--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I kinda halfway paid attention to…" description: "\"I kinda halfway paid attention to politics during my early years, but the older you get, the more you realize it's very important to pay attention to w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/ray-stevens-22432_attention_i-kinda-halfway-paid-attention-to-politi_3053023.png" --- # I kinda halfway paid attention to politics during my early… ![“I kinda halfway paid attention to politics during my early years, but the older you get, the more you realize it's very important to pay attention to who gets elected. They can ruin the country.” quote by Ray Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/ray-stevens-22432_attention_i-kinda-halfway-paid-attention-to-politi_3053023.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/ray-stevens-22432_attention_i-kinda-halfway-paid-attention-to-politi_3053023.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/ray-stevens-22432_attention_i-kinda-halfway-paid-attention-to-politi_3053023.png) > “I kinda halfway paid attention to politics during my early years, but the older you get, the more you realize it's very important to pay attention to who gets elected. They can ruin the country.” [Ray Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stevens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early apathy fades; paying attention to elections is crucial to prevent national ruin. **In simple terms:** Voting matters for a country’s fate. Key Takeaway Stay informed and vote responsibly. Themes politics responsibility civic duty Mood thoughtful urgent Type civic educational When to use this quote - voting - community meetings - political education - advocacy Key Concepts democracy electoral impact public awareness Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay politically informed? - What motivates you to vote? A Different Perspective Voter fatigue can reduce participation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Attention Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention-politics-443032/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Early](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/early/) [Elected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elected/) [Elected Ruin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elected-ruin-5087134/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [Gets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gets/) [Gets Elected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gets-elected-349185/) [Halfway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/halfway/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Kinda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kinda/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/older/) [Paid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paid/) [Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay/) [Pay attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay-attention/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Politics Early](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics-early-4059825/) [Realize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realize/) [Ruin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruin/) [Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [I love covering politics at that early stage where you can walk up to Mike Huckabee, who gets out of his car by himself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-bash/i-love-covering-politics-at-that-early-stage-where-you-can-walk-up-to/) [Dana Bash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-bash/) > [One of the great virtues of our democratic system is that only one of the candidates gets elected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-meltzer/one-of-the-great-virtues-of-our-democratic-system-is-that-only-one-of/) [Bernard Meltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-meltzer/) > [Election polling can be used to help understand which issues matter to people, which can in turn help us understand why someone gets elected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-enten/election-polling-can-be-used-to-help-understand-which-issues-matter/) [Harry Enten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-enten/) > [When a guy gets elected to the Senate or the governor's mansion, he wakes up the next morning and says to himself, 'You're presidential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/when-a-guy-gets-elected-to-the-senate-or-the-governor-s-mansion-he/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [I think what we can do is make sure as conservatives that we elect good people to both the House, the Senate, and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-rielly/i-think-what-we-can-do-is-make-sure-as-conservatives-that-we-elect/) [Michael O'Rielly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-o-rielly/) > [Money often determines not only who gets elected, but what gets done. Which voices do lawmakers listen to, the banks or home owners, coal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-m-kunin/money-often-determines-not-only-who-gets-elected-but-what-gets-done/) [Madeleine M. Kunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-m-kunin/) > [I still think that with any candidate, whoever gets elected, there are going to be certain issues or platforms that those who feel strongly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-vedder/i-still-think-that-with-any-candidate-whoever-gets-elected-there-are/) [Eddie Vedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-vedder/) > [“You have to be willing to lose to win, and you’re going to lose a lot”—a lot of votes, a lot of states. “No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-halperin/you-have-to-be-willing-to-lose-to-win-and-you-re-going-to-lose-a-lot/) [Mark Halperin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-halperin/) > [The 'West Wing' writers room would not have come up with the idea of running a presidential campaign in which an African-American gets elected.