America Quote by Robert Reich
“The dirty little secret is that both houses of Congress are irrelevant. ... America's domestic policy is now being run by Alan Greenspan and the Federal Reserve, and America's foreign policy is now being run by the International Monetary Fund [IMF]. ...when the president decides to go to war, he no longer needs a declaration of war from Congress.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview, 2005, MSNBC
Power has shifted from elected officials to unelected financial institutions, reducing democratic accountability.
In simple terms: Money controls policy more than Congress.
Recognize and demand transparency in monetary influence.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- voting
- public advocacy
- media literacy
- campaign finance reform
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does financial power affect everyday citizens?
- What mechanisms can restore democratic control?
The Fed and IMF are still subject to political pressure and oversight.