Compassion Quote by Thomas Sowell
“Compassion is the use of public funds to buy votes”
About This Quote
Source Book: Basic Economics, Thomas Sowell, 2000
Public funds are sometimes used to buy political support, turning compassion into a transactional tool.
In simple terms: Public money used to buy votes.
Key Takeaway
Demand transparency in political spending.
Themes
politics
economics
ethics
public policy
campaign finance
Mood
skeptical
concerned
analytical
Type
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- campaign strategy
- policy analysis
- civic education
- media scrutiny
- activism
Key Concepts
transactional politics
misuse of funds
public trust
Questions to Reflect On
- How does vote‑buying affect policy outcomes?
- What safeguards can prevent financial coercion?
A Different Perspective
Even if intended for welfare, such tactics erode democratic legitimacy.
![“The [Barack] Obama administration has both their hands in your pocket. They're trying to take every hard dollar you make to give it out in handouts to buy votes.” quote by Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/82f/ted-cruz-487_administration_the-barack-obama-administration-has-both_2161233.jpg)
