---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In America, the political system just is…"
description: "\"In America, the political system just is paralyzed for whatever reason. Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong, in that it's just become this giant blob bure..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c94/rush-limbaugh-28_america_in-america-the-political-system-just-is_3129985.jpg"
---

#  In America, the political system just is paralyzed for…

![“In America, the political system just is paralyzed for whatever reason. Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong, in that it's just become this giant blob bureaucracy, the primary objective is self-preservation, and the definition of self-preservation is don't do anything because then you continue to…” quote by Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c94/rush-limbaugh-28_america_in-america-the-political-system-just-is_3129985.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c94/rush-limbaugh-28_america_in-america-the-political-system-just-is_3129985.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c94/rush-limbaugh-28_america_in-america-the-political-system-just-is_3129985.jpg)

> “In America, the political system just is paralyzed for whatever reason. Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong, in that it's just become this giant blob bureaucracy, the primary objective is self-preservation, and the definition of self-preservation is don't do anything because then you continue to illustrate where you're needed.”

[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.

The U.S. political system is bogged down by bureaucracy focused on self‑preservation, leading to inaction.

**In simple terms:** Politics is stuck in self‑preserving bureaucracy.

Key Takeaway

Push for accountability and reform.

Themes

politics bureaucracy gridlock self‑preservation

Mood

skeptical urgent

Type

critical analytical

When to use this quote

- Congressional legislation
- government agencies
- public advocacy

Key Concepts

Institutional inertia policy reform

Questions to Reflect On

- What reforms could break the stalemate?
- How can citizens influence change?

A Different Perspective

Complex problems require nuanced solutions beyond blame.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [America Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-political-1347313/) [Bureaucracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bureaucracy/) [Definitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definitions/) [Giants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giants/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed/) [Objectives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objectives/) [Paralyzed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paralyzed/) [Paralyzed Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paralyzed-reason-5531618/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-just-1317121/) [Political system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-system/) [Political systems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-systems/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Preservation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preservation/) [Primaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/primaries/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self preservation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-preservation/)

## Related quotes

> [America's political system is superior to the crony corrupt corrupt capital system in Russia in every way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/america-s-political-system-is-superior-to-the-crony-corrupt-corrupt/)

[Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/)

> [Despite the fact that the country was electing Republicans, Obama wasn't being stopped, and it's because of the political system. The political system has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/despite-the-fact-that-the-country-was-electing-republicans-obama-wasn/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [ “He lied with a smile that paralyzed reason." \[Abby Chandlis - main character of The List\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martini/he-lied-with-a-smile-that-paralyzed-reason-abby-chandlis-main/)

[Steve Martini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martini/)

> [The shortcomings of America's political leaders do not stop at our borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/the-shortcomings-of-america-s-political-leaders-do-not-stop-at-our/)

[Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/)

> [America's political system has evolved over the last 50 years in ways that have enhanced the power of business lobbies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/america-s-political-system-has-evolved-over-the-last-50-years-in-ways/)

[Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/)

> [The strongest continuous thread in America's political tradition is skepticism about government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/the-strongest-continuous-thread-in-america-s-political-tradition-is/)

[George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/)

> [America's political system used to be about the pursuit of happiness. Now More and more of us want to stop chasing it and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-goldberg/america-s-political-system-used-to-be-about-the-pursuit-of-happiness/)

[Jonah Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-goldberg/)

> [Look at countries like China, they are determined to dominate all clean technology areas, putting lots of money into wind, solar, electric vehicles and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/look-at-countries-like-china-they-are-determined-to-dominate-all/)

[Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/)

> [If you look at the history of the FBI, it has become effectively America's political police.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/if-you-look-at-the-history-of-the-fbi-it-has-become-effectively/)

[Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/)

> [The two-party system has served America very well. We always have political movements one way or another but the evolution of a lasting third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/the-two-party-system-has-served-america-very-well-we-always-have/)

[Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/)

> [I care a heck of a lot more about America than I do about any political party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-care-a-heck-of-a-lot-more-about-america-than-i-do-about-any/)

[Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/)

> [ All of this strife on the political front might just be the death throes of another set of \[less-honorable\] American beliefs, that have, at… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/all-of-this-strife-on-the-political-front-might-just-be-the-death/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [It's a bit weird, because I don't really know what people expect or think being political is; I just don't get it. What am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/it-s-a-bit-weird-because-i-don-t-really-know-what-people-expect-or/)

[M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/)

> [I don't consider myself a political artist, but I am political just by nature of being a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-hanawalt/i-don-t-consider-myself-a-political-artist-but-i-am-political-just-by/)

[Lisa Hanawalt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-hanawalt/)

> [From my point of view, being out is not about anything political. It's just because I can't be bothered to be in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-everett/from-my-point-of-view-being-out-is-not-about-anything-political-it-s/)

[Rupert Everett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-everett/)

## 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. Standards have been relaxed, and people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-s-such-cultural-rot-taking-place-such-a-disintegration/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [There is an all-out assault now on the Christian community in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-is-an-all-out-assault-now-on-the-christian-community-in-this/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [It doesn't matter to me where Barack Obama goes. If he wants to go to Hawaii because it's his home state, fine! Hunky-dory. Plastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/it-doesn-t-matter-to-me-where-barack-obama-goes-if-he-wants-to-go-to/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [ Four states where \[Democrats\] have the governorship and both houses of the legislature. That's it. They have lost seats. 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 America quotes

> [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [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/)

> [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/)

[Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/)

> [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/)

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

> [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/)

[Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/)

> [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/)

[Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/)

> [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/)

> [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/)

[George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/)

> [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/)

[Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/)

> [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/)

[Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/)

> [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/)

[Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/)

> [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/)

[Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/)

[Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "In America, the political system just is paralyzed for whatever reason. Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong, in that it's just become this giant blob bureaucracy, the primary objective is self-preservation, and the definition of self-preservation is don't do anything because then you continue to illustrate where you're needed.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Rush Limbaugh"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/in-america-the-political-system-just-is-paralyzed-for-whatever-reason/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "America"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/in-america-the-political-system-just-is-paralyzed-for-whatever-reason/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c94/rush-limbaugh-28_america_in-america-the-political-system-just-is_3129985.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c94/rush-limbaugh-28_america_in-america-the-political-system-just-is_3129985.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c94/rush-limbaugh-28_america_in-america-the-political-system-just-is_3129985.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In America, the political system just is paralyzed for whatever reason. Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong, in…” — Rush Limbaugh",
                "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": "Rush Limbaugh",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "In America, the political system just...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/in-america-the-political-system-just-is-paralyzed-for-whatever-reason/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/in-america-the-political-system-just-is-paralyzed-for-whatever-reason/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
