--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People in the political world have every…" description: "\"People in the political world have every incentive to say things that lead voters away from a clear economic understanding of issues. What has happened..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/thomas-sowell-247_clear_people-in-the-political-world-have-every_1966062.jpg" --- # People in the political world have every incentive to say… ![“People in the political world have every incentive to say things that lead voters away from a clear economic understanding of issues. What has happened more and more is that organized groups have more and more reasons to say things that don't make any economic sense.” quote by Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/thomas-sowell-247_clear_people-in-the-political-world-have-every_1966062.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/thomas-sowell-247_clear_people-in-the-political-world-have-every_1966062.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/thomas-sowell-247_clear_people-in-the-political-world-have-every_1966062.jpg) > “People in the political world have every incentive to say things that lead voters away from a clear economic understanding of issues. What has happened more and more is that organized groups have more and more reasons to say things that don't make any economic sense.” [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Politicians and interest groups often distort economics to manipulate voters, prioritizing rhetoric over factual clarity. **In simple terms:** Political speech can hide true economic facts. Key Takeaway Question facts, not slogans. Themes politics economics communication Mood skeptical critical Type analytical informative When to use this quote - election campaigns - policy debates - media analysis - public forums Key Concepts propaganda cognitive bias public persuasion Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify economic claims? - What motives drive misleading economic rhetoric? A Different Perspective Economic truth can be obscured by strategic messaging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Incentives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incentives/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Voters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voters/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [People tend to take more risks in groups than alone. For these reasons, the law has always treated conspiracy harshly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/people-tend-to-take-more-risks-in-groups-than-alone-for-these-reasons/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [If female were working in the same proportion as men do, the level of GDP would be up 27 percent in a country like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-lagarde/if-female-were-working-in-the-same-proportion-as-men-do-the-level-of/) [Christine Lagarde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-lagarde/) > [The extent to which all people in our society are made to count, and believe that they count, is not just a measure of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mcaleese/the-extent-to-which-all-people-in-our-society-are-made-to-count-and/) [Mary McAleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mcaleese/) > [We must prepare the ground for creativity. And if this also gives rise later to success in the economic sense, success in terms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-rau/we-must-prepare-the-ground-for-creativity-and-if-this-also-gives-rise/) [Johannes Rau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-rau/) > [Imagine if all those kings and dukes hadn't commissioned those crazy cathedrals, paintings and music... we'd still be living in sticks and mud. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ha-joon-chang/imagine-if-all-those-kings-and-dukes-hadn-t-commissioned-those-crazy/) [Ha-Joon Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ha-joon-chang/) > [The economic sense of possibility was so great when I was growing up that my parents had no question that I could do anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/the-economic-sense-of-possibility-was-so-great-when-i-was-growing-up/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [When you educate a girl, you kick-start a cycle of success. It makes economic sense. It makes social sense. It makes moral sense. But,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-rania-of-jordan/when-you-educate-a-girl-you-kick-start-a-cycle-of-success-it-makes/) [Queen Rania of Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-rania-of-jordan/) > [It makes no economic sense for the U.S. not to have an export credit agency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-muilenburg/it-makes-no-economic-sense-for-the-u-s-not-to-have-an-export-credit/) [Dennis Muilenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-muilenburg/) > [Economic policies need to be analyzed in terms of the incentives they create, rather than the hopes that inspired them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/economic-policies-need-to-be-analyzed-in-terms-of-the-incentives-they/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Sellers in general maintain the quality of their products and services for fear of losing customers otherwise. But, when price controls create a situation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/sellers-in-general-maintain-the-quality-of-their-products-and/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [To the economically illiterate, if some company makes a million dollars in profit, this means that their products cost a million dollars more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/to-the-economically-illiterate-if-some-company-makes-a-million/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [The time is long overdue to stop looking for progress through racial or ethnic leaders. Such leaders have too many incentives to promote polarizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-time-is-long-overdue-to-stop-looking-for-progress-through-racial/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Most problems, decisions, and performances are multidimensional, but somehow the results have to be reduced to a few key indicators which are to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/most-problems-decisions-and-performances-are-multidimensional-but/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [No other chancellor in the long history of the office has felt the need to pass a law in order to convince people he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/no-other-chancellor-in-the-long-history-of-the-office-has-felt-the/) [George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/) > [A lot of people are very political when they are young, and then they outgrow it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/a-lot-of-people-are-very-political-when-they-are-young-and-then-they/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) ## More by Thomas Sowell > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [There is no bigger waste of time than doing 90% of what is necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/there-is-no-bigger-waste-of-time-than-doing-90-of-what-is-necessary/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [If you have always believed that everyone should play by the same rules and be judged by the same standards, that would have gotten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/if-you-have-always-believed-that-everyone-should-play-by-the-same/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [“In 