--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would like to see the U.S. fighting…" description: "\"I would like to see the U.S. fighting another war, perhaps in addition to that against terror: a war on poverty, illiteracy, disease and environmental ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea1/scar-arias-8677_country_i-would-like-to-see-the-u-s-fighting-ano_2409942.png" --- # I would like to see the U.S. fighting another war, perhaps… ![“I would like to see the U.S. fighting another war, perhaps in addition to that against terror: a war on poverty, illiteracy, disease and environmental degradation. It is certainly within the power of your country to act on all of these fronts, but, unfortunately, your leaders have become obsessed…” quote by Oscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea1/scar-arias-8677_country_i-would-like-to-see-the-u-s-fighting-ano_2409942.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea1/scar-arias-8677_country_i-would-like-to-see-the-u-s-fighting-ano_2409942.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea1/scar-arias-8677_country_i-would-like-to-see-the-u-s-fighting-ano_2409942.png) > “I would like to see the U.S. fighting another war, perhaps in addition to that against terror: a war on poverty, illiteracy, disease and environmental degradation. It is certainly within the power of your country to act on all of these fronts, but, unfortunately, your leaders have become obsessed with a single issue.” [Oscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker urges the U.S. to address multiple societal problems simultaneously rather than focusing narrowly on one issue. **In simple terms:** Address many problems at once. Key Takeaway Broaden policy focus. Themes public policy social responsibility global challenges Mood concerned hopeful critical Type political inspirational When to use this quote - education reform - public health initiatives - environmental programs - economic development - poverty alleviation Key Concepts multidimensional governance systems thinking Questions to Reflect On - Which issue should be prioritized first? - How can a single nation realistically tackle all these problems? A Different Perspective Balancing many priorities can dilute resources and political will. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Environmental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmental/) [Environmental degradation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmental-degradation/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Fighting War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting-war/) [Illiteracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illiteracy/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Obsessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsessed/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Terror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terror/) [Terror War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terror-war-354663/) [Unfortunately Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfortunately-leaders-6063605/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War on poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-on-poverty/) [War Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-poverty-359706/) ## Related quotes > [There was never a war on poverty. Maybe there was a skirmish on poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/there-was-never-a-war-on-poverty-maybe-there-was-a-skirmish-on-poverty/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [The war on poverty programs help address the pain of poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/the-war-on-poverty-programs-help-address-the-pain-of-poverty/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [When you talk about war on poverty it doesn't mean very much; but if you can show to some degree this sort of thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shahn/when-you-talk-about-war-on-poverty-it-doesn-t-mean-very-much-but-if/) [Ben Shahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shahn/) > [These economic, social, cultural and educational causes of opportunity inequality are complex. And they will not be solved by continuing with the same stale…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/these-economic-social-cultural-and-educational-causes-of-opportunity/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [This nation has always struggled with how it was going to deal with poor people and people of color. Every few years you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-waters/this-nation-has-always-struggled-with-how-it-was-going-to-deal-with/) [Maxine Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-waters/) > [I do think that humanitarians and journalists alike have focused on all the things that go wrong, and that they sometimes leave the perception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/i-do-think-that-humanitarians-and-journalists-alike-have-focused-on/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [We have to realize that this country in its private sector has been fighting the most successful war on poverty the world has seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/we-have-to-realize-that-this-country-in-its-private-sector-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Liberals cling to the idea that critics of welfare are motivated by greed or callous disregard for the less fortunate. In fact, during the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mona-charen/liberals-cling-to-the-idea-that-critics-of-welfare-are-motivated-by/) [Mona Charen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mona-charen/) > [The ultimate objective of subsidies should be to empower the poor, to break the cycle of poverty, and become foot-soldiers in our war on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-ultimate-objective-of-subsidies-should-be-to-empower-the-poor-to/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [“When Clay was little, newscasters boasted that the War on Poverty was being waged in those very mountains, but if the government had fought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silas-house/when-clay-was-little-newscasters-boasted-that-the-war-on-poverty-was/) [Silas House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silas-house/) > [We fought a war on poverty, and poverty won](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/we-fought-a-war-on-poverty-and-poverty-won/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [This is not about charity, it's about justice... The war against terror is bound up in the war against poverty - I didn't say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/this-is-not-about-charity-it-s-about-justice-the-war-against-terror/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [part of the problem with a war on poverty today is that many Americans have decided that