--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: America has to ask itself not what it…" description: "\"America has to ask itself not what it wants, but what it can afford... The New Deal, in my mind, has become a raw deal for my children.\" — Richard Lamm" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdf/richard-lamm-10220_afford_america-has-to-ask-itself-not-what-it-wa_542613.jpg" --- # America has to ask itself not what it wants, but what it… ![“America has to ask itself not what it wants, but what it can afford... The New Deal, in my mind, has become a raw deal for my children.” quote by Richard Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdf/richard-lamm-10220_afford_america-has-to-ask-itself-not-what-it-wa_542613.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdf/richard-lamm-10220_afford_america-has-to-ask-itself-not-what-it-wa_542613.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdf/richard-lamm-10220_afford_america-has-to-ask-itself-not-what-it-wa_542613.jpg) > “America has to ask itself not what it wants, but what it can afford... The New Deal, in my mind, has become a raw deal for my children.” [Richard Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. America must consider affordability over desire, viewing the New Deal as a burden for future generations. **In simple terms:** Prioritize what can be afforded, not just wants. Key Takeaway Assess fiscal sustainability. Themes politics economics policy Mood concerned critical Type political analytical When to use this quote - government budgeting - social welfare planning Key Concepts budget constraints intergenerational equity Questions to Reflect On - What are the long‑term costs of current policies? - How to balance ambition with affordability? A Different Perspective Idealism may clash with practical limits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [New deal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-deal/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [The New Deal, in my mind, has become a raw deal for my children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lamm/the-new-deal-in-my-mind-has-become-a-raw-deal-for-my-children/) [Richard Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/) > [America has to ask itself not what it wants, but what it can afford.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lamm/america-has-to-ask-itself-not-what-it-wants-but-what-it-can-afford-2/) [Richard Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/) > [Yeah livin the raw deal, three course meals Spaghetti, fettucini, and veal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-diddy/yeah-livin-the-raw-deal-three-course-meals-spaghetti-fettucini-and/) [P Diddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-diddy/) > [I hate seeing people getting a raw deal and artists not being in control of what they are doing. It happens all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronan-keating/i-hate-seeing-people-getting-a-raw-deal-and-artists-not-being-in/) [Ronan Keating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronan-keating/) > [With Tory privatisations in the past we've seen how service users can end up losing out and getting a raw deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuka-umunna/with-tory-privatisations-in-the-past-we-ve-seen-how-service-users-can/) [Chuka Umunna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuka-umunna/) > [I've worked with five Presidents in America, all of them I ask the same question always: Why didn't the American allies bomb the railways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/i-ve-worked-with-five-presidents-in-america-all-of-them-i-ask-the/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [I think the thing that -- the prayer that I would like America is to ask for is to pray for God's protection for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-think-the-thing-that-the-prayer-that-i-would-like-america-is-to-ask/) [George W. 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It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lamm/history-shows-in-my-opinion-that-no-nation-can-survive-the-tension/) [Richard Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/) > [Sprawl is the American ideal way to develop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lamm/sprawl-is-the-american-ideal-way-to-develop/) [Richard Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/) > [I have no permanent enemies - only people I have yet to persuade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lamm/i-have-no-permanent-enemies-only-people-i-have-yet-to-persuade/) [Richard Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/) > [I believe we all must face the fact of death. 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In a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lamm/i-believe-for-some-high-technology-medicine-like-transplants-and/) [Richard Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/) > [God is not an American. Nature did not design Americans to be prosperous forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lamm/god-is-not-an-american-nature-did-not-design-americans-to-be/) [Richard Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/) > [A truly moral health care system should start out by covering all of its citizens with basic health care. 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I think when you look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lamm/i-feel-very-strongly-that-the-democratic-party-has-in-the-past-been/) [Richard Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/) [Explore all 67 Richard Lamm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/) ## More Afford quotes > [We can't afford any president to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/we-can-t-afford-any-president-to-fail/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [Just because you can afford it doesn't mean you should buy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/just-because-you-can-afford-it-doesn-t-mean-you-should-buy-it/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [I am not a Ph.D. in economics or a doctorate in literature that I can afford to take my singing lightly. 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