1962, Democratic President John F. Kennedy, like both Democratic and Republican Presidents and Secretaries of the Treasury in earlier years, pointed out that “it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/in-1962-democratic-president-john-f-kennedy-like-both-democratic-and/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Ideological bigotry has become the norm on even our most prestigious campuses, where students can go for years without reading or hearing anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/ideological-bigotry-has-become-the-norm-on-even-our-most-prestigious/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Bailing out people who made ill-advised mortgages makes no more sense that bailing out people who lost their life savings in Las Vegas casinos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/bailing-out-people-who-made-ill-advised-mortgages-makes-no-more-sense/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [“One third of all Scots in the mid-nineteenth century moved from one county to another”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/one-third-of-all-scots-in-the-mid-nineteenth-century-moved-from-one/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [The difference is that we have the hardest and most painful evidence that there was a Holocaust. But, for the global warming scenario that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-difference-is-that-we-have-the-hardest-and-most-painful-evidence/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [“Just as price fluctuations allocate scarce resources which have alternative uses, price controls which limit those fluctuations reduce the incentives for individuals to limit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/just-as-price-fluctuations-allocate-scarce-resources-which-have/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [The greatest danger to the liberal vision are facts about the consequences of liberalism itself and the laws, policies, and ways of life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-greatest-danger-to-the-liberal-vision-are-facts-about-the/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Having spent years ruining the housing markets with their interference, leading to a housing meltdown that has taken the whole economy down with it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/having-spent-years-ruining-the-housing-markets-with-their/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Do all children have some inherent right to live in America if they have done nothing wrong? If not, then why should the children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/do-all-children-have-some-inherent-right-to-live-in-america-if-they/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [What 'eminent domain' laws mean in practice is that politicians have a right to seize your property and turn it over to someone else,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/what-eminent-domain-laws-mean-in-practice-is-that-politicians-have-a/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [“those parts of the British Isles without the advantage of coal deposits or ports, industrialization was as handicapped as in other countries.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/those-parts-of-the-british-isles-without-the-advantage-of-coal/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [The whole idea of equal justice under law is completely incompatible with the idea of judges deciding cases according to "empathy".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-whole-idea-of-equal-justice-under-law-is-completely-incompatible/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) [Explore all 823 Thomas Sowell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) ## More Clear quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [Clear moments are so short. There is much more darkness. More ocean than terra firma. More shadow than form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-zagajewski/clear-moments-are-so-short-there-is-much-more-darkness-more-ocean/) [Adam Zagajewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-zagajewski/) > [I try to listen to all music with an open head, a clear head, try not to say just because I don't know it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ghostface-killah/i-try-to-listen-to-all-music-with-an-open-head-a-clear-head-try-not/) [Ghostface Killah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ghostface-killah/) > [God's Word does provide life lessons to teach us how to live. And it gives us beautiful poetry that gives voice to our human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rothschild/god-s-word-does-provide-life-lessons-to-teach-us-how-to-live-and-it/) [Jennifer Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rothschild/) > [ We have no clear ideas of the agency of \[demonic\] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of-demonic-spirits-nor-is-it/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [I've always made it clear that I do not believe that global government is either necessary or feasible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-strong/i-ve-always-made-it-clear-that-i-do-not-believe-that-global/) [Maurice Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-strong/) > [The moment it begins to question itself, the mind becomes so clear that it starts working with itself rather than with the body's identification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/the-moment-it-begins-to-question-itself-the-mind-becomes-so-clear/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [Alec Wilkinson is a spare, clear, and lucid writer who works in stylistic simplicity with material that is not simple at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-matthiessen/alec-wilkinson-is-a-spare-clear-and-lucid-writer-who-works-in/) [Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-matthiessen/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) Browse all 7,410 Clear quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People in the political world have every incentive to say things that lead voters away from a clear economic understanding of issues. What has happened more and more is that organized groups have more and more reasons to say things that don't make any economic sense.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Sowell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/people-in-the-political-world-have-every-incentive-to-say-things-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Clear" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/people-in-the-political-world-have-every-incentive-to-say-things-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/thomas-sowell-247_clear_people-in-the-political-world-have-every_1966062.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/thomas-sowell-247_clear_people-in-the-political-world-have-every_1966062.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/thomas-sowell-247_clear_people-in-the-political-world-have-every_1966062.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People in the political world have every incentive to say things that lead voters away from a clear economic…” — Thomas Sowell", "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": "Thomas Sowell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "People in the political world have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/people-in-the-political-world-have-every-incentive-to-say-things-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/people-in-the-political-world-have-every-incentive-to-say-things-that/#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 } } ] } ```