--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is basically a strategy to destroy the…" description: "\"It is basically a strategy to destroy the essence of democracy, which is the competitiveness and choices of candidates on the ballot.\" — Ralph Nader" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14a/ralph-nader-1783_ballot_it-is-basically-a-strategy-to-destroy-th_1724361.png" --- # It is basically a strategy to destroy the essence of… ![“It is basically a strategy to destroy the essence of democracy, which is the competitiveness and choices of candidates on the ballot.” quote by Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14a/ralph-nader-1783_ballot_it-is-basically-a-strategy-to-destroy-th_1724361.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14a/ralph-nader-1783_ballot_it-is-basically-a-strategy-to-destroy-th_1724361.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14a/ralph-nader-1783_ballot_it-is-basically-a-strategy-to-destroy-th_1724361.png) > “It is basically a strategy to destroy the essence of democracy, which is the competitiveness and choices of candidates on the ballot.” [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Undermining democratic competition erodes the core of democracy, which relies on choice and rivalry. **In simple terms:** Destroying competition harms democracy's essential choice. Key Takeaway Protect competitive elections to preserve democracy. Themes democracy competition choice politics integrity Mood analytical concerned Type political philosophical When to use this quote - voting - campaigns - legislation - public policy - activism Key Concepts political theory civic engagement electoral systems Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure fair competition? - What safeguards protect democratic choice? A Different Perspective Some competition can be unhealthy if it leads to polarization. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ballot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballot/) [Ballots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballots/) [Candidates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candidates/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Competitiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competitiveness/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Competitiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-competitiveness-1369877/) [Essence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence/) [Essence Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence-democracy-898361/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) [Strategy Destroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy-destroy-1369878/) ## Related quotes > [That could be a high water mark for the Green Party in its history. What two states, I can only guess, aren't you going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/that-could-be-a-high-water-mark-for-the-green-party-in-its-history/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [Our strategy is to destroy the enemy from within, to conquer him through himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/our-strategy-is-to-destroy-the-enemy-from-within-to-conquer-him/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [The best marketing strategy is to destroy your industry before your competition does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-best-marketing-strategy-is-to-destroy-your-industry-before-your/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The main thing we should be focused on is the strategy to destroy ISIS. And I laid out a plan that the Reagan Library…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/the-main-thing-we-should-be-focused-on-is-the-strategy-to-destroy/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [I've been elected numerous times in South Carolina. If I'm on the ballot, I'm going to win South Carolina.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/i-ve-been-elected-numerous-times-in-south-carolina-if-i-m-on-the/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [If the ballot doesn't work, we'll try something else. But let us try the ballot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/if-the-ballot-doesn-t-work-we-ll-try-something-else-but-let-us-try/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [There is a subset of Democrats who tend to mis-fill out ballots. The way you mark the ballot is like an S.A.T. - you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/there-is-a-subset-of-democrats-who-tend-to-mis-fill-out-ballots-the/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [The right to participate in the choice of representatives for Congress includes, as we have said, the right to cast a ballot and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-f-stone/the-right-to-participate-in-the-choice-of-representatives-for/) [Harlan F. Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-f-stone/) > [I'm not saying anything one way or the other about the two ballot issues. I am not speaking about the particular ballot issues. Those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-m-not-saying-anything-one-way-or-the-other-about-the-two-ballot/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Our cause is a common one. It is war between poverty and wealth. ... This moneyed power is fast eating up the substance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-sylvis/our-cause-is-a-common-one-it-is-war-between-poverty-and-wealth-this/) [William H. Sylvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-sylvis/) > [It's not the hand that signs the laws that holds the destiny of America. It's the hand that casts the ballot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/it-s-not-the-hand-that-signs-the-laws-that-holds-the-destiny-of/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Vote counting and ballot collecting does not occur in the light of day. There are too many occasions when observers and opposing parties lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-schaffer/vote-counting-and-ballot-collecting-does-not-occur-in-the-light-of/) [Bob Schaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-schaffer/) > [If I put myself on the ballot and even 50 people voted for me, it'd be a travesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/if-i-put-myself-on-the-ballot-and-even-50-people-voted-for-me-it-d-be/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [I think it's best if there's an amendment that goes on the ballot where the people can weigh in. Every time this issue has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-bachmann/i-think-it-s-best-if-there-s-an-amendment-that-goes-on-the-ballot/) [Michele Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-bachmann/) > [If you don't know, your labor unions and community organizations, there's somebody you can ask to guide you. A lot of people, especially in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-huerta/if-you-don-t-know-your-labor-unions-and-community-organizations-there/) [Dolores Huerta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-huerta/) ## More by Ralph Nader > [This welfare for wealthy companies wastes taxpayer dollars, harms the environment, and makes a mockery of the recent reductions in federal social spending programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/this-welfare-for-wealthy-companies-wastes-taxpayer-dollars-harms-the/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [Nuclear power must be dealt with irrationally. . . . Nuclear plants are carcinogens. Let's get that story out. . . . Their lies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/nuclear-power-must-be-dealt-with-irrationally-nuclear-plants-are/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [In 2000 the majority of people wanted me and Buchanan on the debates in two thousand. And me on the debates in 2004. have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/in-2000-the-majority-of-people-wanted-me-and-buchanan-on-the-debates/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [What we need to recognize, less than 1 percent of the people organized around issues that are already supported by conservatives and liberals, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/what-we-need-to-recognize-less-than-1-percent-of-the-people-organized/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [We live in a two-party tyranny that doesn't believe in competition, can enforce it with penalties and obstructions, and they're getting closer and closer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/we-live-in-a-two-party-tyranny-that-doesn-t-believe-in-competition/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [George W. Bush is very vulnerable but not if you campaign the way the major candidates - except for Dean and Kucinich - are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/george-w-bush-is-very-vulnerable-but-not-if-you-campaign-the-way-the/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [In the meantime the big corporations are fleeing America for tax havens and places like Ireland, Luxembourg and the Grand Cayman Islands; the rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/in-the-meantime-the-big-corporations-are-fleeing-america-for-tax/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [Full Medicare-for-all, free choice of doctor and hospital: that comes in sixty to seventy percent without even further explanation. And if you ever explained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/full-medicare-for-all-free-choice-of-doctor-and-hospital-that-comes/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [I always say there's no ticket of admission for active citizenship. Anybody can get through that gate, and anybody can ask that basic question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/i-always-say-there-s-no-ticket-of-admission-for-active-citizenship/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [People have got to show up, showing up at meetings, rallies, marches, City Council, courtrooms. You've got to show up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/people-have-got-to-show-up-showing-up-at-meetings-rallies-marches/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [For almost seventy years the life insurance industry has been a smug sacred cow feeding the public a steady line of sacred bull.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/for-almost-seventy-years-the-life-insurance-industry-has-been-a-smug/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [It is fascinating to watch legislators turn away from their usual corporate grips when they hear the growing thunder of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/it-is-fascinating-to-watch-legislators-turn-away-from-their-usual/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [In 2004 Professor Stephen Farnsworth, when I report saying that I got about five minutes on all the networks after Labor Day to election…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/in-2004-professor-stephen-farnsworth-when-i-report-saying-that-i-got/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [Young wives are the leading asset of corporate power. They want the suburbs, a house, a settled life, and respectability. They want society to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/young-wives-are-the-leading-asset-of-corporate-power-they-want-the/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [Moral courage is the highest expression of humanity ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/moral-courage-is-the-highest-expression-of-humanity/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) [Explore all 208 Ralph Nader quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) ## More Ballot quotes > [If you don't know, your labor unions and community organizations, there's somebody you can ask to guide you. A lot of people, especially in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-huerta/if-you-don-t-know-your-labor-unions-and-community-organizations-there/) [Dolores