is that we don’t pay attention to what we actually know. We give our attention to what we think—to what we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hagen/our-problem-is-that-we-don-t-pay-attention-to-what-we-actually-know/) [Steve Hagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hagen/) > [Many, indeed most, inhabitants of the Third World, don't necessarily share our ideas and beliefs; others pay lip service, but don't really comprehend them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-wax/many-indeed-most-inhabitants-of-the-third-world-don-t-necessarily/) [Amy Wax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-wax/) > [The project of organizing a democratic political movement entails the hope that one's ideas and beliefs are not merely idiosyncratic but speak to vital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-willis/the-project-of-organizing-a-democratic-political-movement-entails-the/) [Ellen Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-willis/) > [We have so many ideas and beliefs about ourselves. We told ourselves story about what we want and who we are, smart or kind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/we-have-so-many-ideas-and-beliefs-about-ourselves-we-told-ourselves/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Even if you assume that the whole economy would work better had we never had double taxation, having the envy and resentment of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/even-if-you-assume-that-the-whole-economy-would-work-better-had-we/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [Those who want low taxes and healthy job creation know that an unnecessary dollar going to these unions is a dollar that cannot reduce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-rauner/those-who-want-low-taxes-and-healthy-job-creation-know-that-an/) [Bruce Rauner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-rauner/) > [Traditionally, Conservatives have argued that low taxes are a route to self-determination. I agree. It is vital we keep taxes low and the size…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-truss/traditionally-conservatives-have-argued-that-low-taxes-are-a-route-to/) [Liz Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-truss/) > [After all, chamber of commerce type conservatives love nothing more than to opine on the great virtues of Texas. The low taxes, the low…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krystal-ball/after-all-chamber-of-commerce-type-conservatives-love-nothing-more/) [Krystal Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krystal-ball/) > [As the party that believes in economic freedom and low taxes, it is scandalous that we have presided over the tax burden rising for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priti-patel/as-the-party-that-believes-in-economic-freedom-and-low-taxes-it-is/) [Priti Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priti-patel/) > [Limited government, low taxes, controlled spending and debt, and a restrained regulatory environment make Texas work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/limited-government-low-taxes-controlled-spending-and-debt-and-a/) [Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/) > [When President Obama speaks about raising taxes on the rich, he speaks about high-income employees and small business owners, not entrepreneurs who build big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/when-president-obama-speaks-about-raising-taxes-on-the-rich-he-speaks/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [The vast majority of people back higher taxes on the rich. Yet these are fringe ideas within most of the mainstream media, which marginalises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-jones/the-vast-majority-of-people-back-higher-taxes-on-the-rich-yet-these/) [Owen Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-jones/) > [Successful businesses create jobs; that is true. But the notion that if we cut taxes enough for the very rich and for already hugely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/successful-businesses-create-jobs-that-is-true-but-the-notion-that-if/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Up until 1986, the top marginal rate, the top statutory rate was 50 percent. Now it's 35 percent. And all the pressure is on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bartlett/up-until-1986-the-top-marginal-rate-the-top-statutory-rate-was-50/) [Bruce Bartlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bartlett/) ## More by Paul Krugman > [People who are complaining about the Fed are people who've been predicting runaway inflation for five and six years, and it hasn't happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/people-who-are-complaining-about-the-fed-are-people-who-ve-been/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [Surely I'm not the only person to ask the obvious question: How different, really, is Mr. Madoff's tale from the story of the investment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/surely-i-m-not-the-only-person-to-ask-the-obvious-question-how/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [“The rich are different from you and me: they have more influence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/the-rich-are-different-from-you-and-me-they-have-more-influence/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [“The Internet’s impact on the economy has been no greater than the fax machine’s….ten years from now, the phrase “information economy” will sound silly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/the-internet-s-impact-on-the-economy-has-been-no-greater-than-the-fax/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [Not all private equity people are evil. Only some.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/not-all-private-equity-people-are-evil-only-some/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [You really have to go searching desperately to find any contemporary examples of good, old-fashioned runaway inflation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/you-really-have-to-go-searching-desperately-to-find-any-contemporary/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [However, the fact that an economist offers a theoretical analysis does not and should not automatically command respect. What is needed is some assurance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/however-the-fact-that-an-economist-offers-a-theoretical-analysis-does/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [Politics determines who has the power, not who has the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/politics-determines-who-has-the-power-not-who-has-the-truth/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [The key reason executives are paid so much now is that they appoint the members of the corporate board that determines their compensation and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/the-key-reason-executives-are-paid-so-much-now-is-that-they-appoint/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [I've always believed in expansionary monetary policy and if necessary fiscal policy when the economy is depressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/i-ve-always-believed-in-expansionary-monetary-policy-and-if-necessary/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [...academic credentials are neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition for having your ideas taken seriously. If a famous professor repeatedly says stupid things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/academic-credentials-are-neither-a-necessary-nor-a-sufficient/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [It’s not about the budget; it’s about the power...So will the attack on unions succeed? I don’t know. But anyone who cares about retaining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/it-s-not-about-the-budget-it-s-about-the-power-so-will-the-attack-on/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [When stock prices are rising, it's called ''momentum investing''; when they are falling, it's called ''panic.''](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/when-stock-prices-are-rising-it-s-called-momentum-investing-when-they/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [I don't want a job in the administration; I think I'm more effective carping from the sidelines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/i-don-t-want-a-job-in-the-administration-i-think-i-m-more-effective/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [Under the gold standard America had no major financial panics other than in 1873, 1884, 1890, 1893, 1907, 1930, 1931, 1932, and 1933.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/under-the-gold-standard-america-had-no-major-financial-panics-other/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) [Explore all 175 Paul Krugman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) ## More America quotes > [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/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [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/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "America's political landscape is infested with many zombie ideas - beliefs about policy that have been repeatedly refuted with evidence and analysis but refuse to die. The most prominent zombie is the insistence that low taxes on rich people are the key to prosperity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Krugman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/america-s-political-landscape-is-infested-with-many-zombie-ideas/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/america-s-political-landscape-is-infested-with-many-zombie-ideas/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/paul-krugman-2255_america_america-s-political-landscape-is-infeste_990122.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/paul-krugman-2255_america_america-s-political-landscape-is-infeste_990122.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/paul-krugman-2255_america_america-s-political-landscape-is-infeste_990122.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“America's political landscape is infested with many zombie ideas - beliefs about policy that have been…” — Paul Krugman", "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": "Paul Krugman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "America's political landscape is infested with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/america-s-political-landscape-is-infested-with-many-zombie-ideas/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/america-s-political-landscape-is-infested-with-many-zombie-ideas/#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 } } ] } ```