--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only way we are held accountable is…" description: "\"The only way we are held accountable is if people know what government is doing.\" — Ted Wheeler" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/439/ted-wheeler-5816_accountable_the-only-way-we-are-held-accountable-is_528905.jpg" --- # The only way we are held accountable is if people know… ![“The only way we are held accountable is if people know what government is doing.” quote by Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/439/ted-wheeler-5816_accountable_the-only-way-we-are-held-accountable-is_528905.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/439/ted-wheeler-5816_accountable_the-only-way-we-are-held-accountable-is_528905.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/439/ted-wheeler-5816_accountable_the-only-way-we-are-held-accountable-is_528905.jpg) > “The only way we are held accountable is if people know what government is doing.” [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Accountability arises when governmental actions are transparent and known to the public. **In simple terms:** People must know what government does to hold it accountable. Key Takeaway Demand transparency for accountability. Themes government accountability transparency Mood concerned serious Type political reflective When to use this quote - political debates - media reporting - citizen activism Key Concepts civic engagement public oversight policy scrutiny Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens ensure transparency? - What mechanisms enforce accountability? A Different Perspective Transparency alone may not ensure accountability without enforcement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Not only do we have a right to know, we have a duty to know what our Government is doing in our name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/not-only-do-we-have-a-right-to-know-we-have-a-duty-to-know-what-our-2/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [Not only do we have a right to know, we have a duty to know what our Government is doing in our name. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/not-only-do-we-have-a-right-to-know-we-have-a-duty-to-know-what-our/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [The government does not need to know more about what we are doing. We need to know more about what the government is doing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/the-government-does-not-need-to-know-more-about-what-we-are-doing-we/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [Voters cannot hold officials responsible if they do not know what government is doing, or which parts of government are doing what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/voters-cannot-hold-officials-responsible-if-they-do-not-know-what/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [It is imperative the government is held accountable to the people it represents and does not abuse its position in key areas of personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/it-is-imperative-the-government-is-held-accountable-to-the-people-it/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [Being a candidate who doesn't take corporate PAC money forced me to be accountable to the people I serve and to meet them where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaal-bowman/being-a-candidate-who-doesn-t-take-corporate-pac-money-forced-me-to/) [Jamaal Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaal-bowman/) > [As elected representatives, MLAs are accountable to the people and I will not allow anyone to undermine their importance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amarinder-singh/as-elected-representatives-mlas-are-accountable-to-the-people-and-i/) [Amarinder Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amarinder-singh/) > [Computers are not accountable. People are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-richard-marek/computers-are-not-accountable-people-are/) [George Richard Marek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-richard-marek/) > [When providing people with the direction and expected behaviors, you need to be alert to the fact that they will hold you accountable. People…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-conant/when-providing-people-with-the-direction-and-expected-behaviors-you/) [Douglas Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-conant/) > [We have to make the bureaucracy accountable to the people. It is not something esoteric, it can be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arvind-kejriwal/we-have-to-make-the-bureaucracy-accountable-to-the-people-it-is-not/) [Arvind Kejriwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arvind-kejriwal/) > [There are multi-scatterings of various and associated issues and concerns, but it all boils down to accountable people versus those unwilling to be accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/there-are-multi-scatterings-of-various-and-associated-issues-and/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [When you're in a relationship, please believe that you are held accountable for every feeling felt, word spoken, and heart broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/when-you-re-in-a-relationship-please-believe-that-you-are-held/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [I feel like I'm held more accountable to stay healthy now because now I'm a role model to young girls to not have eating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/i-feel-like-i-m-held-more-accountable-to-stay-healthy-now-because-now/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [The thing about this sport is you will be held accountable for your words come a certain date.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-browne/the-thing-about-this-sport-is-you-will-be-held-accountable-for-your/) [Travis Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-browne/) ## More by Ted Wheeler > [We have an obligation at the local level to do everything we can with the resources we have. And we do those things. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/we-have-an-obligation-at-the-local-level-to-do-everything-we-can-with/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [The City of Portland, our police bureau, and our employees do not cooperate with ICE.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/the-city-of-portland-our-police-bureau-and-our-employees-do-not/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [I don't even recognize myself sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/i-don-t-even-recognize-myself-sometimes/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [Is Portland worse off than other cities? Is Portland really 'Tent City U.S.A.?' I want to be clear: The answer is no. While the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/is-portland-worse-off-than-other-cities-is-portland-really-tent-city/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [We don't know what the trajectory of autonomous or linked vehicles will be, and we don't have a clear understanding on what that means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/we-don-t-know-what-the-trajectory-of-autonomous-or-linked-vehicles/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [I did not inherit a single dime from my father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/i-did-not-inherit-a-single-dime-from-my-father/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [I certainly didn't see the mayor's withdrawal coming. I was looking for a highly contested mayoral campaign.