---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's just in Washington we're talking…"
description: "\"It's just in Washington we're talking about equal rights for gay people, civil liberty to smoke marijuana, taking care of the environment, and it's all..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e48/rick-steves-12869_care_it-s-just-in-washington-we-re-talking-ab_1231187.jpg"
---

#  It's just in Washington we're talking about equal rights…

![“It's just in Washington we're talking about equal rights for gay people, civil liberty to smoke marijuana, taking care of the environment, and it's all just decency and common sense and patriotism. And in other parts of the country that would be, like, inconceivable.” quote by Rick Steves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e48/rick-steves-12869_care_it-s-just-in-washington-we-re-talking-ab_1231187.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e48/rick-steves-12869_care_it-s-just-in-washington-we-re-talking-ab_1231187.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e48/rick-steves-12869_care_it-s-just-in-washington-we-re-talking-ab_1231187.jpg)

> “It's just in Washington we're talking about equal rights for gay people, civil liberty to smoke marijuana, taking care of the environment, and it's all just decency and common sense and patriotism. And in other parts of the country that would be, like, inconceivable.”

[Rick Steves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-steves/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The statement contrasts regional attitudes toward progressive policies, implying that what is seen as common sense in one area is deemed unimaginable in another, highlighting cultural divides.

**In simple terms:** Regional attitudes differ on rights and freedoms.

Key Takeaway

Common sense varies by region.

Themes

Bridge cultural gaps.

Mood

analytical concerned

Type

political observational

When to use this quote

- civil rights
- policy debate

Key Concepts

politics regionalism social norms

Practical Applications

- community organizing
- public speaking

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do regions differ on these issues?
- How can common sense be shared?

A Different Perspective

It may oversimplify complex political landscapes.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Civil liberties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-liberties/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Common sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-sense/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Decency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decency/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal/) [Equal rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal-rights/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Gay people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay-people/) [Just Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-washington-3808680/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Marijuana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marijuana/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Patriotism Parts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism-parts-3808681/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Rights Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights-gay-270494/) [Sense Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-patriotism-839054/) [Smoke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smoke/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/)

## Related quotes

> [My own country's record on human rights for gay people is far from perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/my-own-country-s-record-on-human-rights-for-gay-people-is-far-from/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [I think worldwide, the movement has been towards accepting and respecting the individuality and the rights of gay people, lesbians and transgender people. Here,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir-bedi/i-think-worldwide-the-movement-has-been-towards-accepting-and/)

[Kabir Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir-bedi/)

> [Establishing the rights for gay people to be married would cost the Australian government nothing financially and would gain for you worldwide respect from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/establishing-the-rights-for-gay-people-to-be-married-would-cost-the/)

[Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/)

> [We all want to do everything we can to help our veterans; it is a part of our American values and sense of patriotism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-tuberville/we-all-want-to-do-everything-we-can-to-help-our-veterans-it-is-a-part/)

[Tommy Tuberville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-tuberville/)

> [Where is your sense of patriotism?" I keep it hid away safe, along with my sense of trust, Mr. Clent. I don't use 'em…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/where-is-your-sense-of-patriotism-i-keep-it-hid-away-safe-along-with/)

[Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/)

> [I have no sense of patriotism, but I do have a sense of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/i-have-no-sense-of-patriotism-but-i-do-have-a-sense-of-community/)

[Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/)

> [“That's to British," I countered. "What is?" "Making sweeping generalizations about Americans because that makes you feel better about having a national inferiority complex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-martinez/that-s-to-british-i-countered-what-is-making-sweeping-generalizations/)

[Jessica Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-martinez/)

> [I belong to a family that has a great sense of patriotism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikitin-dheer/i-belong-to-a-family-that-has-a-great-sense-of-patriotism/)

[Nikitin Dheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikitin-dheer/)

> [“On this Memorial Day, as our nation honors its unbroken line of fallen heroes -- and I see many of them in the audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/on-this-memorial-day-as-our-nation-honors-its-unbroken-line-of-fallen/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [World Government is not only possible, it is inevitable; and when it comes, it will appeal to patriotism in its truest sense,in its only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/world-government-is-not-only-possible-it-is-inevitable-and-when-it/)

[Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/)

> [America beats on you so hard the whole time. You are constantly being pummeled by other people's rights and their sense of patriotism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/america-beats-on-you-so-hard-the-whole-time-you-are-constantly-being/)

[Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/)

> [“Stay with me...opponents of gay marriage claim that granting equal legal rights to gay couples would degrade the sanctity of a sacred familial institution.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-pozner/stay-with-me-opponents-of-gay-marriage-claim-that-granting-equal/)

[Jennifer L. Pozner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-pozner/)

> [Obama has presided over sweeping cultural advances, particularly in the rights of gay and lesbian Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-reid/obama-has-presided-over-sweeping-cultural-advances-particularly-in/)

[Joy Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-reid/)

> [I care about women's rights and reproductive rights and my gay friends being able to keep their marriages official. You don't want your genre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maren-morris/i-care-about-women-s-rights-and-reproductive-rights-and-my-gay/)

[Maren Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maren-morris/)

> [For many years now, I have been an outspoken supporter of civil and human rights for gay and lesbian people. Gays and lesbians stood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/for-many-years-now-i-have-been-an-outspoken-supporter-of-civil-and/)

[Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/)

## More by Rick Steves

> [“A plaque just outside remembers June 30, 1944. That night, Nazi forces were planning to blow up the arch to slow the Allied advance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-steves/a-plaque-just-outside-remembers-june-30-1944-that-night-nazi-forces/)

[Rick Steves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-steves/)

