--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I really think what's happening to the…" description: "\"I really think what's happening to the American political system is that it has been reduced to a system of self-perpetuation for the people in it. And..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e16/rush-limbaugh-28_american-political-s_i-really-think-what-s-happening-to-the-a_2207541.jpg" --- # I really think what's happening to the American political… ![“I really think what's happening to the American political system is that it has been reduced to a system of self-perpetuation for the people in it. And they view security for themselves as always needing things to be done.” quote by Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e16/rush-limbaugh-28_american-political-s_i-really-think-what-s-happening-to-the-a_2207541.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e16/rush-limbaugh-28_american-political-s_i-really-think-what-s-happening-to-the-a_2207541.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e16/rush-limbaugh-28_american-political-s_i-really-think-what-s-happening-to-the-a_2207541.jpg) > “I really think what's happening to the American political system is that it has been reduced to a system of self-perpetuation for the people in it. And they view security for themselves as always needing things to be done.” [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues the political system now primarily serves its own insiders, prioritizing self‑preservation over public service. **In simple terms:** Politics has become self‑serving for insiders. Key Takeaway Seek accountability and public interest in governance. Themes politics power self‑interest accountability Mood critical concerned Type political analytical When to use this quote - voter education - policy reform - community activism Key Concepts elite capture systemic inertia public trust Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens demand more transparency? - What mechanisms can reduce self‑perpetuating politics? A Different Perspective Complex issues may be oversimplified. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-political-479370/) [American political system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-political-system/) [Cybersecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Happenings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happenings/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Perpetuation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perpetuation-3348595/) [Perpetuation People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perpetuation-people-4875479/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political Reduced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-reduced-4875480/) [Political system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-system/) [Political systems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-systems/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self Perpetuation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-perpetuation-2870517/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Views](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/views/) ## Related quotes > [The American political system is a giant bureaucracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-american-political-system-is-a-giant-bureaucracy/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [In the American political system, you're only allowed to have real ideas if it's absolutely guaranteed that you can't win an election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-the-american-political-system-you-re-only-allowed-to-have-real/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [The American political system is like fast food - mushy, insipid, made out of disgusting parts of things and everybody wants some.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-american-political-system-is-like-fast-food-mushy-insipid-made/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I just didn't understand the American political system, and I felt really stupid about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/i-just-didn-t-understand-the-american-political-system-and-i-felt/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [With all its faults, the American political system is the freest and most democratic in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eldridge-cleaver/with-all-its-faults-the-american-political-system-is-the-freest-and/) [Eldridge Cleaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eldridge-cleaver/) > [I don't think we can depend on Congress. In the American political system - we have been brought up to believe that the American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/i-don-t-think-we-can-depend-on-congress-in-the-american-political/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [The American political system is not good at trading sacrifice now to prevent crises later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-klein/the-american-political-system-is-not-good-at-trading-sacrifice-now-to/) [Ezra Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-klein/) > [What is the pope doing inserting himself - he's the Vicar of Christ. He is the worldwide leader of the Catholic faith. What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/what-is-the-pope-doing-inserting-himself-he-s-the-vicar-of-christ-he/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The idea, the pattern, is self-projected; it is a form of self-worship, of self-perpetuation, and hence gratifying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/the-idea-the-pattern-is-self-projected-it-is-a-form-of-self-worship/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [“the capital commandments of self-interest, self-importance, self-enrichment, and self-perpetuation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/the-capital-commandments-of-self-interest-self-importance-self/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [“Evolution is no more than the perpetuation of error.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jones/evolution-is-no-more-than-the-perpetuation-of-error/) [Steve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jones/) > [“Desire wills its perpetuation ad infinitum.