--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The American experiment with…" description: "\"The American experiment with representative democracy has been a great success, but we need to realize that it needs to be a genuine representative dem..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/639/richard-painter-14038_democracy_the-american-experiment-with-representat_1308309.jpg" --- # The American experiment with representative democracy has… ![“The American experiment with representative democracy has been a great success, but we need to realize that it needs to be a genuine representative democracy where ordinary people have a vote, have a voice in choosing the candidates who represent them.” quote by Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/639/richard-painter-14038_democracy_the-american-experiment-with-representat_1308309.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/639/richard-painter-14038_democracy_the-american-experiment-with-representat_1308309.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/639/richard-painter-14038_democracy_the-american-experiment-with-representat_1308309.jpg) > “The American experiment with representative democracy has been a great success, but we need to realize that it needs to be a genuine representative democracy where ordinary people have a vote, have a voice in choosing the candidates who represent them.” [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates deeper democratic participation, urging genuine representation and voter empowerment. **In simple terms:** Calls for real representation and voting power. Key Takeaway Promote inclusive voting. Themes democracy representation citizenship Mood hopeful serious Type political inspirational When to use this quote - elections - civic education - policy reform Key Concepts political theory participatory governance Questions to Reflect On - How can ordinary people influence candidate selection? - What barriers limit true representation? A Different Perspective Implementation faces entrenched interests. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [Having a representative democracy requires the confidence of the voters in the system. And if voters lose confidence in the system they can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/having-a-representative-democracy-requires-the-confidence-of-the/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [The effect of a representative democracy is to refine and enlarge the public views, by passing them through the medium of a chosen body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-effect-of-a-representative-democracy-is-to-refine-and-enlarge-the/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [... when the struggle seems to be drifting definitely towards a world social democracy, there may still be very great delays and disappointments before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-g-wells/when-the-struggle-seems-to-be-drifting-definitely-towards-a-world/) [H. G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-g-wells/) > [Brexit has energised millions of people, young and old, to take part in our democracy and that's a great thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-truss/brexit-has-energised-millions-of-people-young-and-old-to-take-part-in/) [Liz Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-truss/) > [I have great confidence in Taiwan's democracy. I have great confidence in the universal value and in basic human rights, and I have great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-shui-bian/i-have-great-confidence-in-taiwan-s-democracy-i-have-great-confidence/) [Chen Shui-bian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-shui-bian/) > [Obama has already rejected the bright sunlight of public knowledge, which is democracy's great disinfectant and cure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-k-shipler/obama-has-already-rejected-the-bright-sunlight-of-public-knowledge/) [David K. Shipler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-k-shipler/) > [Differences of opinion are healthy and they're a part of what makes our democracy great. We grow by understanding each other's differences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-carteris/differences-of-opinion-are-healthy-and-they-re-a-part-of-what-makes/) [Gabrielle Carteris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-carteris/) > [I still have great faith in democracy. I have great belief in the power of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-tempest-williams/i-still-have-great-faith-in-democracy-i-have-great-belief-in-the/) [Terry Tempest Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-tempest-williams/) > [I do think that our democracy is so great, we can withstand even a candidacy of Donald Trump. And when we emerge from this,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/i-do-think-that-our-democracy-is-so-great-we-can-withstand-even-a/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [Well, I think by any expectation South Africa has come a tremendously long way. We've seen a society that many people thought couldn't withstand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/well-i-think-by-any-expectation-south-africa-has-come-a-tremendously/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [Democracy is a great institution and, therefore, it is liable to be greatly abused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/democracy-is-a-great-institution-and-therefore-it-is-liable-to-be/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“Every American should feel free to express an informed opinion—to protest peacefully, to convey frustration and even anger in a constructive way. That’s what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/historica-press/every-american-should-feel-free-to-express-an-informed-opinion-to/) [Historica Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/historica-press/) > [Democracy is the great love of the failures and cowards of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-rushdoony/democracy-is-the-great-love-of-the-failures-and-cowards-of-life/) [R.J. Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-rushdoony/) > [What is most important for democracy is not that great fortunes should not exist, but that great fortunes should not remain in the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/what-is-most-important-for-democracy-is-not-that-great-fortunes/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Everybody says, "Well, if it's a democracy, let them have nuclear weapons." America is the only country that has ever used nuclear weapons. We're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-scheer/everybody-says-well-if-it-s-a-democracy-let-them-have-nuclear-weapons/) [Robert Scheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-scheer/) ## More by Richard Painter > [Russia may very well be front and center again in 2020 as they were in 2016 regarding interference in America's presidential election. But the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/russia-may-very-well-be-front-and-center-again-in-2020-as-they-were/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [People knew Trump had strange relationships with the Russians even before he was elected. Consequently, there is every reason to investigate whether Donald Trump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/people-knew-trump-had-strange-relationships-with-the-russians-even/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [I am not going to apologize for my service to the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/i-am-not-going-to-apologize-for-my-service-to-the-country/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [Donald Trump wants to ignore the rule of law. He ignores the Constitution. He ignores the subpoenas. The Republicans in the House and Senate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/donald-trump-wants-to-ignore-the-rule-of-law-he-ignores-the/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [I go on all the channels, mostly CNN and MSNBC. I have gone on Fox every couple of months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/i-go-on-all-the-channels-mostly-cnn-and-msnbc-i-have-gone-on-fox/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [Here is where you get into the danger zone, when the government official starts talking about U.S. government business and then also talking about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/here-is-where-you-get-into-the-danger-zone-when-the-government/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [I think President Trump could pardon anyone he wanted and have it be an effective pardon. I think there would be a big price…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/i-think-president-trump-could-pardon-anyone-he-wanted-and-have-it-be/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [I have to say that every white-collar criminal defense lawyer knows when the chief financial officer turns state's evidence, everyone in the executive suite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/i-have-to-say-that-every-white-collar-criminal-defense-lawyer-knows/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [We have two political parties in this country; we cannot have one of them be abandoned to complete nutcases. We've got to have two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/we-have-two-political-parties-in-this-country-we-cannot-have-one-of/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [And imagine where we'd be today if President Franklin Roosevelt had owned apartment buildings in Frankfurt and Berlin. You know, some of us might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/and-imagine-where-we-d-be-today-if-president-franklin-roosevelt-had/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [I think most Minnesotans are in a grey zone politically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/i-think-most-minnesotans-are-in-a-grey-zone-politically/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [The course I teach, Professional Responsibility, was brought into law-school curriculums and required by most states for admission to the bar beginning in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/the-course-i-teach-professional-responsibility-was-brought-into-law/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [The real problem with the Republican Party is that for decades it has shifted constantly to the right politically. Consequently, the Republican Party is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/the-real-problem-with-the-republican-party-is-that-for-decades-it-has/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [Do not overlook that Donald Trump is an inherently unstable person. He's never been able to have stable businesses or stable marriages. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/do-not-overlook-that-donald-trump-is-an-inherently-unstable-person-he/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [Republicans insist that if you're going to run for political office, you have to be loyal to President Trump. This is wrong. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/republicans-insist-that-if-you-re-going-to-run-for-political-office/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) [Explore all 48 Richard Painter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) ## More Democracy quotes > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [There is plenty of time for Republicans to have a Macaca moment. But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/) [Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Failure to find a way to incorporate political Islam in democracy, however uncomfortable its ideology is for secular liberals, will mean we have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/failure-to-find-a-way-to-incorporate-political-islam-in-democracy/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Browse all 11,220 Democracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The American experiment with representative democracy has been a great success, but we need to realize that it needs to be a genuine representative democracy where ordinary people have a vote, have a voice in choosing the candidates who represent them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Painter" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/the-american-experiment-with-representative-democracy-has-been-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Democracy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/the-american-experiment-with-representative-democracy-has-been-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/639/richard-painter-14038_democracy_the-american-experiment-with-representat_1308309.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/639/richard-painter-14038_democracy_the-american-experiment-with-representat_1308309.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/639/richard-painter-14038_democracy_the-american-experiment-with-representat_1308309.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The American experiment with representative democracy has been a great success, but we need to realize that…” — Richard Painter", "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": "Richard Painter", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The American experiment with representative democracy...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/the-american-experiment-with-representative-democracy-has-been-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/the-american-experiment-with-representative-democracy-has-been-a/#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 } } ] } ```