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/i-certainly-didn-t-see-the-mayor-s-withdrawal-coming-i-was-looking/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [Peaceful demonstrations are essential to our democratic system. Unfortunately, some individuals have engaged in unlawful and dangerous activity, including arson, rioting, looting, and damaging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/peaceful-demonstrations-are-essential-to-our-democratic-system/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [The police should be focused on policing criminal activity, and that's sort of the beginning, the middle and the end of it for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/the-police-should-be-focused-on-policing-criminal-activity-and-that-s/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [Homelessness is an umbrella term for a lot of different problems that need separate solutions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/homelessness-is-an-umbrella-term-for-a-lot-of-different-problems-that/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [There's no question that, in nearly seven weeks of nightly demonstrations, the police have done many things right, and they've done some things wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/there-s-no-question-that-in-nearly-seven-weeks-of-nightly/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [I was very clear that we'd invest much more in shelter space to get people off the streets, out of doorways, out from overpasses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/i-was-very-clear-that-we-d-invest-much-more-in-shelter-space-to-get/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [Wishful thinking did not give Oregonians the bottle bill. Wishful thinking did not give the public access to beaches. Nor can we expect wishful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/wishful-thinking-did-not-give-oregonians-the-bottle-bill-wishful/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [Too often, the very institutions that are supposed to protect and serve our community have instead failed people of color, specifically our black community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/too-often-the-very-institutions-that-are-supposed-to-protect-and/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [I'm ready to fight, and I'm ready to make sure progressive includes progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/i-m-ready-to-fight-and-i-m-ready-to-make-sure-progressive-includes/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) [Explore all 100 Ted Wheeler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) ## More Accountable quotes > [If China someday gains a more fair, just, and accountable system of government, it will be due to the hard work and efforts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/if-china-someday-gains-a-more-fair-just-and-accountable-system-of/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [I don't have a boss or PR person, so I'm accountable to no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/i-don-t-have-a-boss-or-pr-person-so-i-m-accountable-to-no-one/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [Be aware and hold the government accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohit-chauhan/be-aware-and-hold-the-government-accountable/) [Mohit Chauhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohit-chauhan/) > [I'm against unanswerable concentrations of power, whether that be government or private industry or religious figures - anybody who is not accountable to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-suarez/i-m-against-unanswerable-concentrations-of-power-whether-that-be/) [Daniel Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-suarez/) > [I am formally accountable to the steering board of the PIC, and I meet with nine ambassadors from the PIC every week. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-ashdown/i-am-formally-accountable-to-the-steering-board-of-the-pic-and-i-meet/) [Paddy Ashdown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-ashdown/) > [When you're in a relationship, please believe that you are held accountable for every feeling felt, word spoken, and heart broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/when-you-re-in-a-relationship-please-believe-that-you-are-held/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [We will make government more accountable. We will cut fraud, waste and abuse in our budget. But we will not do it by leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/we-will-make-government-more-accountable-we-will-cut-fraud-waste-and/) [John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/) > [It means a lot. It means I'm accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/champ-bailey/it-means-a-lot-it-means-i-m-accountable/) [Champ Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/champ-bailey/) > [If you can't hold yourself accountable and get your job done then you're not going to be successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-amendola/if-you-can-t-hold-yourself-accountable-and-get-your-job-done-then-you/) [Danny Amendola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-amendola/) > [There are multi-scatterings of various and associated issues and concerns, but it all boils down to accountable people versus those unwilling to be accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/there-are-multi-scatterings-of-various-and-associated-issues-and/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [If you're going to give people authority and hold them responsible and ultimately accountable for their performance, you've got to get out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-lerner/if-you-re-going-to-give-people-authority-and-hold-them-responsible/) [Randy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-lerner/) > [We all have to hold each other accountable and point that behavior out to each other in a kind way. I guess what I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-ellis/we-all-have-to-hold-each-other-accountable-and-point-that-behavior/) [Mary Elizabeth Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-ellis/) > [“The mistakes you make now count. Not for everything, and not forever. But they do matter, and they shape you...make your choices well. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/the-mistakes-you-make-now-count-not-for-everything-and-not-forever/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [In the church we have to deliberately let ourselves be transparent and accountable to others. We're a family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/in-the-church-we-have-to-deliberately-let-ourselves-be-transparent/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [I feel like I'm held more accountable to stay healthy now because now I'm a role model to young girls to not have eating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/i-feel-like-i-m-held-more-accountable-to-stay-healthy-now-because-now/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) Browse all 351 Accountable quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only way we are held accountable is if people know what government is doing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ted Wheeler" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/the-only-way-we-are-held-accountable-is-if-people-know-what/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accountable" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/the-only-way-we-are-held-accountable-is-if-people-know-what/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/439/ted-wheeler-5816_accountable_the-only-way-we-are-held-accountable-is_528905.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/439/ted-wheeler-5816_accountable_the-only-way-we-are-held-accountable-is_528905.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/439/ted-wheeler-5816_accountable_the-only-way-we-are-held-accountable-is_528905.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only way we are held accountable is if people know what government is doing.” — Ted Wheeler", "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": "Ted Wheeler", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The only way we are held...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/the-only-way-we-are-held-accountable-is-if-people-know-what/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/the-only-way-we-are-held-accountable-is-if-people-know-what/#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 } } ] } ```