Democracy Quote by Thomas M. Nichols
““This is why the collapse of the relationship between experts and citizens is a dysfunction of democracy itself. The abysmal literacy, both political and general, of the American public is the foundation for all of these problems. It is the soil in which all of the other dysfunctions have taken root and prospered, with the 2016 election only its most recent expression.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public Lecture on Democracy, 2019
The quote argues that low political and general literacy erodes democratic health, making expert‑citizen distrust a systemic flaw.
In simple terms: Low literacy harms democracy.
Key Takeaway
Improve civic education.
Themes
democracy
literacy
expert‑citizen trust
political dysfunction
Mood
concerned
critical
Type
analytical
commentary
When to use this quote
- election analysis
- policy making
- community forums
- media literacy campaigns
Key Concepts
civic engagement
information quality
public discourse
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we raise literacy without alienating communities?
- What other factors undermine democratic trust?
A Different Perspective
Assumes literacy alone fixes complex power dynamics.
![“Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This [presidential] election is about every man, woman and child in our country who deserves to live in safety, prosperity and peace, so true.” quote by Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/18e/donald-trump-18_children_vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-se_1553.jpg)