Huerta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-huerta/) > [I think it's best if there's an amendment that goes on the ballot where the people can weigh in. Every time this issue has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-bachmann/i-think-it-s-best-if-there-s-an-amendment-that-goes-on-the-ballot/) [Michele Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-bachmann/) > [What I can accept is losing a fair election at the ballot box - if that is the will of the people. That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-crockett/what-i-can-accept-is-losing-a-fair-election-at-the-ballot-box-if-that/) [Jasmine Crockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-crockett/) > [That's what my Dad always told me, on the ballot, they should always have a third choice, like none of the above, then if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-white/that-s-what-my-dad-always-told-me-on-the-ballot-they-should-always/) [Meg White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-white/) > [People don't wake up to go to vote and then have their ballot not counted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-turner/people-don-t-wake-up-to-go-to-vote-and-then-have-their-ballot-not/) [Nina Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-turner/) > [If I put myself on the ballot and even 50 people voted for me, it'd be a travesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/if-i-put-myself-on-the-ballot-and-even-50-people-voted-for-me-it-d-be/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [When and under what conditions is the black man to have a free ballot? When is he in fact to have those full civil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-harrison/when-and-under-what-conditions-is-the-black-man-to-have-a-free-ballot/) [Benjamin Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-harrison/) > [Vote counting and ballot collecting does not occur in the light of day. There are too many occasions when observers and opposing parties lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-schaffer/vote-counting-and-ballot-collecting-does-not-occur-in-the-light-of/) [Bob Schaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-schaffer/) > [It's not the hand that signs the laws that holds the destiny of America. It's the hand that casts the ballot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/it-s-not-the-hand-that-signs-the-laws-that-holds-the-destiny-of/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Our cause is a common one. It is war between poverty and wealth. ... This moneyed power is fast eating up the substance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-sylvis/our-cause-is-a-common-one-it-is-war-between-poverty-and-wealth-this/) [William H. Sylvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-sylvis/) > [I'm not saying anything one way or the other about the two ballot issues. I am not speaking about the particular ballot issues. Those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-m-not-saying-anything-one-way-or-the-other-about-the-two-ballot/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [“Ballot papers don’t determine who leads; they determine who takes which position. As to whether that person occupying the position will lead or will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/ballot-papers-don-t-determine-who-leads-they-determine-who-takes/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [The right to participate in the choice of representatives for Congress includes, as we have said, the right to cast a ballot and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-f-stone/the-right-to-participate-in-the-choice-of-representatives-for/) [Harlan F. Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-f-stone/) > [There is a subset of Democrats who tend to mis-fill out ballots. The way you mark the ballot is like an S.A.T. - you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/there-is-a-subset-of-democrats-who-tend-to-mis-fill-out-ballots-the/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [If the ballot doesn't work, we'll try something else. But let us try the ballot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/if-the-ballot-doesn-t-work-we-ll-try-something-else-but-let-us-try/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) [Browse all 140 Ballot quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballot/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is basically a strategy to destroy the essence of democracy, which is the competitiveness and choices of candidates on the ballot.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Nader" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/it-is-basically-a-strategy-to-destroy-the-essence-of-democracy-which/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ballot" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/it-is-basically-a-strategy-to-destroy-the-essence-of-democracy-which/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14a/ralph-nader-1783_ballot_it-is-basically-a-strategy-to-destroy-th_1724361.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14a/ralph-nader-1783_ballot_it-is-basically-a-strategy-to-destroy-th_1724361.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14a/ralph-nader-1783_ballot_it-is-basically-a-strategy-to-destroy-th_1724361.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is basically a strategy to destroy the essence of democracy, which is the competitiveness and choices of…” — Ralph Nader", "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": "Ralph Nader", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is basically a strategy to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/it-is-basically-a-strategy-to-destroy-the-essence-of-democracy-which/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/it-is-basically-a-strategy-to-destroy-the-essence-of-democracy-which/#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 } } ] } ```