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-o-donnell/the-west-wing-writers-room-would-not-have-come-up-with-the-idea-of/) [Lawrence O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-o-donnell/) > [You know what, man? I am going to literally — if (Palin) gets elected president, I am going to hang out on the grassy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/you-know-what-man-i-am-going-to-literally-if-palin-gets-elected/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [“Politicians obfuscate. It gets them re-elected. If no-one can understand what is going on, then the perception is that we need someone to guide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sieg-pedde/politicians-obfuscate-it-gets-them-re-elected-if-no-one-can/) [Sieg Pedde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sieg-pedde/) > [Collective solutions to individual problems is very seductive. It's how Obama gets elected, by the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/collective-solutions-to-individual-problems-is-very-seductive-it-s/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [God forbid Donald Trump gets elected president; think about how many people are going to get f\*\*ked over or how much harder we're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-james/god-forbid-donald-trump-gets-elected-president-think-about-how-many/) [Jim James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-james/) > [Even without voting, illegal aliens do affect who gets elected president, and that's since the Electoral College elects the president, and the states are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/even-without-voting-illegal-aliens-do-affect-who-gets-elected/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [No matter how unusual a personality may be who gets elected to office, there are constraints in this country. You don't get to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/no-matter-how-unusual-a-personality-may-be-who-gets-elected-to-office/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) ## More by Ray Stevens > [Osama, yo Mama didn't raise you right. When you were young, she must have wrapped your turban too tight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-stevens/osama-yo-mama-didn-t-raise-you-right-when-you-were-young-she-must/) [Ray Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stevens/) > [I originally passed on 'Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head' in 1969, so they gave it to B.J. Thomas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-stevens/i-originally-passed-on-raindrops-keep-fallin-on-my-head-in-1969-so/) [Ray Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stevens/) > [Bill Justis was a saxophone player, good musician, arranger, and friend of mine who had a big hit called 'Raunchy.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-stevens/bill-justis-was-a-saxophone-player-good-musician-arranger-and-friend/) [Ray Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stevens/) > [I just love music in general. I've been a fan of all different kinds of music since I can remember.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-stevens/i-just-love-music-in-general-i-ve-been-a-fan-of-all-different-kinds/) [Ray Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stevens/) > [I saw Louis Armstrong perform at Albany State College on Radio Springs Road. He was probably the first famous individual I saw in concert.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-stevens/i-saw-louis-armstrong-perform-at-albany-state-college-on-radio/) [Ray Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stevens/) > [I'm not just a singer of funny songs; I am basically, first and foremost, a musician. I'm always recording all styles of music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-stevens/i-m-not-just-a-singer-of-funny-songs-i-am-basically-first-and/) [Ray Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stevens/) > [There is none so blind as he who will not see. We must not close our minds, we must let our thoughts be free.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-stevens/there-is-none-so-blind-as-he-who-will-not-see-we-must-not-close-our/) [Ray Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stevens/) > [I'm a big fan of comedy music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-stevens/i-m-a-big-fan-of-comedy-music/) [Ray Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stevens/) > [Take your love and put it where the sun don't shine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-stevens/take-your-love-and-put-it-where-the-sun-don-t-shine/) [Ray Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stevens/) > [Whatever you think, don't never, unless you will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-stevens/whatever-you-think-don-t-never-unless-you-will/) [Ray Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stevens/) > [George Jones may be gone but his music will live on forever. What a great voice and a great friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-stevens/george-jones-may-be-gone-but-his-music-will-live-on-forever-what-a/) [Ray Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stevens/) > [I love what I do. I made my first record in '57. I don't think I'll ever get tired of making records and writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-stevens/i-love-what-i-do-i-made-my-first-record-in-57-i-don-t-think-i-ll-ever/) [Ray Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stevens/) > [As you know, I played a little trumpet with Elvis. I overdub a few drum licks here and there on a session, but I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-stevens/as-you-know-i-played-a-little-trumpet-with-elvis-i-overdub-a-few-drum/) [Ray Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stevens/) > [They call him the Streak, he likes to turn the other cheek. He's always making the news, wearing just his tennis shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-stevens/they-call-him-the-streak-he-likes-to-turn-the-other-cheek-he-s-always/) [Ray Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stevens/) > [I'm a terrible trumpet player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-stevens/i-m-a-terrible-trumpet-player/) [Ray Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stevens/) [Explore all 27 Ray Stevens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stevens/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I kinda halfway paid attention to politics during my early years, but the older you get, the more you realize it's very important to pay attention to who gets elected. 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