being poor is a character defect, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/part-of-the-problem-with-a-war-on-poverty-today-is-that-many/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [I believe the war on poverty is a more American idea than the war on the war on poverty. I believe that most people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-believe-the-war-on-poverty-is-a-more-american-idea-than-the-war-on/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [This is not about charity, it's about justice... The war against terror is bound up in the war against poverty - I didn't say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/this-is-not-about-charity-it-s-about-justice-the-war-against-terror-2/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) ## More by Oscar Arias > [The 20th century has been marked by cynicism, selfishness, greed, and the desire to please, all without changing the status quo. In the 21st…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/the-20th-century-has-been-marked-by-cynicism-selfishness-greed-and/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [War, and the preparation for war, are the two greatest obstacles to human progress, fostering a vicious cycle of arms buildups, violence and poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/war-and-the-preparation-for-war-are-the-two-greatest-obstacles-to/) [Oscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [On Dec. 1, 1948, after the triumph of the revolution, which insured the final victory of the will of the people expressed through elections,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/on-dec-1-1948-after-the-triumph-of-the-revolution-which-insured-the/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [“It is essential that justice be done, it is equally vital that justice not be confused with revenge, for the two are wholly different.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/it-is-essential-that-justice-be-done-it-is-equally-vital-that-justice/) [Oscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [The best way to perpetuate poverty is by spending on arms and military, and the best way to fight terrorism is by fighting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/the-best-way-to-perpetuate-poverty-is-by-spending-on-arms-and/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [India, Pakistan, China, Singapore and South Korea are heavily investing in nuclear arms. Since 21st century is the century of Asia, Asian countries should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/india-pakistan-china-singapore-and-south-korea-are-heavily-investing/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [Peace consists, very largely, in the fact of desiring it with all one's soul. The inhabitants of my small country, Costa Rica, have realized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/peace-consists-very-largely-in-the-fact-of-desiring-it-with-all-one-s/) [Oscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [During my administration, our desire has been to strengthen the civilian spirit of our people. Thus, we have eliminated military ranks and salutes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/during-my-administration-our-desire-has-been-to-strengthen-the/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [Our world is certainly dangerous, but it is made more dangerous, not less, by those who value profits over peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/our-world-is-certainly-dangerous-but-it-is-made-more-dangerous-not/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [It's clear to me that many weapons sales are very short-sighted. The U.S. and other arms-producing countries sell weapons for a variety of reasons,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/it-s-clear-to-me-that-many-weapons-sales-are-very-short-sighted-the-u/) [Oscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [To demilitarize the country means to make a profound decision. It is not enough to change the name of the armed forces. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/to-demilitarize-the-country-means-to-make-a-profound-decision-it-is/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [We seek in Central America not peace alone, not peace to be followed someday by political progress, but peace and democracy, together, indivisible, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/we-seek-in-central-america-not-peace-alone-not-peace-to-be-followed/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [Free trade will go a long way toward alleviating poverty in Central America. Yet trade alone is not enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/free-trade-will-go-a-long-way-toward-alleviating-poverty-in-central/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [Many developing countries continue to be burdened by high percentages of their population living in poverty. Yet, instead of addressing this root cause of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/many-developing-countries-continue-to-be-burdened-by-high-percentages/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [If there is no peace in Central America, it will not be because Costa Rica, and myself as president, have not done what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/if-there-is-no-peace-in-central-america-it-will-not-be-because-costa/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) [Explore all 79 Oscar Arias quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) ## More Country quotes > [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [For the Scottish government, the practice of having meetings in different parts of the country is well established, but for the U.K. government, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/for-the-scottish-government-the-practice-of-having-meetings-in/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) > [There's no reason someone who has fought for their country should be homeless of jobless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/there-s-no-reason-someone-who-has-fought-for-their-country-should-be/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [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/) > [It's very nice to be a rebel saying, 'I stand on my principles,' but if in fact that's not going to have any impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-grieve/it-s-very-nice-to-be-a-rebel-saying-i-stand-on-my-principles-but-if/) [Dominic Grieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-grieve/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [That's what this country is. It's made up of immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bria-vinaite/that-s-what-this-country-is-it-s-made-up-of-immigrants/) [Bria Vinaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bria-vinaite/) > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. 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