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/desire-wills-its-perpetuation-ad-infinitum/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [The bold effort the present (central) bank had made to control the government ... are but premonitions of the fate that await the American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/the-bold-effort-the-present-central-bank-had-made-to-control-the/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [The power of perpetuating our property in our families is one of the most valuable and interesting circumstances belonging to it, and that which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/the-power-of-perpetuating-our-property-in-our-families-is-one-of-the/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Unemployment doles can have no other effect than the perpetuation of unemployment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/unemployment-doles-can-have-no-other-effect-than-the-perpetuation-of/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) ## More by Rush Limbaugh > [You can criticize Trump and his wealth all day long, but you can't say he hasn't worked. You can say that about the Clintons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/you-can-criticize-trump-and-his-wealth-all-day-long-but-you-can-t-say/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ I guarantee you \[Hillary Clinton\] is smoking in humiliation over the idea that she needs to heal and that \[Donald\] Trump's the guy to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-guarantee-you-hillary-clinton-is-smoking-in-humiliation-over-the/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [How do you, on the one hand, not object to Hillary Clinton being elected, and then, on the other hand, tell people, "Elect me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/how-do-you-on-the-one-hand-not-object-to-hillary-clinton-being/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ The real leadership of the opposition is never, ever gonna do anything but continue to ramp up efforts to stop \[Donald\] Trump or destroy… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-real-leadership-of-the-opposition-is-never-ever-gonna-do-anything/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I can't see the Democrats working with Donald Trump on tax reform unless the rich get soaked. The thing about this that should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-can-t-see-the-democrats-working-with-donald-trump-on-tax-reform/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [We know from this book entitled... What is it? Surrendered? Succumbed? I can never remember the title perform. And we learn from this book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-know-from-this-book-entitled-what-is-it-surrendered-succumbed-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Once you convince people that they're victims, you really own them because you've just told them that whatever problems they have in life, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/once-you-convince-people-that-they-re-victims-you-really-own-them/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [We're in more wars today under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton than under George W. Bush or Ronald Reagan. Yet they tell you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-re-in-more-wars-today-under-barack-obama-and-hillary-clinton-than/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [People from all over the world came to America and assimilated into a single culture rooted in the founding, which is rooted in individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/people-from-all-over-the-world-came-to-america-and-assimilated-into-a/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The left wants to transform America away from founding ideals, and this is it. And they know it. And they're doing everything they, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-left-wants-to-transform-america-away-from-founding-ideals-and/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [There's such cultural rot taking place, such a disintegration throughout our culture. Values, morality, you name it. 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They are not gonna win… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/four-states-where-democrats-have-the-governorship-and-both-houses-of/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) [Explore all 2,819 Rush Limbaugh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) ## More American political system quotes > [In the American political system, you're only allowed to have real ideas if it's absolutely guaranteed that you can't win an election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-the-american-political-system-you-re-only-allowed-to-have-real/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Every time Bush talks about trust it makes chills run up and down my spine. The way he has trampled on the truth is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/every-time-bush-talks-about-trust-it-makes-chills-run-up-and-down-my/) [William J. 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In the American political system - we have been brought up to believe that the American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/i-don-t-think-we-can-depend-on-congress-in-the-american-political/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [The American political system is not good at trading sacrifice now to prevent crises later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-klein/the-american-political-system-is-not-good-at-trading-sacrifice-now-to/) [Ezra Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-klein/) > [The American political system is a giant bureaucracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-american-political-system-is-a-giant-bureaucracy/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I just didn't understand the American political system, and I felt really stupid about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/i-just-didn-t-understand-the-american-political-system-and-i-felt/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [The American political system is like fast food - mushy, insipid, made out of disgusting parts of things and everybody wants some.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-american-political-system-is-like-fast-food-mushy-insipid-made/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [What is the pope doing inserting himself - he's the Vicar of Christ. He is the worldwide leader of the Catholic faith. What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/what-is-the-pope-doing-inserting-himself-he-s-the-vicar-of-christ-he/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) [Browse all 10 American political system quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-political-system/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I really think what's happening to the American political system is that it has been reduced to a system of self-perpetuation for the people in it. 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