> [If you don't like a place, maybe you don't know enough about it... Give a culture the benefit of your open mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-steves/if-you-don-t-like-a-place-maybe-you-don-t-know-enough-about-it-give-a/)

[Rick Steves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-steves/)

> [I believe if you’re going to bomb someone you should know them first. It should hurt when you kill someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-steves/i-believe-if-you-re-going-to-bomb-someone-you-should-know-them-first/)

[Rick Steves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-steves/)

> [Travel is rich with learning opportunities, and the ultimate sourvenir is a broader perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-steves/travel-is-rich-with-learning-opportunities-and-the-ultimate-sourvenir/)

[Rick Steves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-steves/)

> [I have a New Year's tradition. I lay all my travel dreams on the table, sort them out, prioritize, and begin the process of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-steves/i-have-a-new-year-s-tradition-i-lay-all-my-travel-dreams-on-the-table/)

[Rick Steves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-steves/)

> [I have used cannabis all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-steves/i-have-used-cannabis-all-over-the-world/)

[Rick Steves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-steves/)

> [Self-consciousness kills communication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-steves/self-consciousness-kills-communication/)

[Rick Steves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-steves/)

> [Travel challenges truths that we were raised thinking were self-evident and God-given. Leaving home, we learn other people find different truths to be self-evident.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-steves/travel-challenges-truths-that-we-were-raised-thinking-were-self/)

[Rick Steves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-steves/)

> [I think that people don't realize that the sky will not fall when we legalize marijuana. My contention all along has been use will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-steves/i-think-that-people-don-t-realize-that-the-sky-will-not-fall-when-we/)

[Rick Steves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-steves/)

> [If you can get conservatives to sit down for 20 minutes and listen to you on drug policy reform you might have a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-steves/if-you-can-get-conservatives-to-sit-down-for-20-minutes-and-listen-to/)

[Rick Steves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-steves/)

> [“People everywhere hear the excuse “there’s not enough money”. In actuality, there is enough money… just different priorities. New stadium, heathcare for all, faster…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-steves/people-everywhere-hear-the-excuse-there-s-not-enough-money-in/)

[Rick Steves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-steves/)

> [“If I had to choose one spot to enjoy the small-town charm of traditional Ireland, it would be Dingle and its history-laden scenic peninsula.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-steves/if-i-had-to-choose-one-spot-to-enjoy-the-small-town-charm-of/)

[Rick Steves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-steves/)

> [By day, Venice is a city of museums and churches, packed with great art. Linger over lunch, trying to crack a crustacean with weird…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-steves/by-day-venice-is-a-city-of-museums-and-churches-packed-with-great-art/)

[Rick Steves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-steves/)

> [“Look through the unfinished entrance facade, note blue sky where the stained-glass windows would have been, and ponder the struggles, triumphs, and failures of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-steves/look-through-the-unfinished-entrance-facade-note-blue-sky-where-the/)

[Rick Steves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-steves/)

> [It seems that the most fearful people in our country are those who don't travel and are metaphorically barricaded in America. If we all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-steves/it-seems-that-the-most-fearful-people-in-our-country-are-those-who/)

[Rick Steves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-steves/)

[Explore all 52 Rick Steves quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-steves/)

## More Care quotes

> [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [We all know what it feels like to love someone and care about them and want to protect them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiana-madeira/we-all-know-what-it-feels-like-to-love-someone-and-care-about-them/)

[Kiana Madeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiana-madeira/)

> [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/)

> [I certainly do care for you Jeff Campbell less than you are always thinking and much more than you are ever knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/i-certainly-do-care-for-you-jeff-campbell-less-than-you-are-always/)

[Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/)

> [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/)

[Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/)

> [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/)

[Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/)

> [I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don't want people to have to suffer. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/i-believe-in-taxation-and-health-care-that-is-outside-the-usual/)

[Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/)

> [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/)

[Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/)

> [What makes you care about nature, about the planet? Is it really that you're afraid of what's going to happen if you don't take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/what-makes-you-care-about-nature-about-the-planet-is-it-really-that/)

[Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/)

> [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/)

[James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/)

> [When will society, like a mother, take care of all her children?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/when-will-society-like-a-mother-take-care-of-all-her-children/)

[Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/)

> [I don't care if you make a print on a bath mat, just as long as it is a good print.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-weston/i-don-t-care-if-you-make-a-print-on-a-bath-mat-just-as-long-as-it-is/)

[Edward Weston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-weston/)

> [The world's problems are, by and large, human problems-the unavoidable consequence of egoic sleepwalking. If we care to look, all the signs are present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/the-world-s-problems-are-by-and-large-human-problems-the-unavoidable/)

[Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

[Browse all 19,019 Care quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It's just in Washington we're talking about equal rights for gay people, civil liberty to smoke marijuana, taking care of the environment, and it's all just decency and common sense and patriotism. And in other parts of the country that would be, like, inconceivable.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Rick Steves"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-steves/it-s-just-in-washington-we-re-talking-about-equal-rights-for-gay/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Care"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-steves/it-s-just-in-washington-we-re-talking-about-equal-rights-for-gay/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e48/rick-steves-12869_care_it-s-just-in-washington-we-re-talking-ab_1231187.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e48/rick-steves-12869_care_it-s-just-in-washington-we-re-talking-ab_1231187.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e48/rick-steves-12869_care_it-s-just-in-washington-we-re-talking-ab_1231187.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It's just in Washington we're talking about equal rights for gay people, civil liberty to smoke marijuana…” — Rick Steves",
                "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": "Rick Steves",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-steves/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It's just in Washington we're talking...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-steves/it-s-just-in-washington-we-re-talking-about-equal-rights-for-gay/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-steves/it-s-just-in-washington-we-re-talking-about-equal-rights-for-gay/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
