--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To pay attention to the American…" description: "\"“To pay attention to the American political process, and what the candidates for this nation’s highest office have to say and not say about the issues ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/tim-wise-14074_health-care_to-pay-attention-to-the-american-politic_2567804.jpg" --- # To pay attention to the American political process, and… ![“To pay attention to the American political process, and what the candidates for this nation’s highest office have to say and not say about the issues that are of importance to them and thus we are to presume importance to the Nation, you would get the impression that the issue of race, that the…” quote by Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/tim-wise-14074_health-care_to-pay-attention-to-the-american-politic_2567804.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/tim-wise-14074_health-care_to-pay-attention-to-the-american-politic_2567804.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/tim-wise-14074_health-care_to-pay-attention-to-the-american-politic_2567804.jpg) > ““To pay attention to the American political process, and what the candidates for this nation’s highest office have to say and not say about the issues that are of importance to them and thus we are to presume importance to the Nation, you would get the impression that the issue of race, that the issue of racism, that the issue of discrimination, and certainly that the issue of white racial privilege were non existent issues; that they were of really no importance, or that of very little importance, because you will not hear and have not heard any of the candidates for the presidency of the United States, in either party, of whatever political ideology, make this an issue. Yes,they talk about poverty and occasionally they talk about schooling and education. They talk about healthcare. They talk about all of those things, but not once have any of those candidates tried to directly connect the role that racism, the role that racial discrimination, the role that institutional racial oppression and white privilege play in regard to health care, in regard to housing, in regard to schooling. It is as if those issues exist in a vacuum and have no relationship to color, have no relationship to race, have no relationship to a history of racial subordination.”” [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) ## 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 argues that political discourse ignores systemic racism and white privilege, treating them as irrelevant to major policy issues like health, housing, and education. **In simple terms:** Politicians avoid linking racism to policy problems. Key Takeaway Recognize and address racial factors in policy debates. Themes racism politics policy social justice inequality Mood critical concerned urgent Type analytical advocacy When to use this quote - voting - policy analysis - community organizing - education reform - health advocacy Key Concepts systemic oppression white privilege institutional racism public discourse Questions to Reflect On - How can voters demand more honest discussions of race? - What mechanisms ensure accountability for racial equity? A Different Perspective The claim may overlook instances where candidates do discuss race, albeit superficially. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Health care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health-care/) [Political ideology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-ideology/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Racial discrimination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racial-discrimination/) [White privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-privilege/) ## Related quotes > [The issue of race is not an issue of choice. It's an issue of birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/the-issue-of-race-is-not-an-issue-of-choice-it-s-an-issue-of-birth/) [Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/) > [I am committed to ensure that our 2008 Republican presidential candidates forthrightly address issues of importance to the African-American community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/i-am-committed-to-ensure-that-our-2008-republican-presidential/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) > [In my head, racism was an issue that needed to be fixed by the racists. Like you needed to convince that person one at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wunmi-mosaku/in-my-head-racism-was-an-issue-that-needed-to-be-fixed-by-the-racists/) [Wunmi Mosaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wunmi-mosaku/) > [Racism is an issue in America but is primarily an issue for the poor. It's not LeBron James' issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/racism-is-an-issue-in-america-but-is-primarily-an-issue-for-the-poor/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [You know, my goal is not to convince you that I'm right or that you're wrong. About homophobia. Gun violence. Racism. Whatever the issue.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-petrow/you-know-my-goal-is-not-to-convince-you-that-i-m-right-or-that-you-re/) [Steven Petrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-petrow/) > [People say that being a vegan creates a social problem in that others may react negatively. But isnt that the case if you take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/people-say-that-being-a-vegan-creates-a-social-problem-in-that-others/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [The issue of racism happens all over the world. Granted, people - especially Americans - don't know the the Canadian culture. But if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/the-issue-of-racism-happens-all-over-the-world-granted-people/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [Whatever your issue is, whether it's racism or homophobia or policy issues or taxes or urban decay or health care, you're not going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/whatever-your-issue-is-whether-it-s-racism-or-homophobia-or-policy/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [“Whether or not any of us become racists is a choice we make. And we are called to choose again and again where we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/whether-or-not-any-of-us-become-racists-is-a-choice-we-make-and-we/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The issue of racism and racial prejudice. It is very, very difficult to discuss. It is difficult to discuss the issue of apartheid. Many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/the-issue-of-racism-and-racial-prejudice-it-is-very-very-difficult-to/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [There is no doubt that the issue of race is always present in American politics and in the politics of any multiracial society. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/there-is-no-doubt-that-the-issue-of-race-is-always-present-in/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Too many people are afraid to talk about the issue of race. We should be willing to address it, and more importantly, when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-stallworth/too-many-people-are-afraid-to-talk-about-the-issue-of-race-we-should/) [Ron Stallworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-stallworth/) > [I am not sure the issue of race in America will ever be completely solved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/i-am-not-sure-the-issue-of-race-in-america-will-ever-be-completely/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [The issue with race particularly within this country is largely because of lack of dialogue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tituss-burgess/the-issue-with-race-particularly-within-this-country-is-largely/) [Tituss Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tituss-burgess/) > [It's not surprising to me that in a country born of racial genocide, the issue of race is still an open wound on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/it-s-not-surprising-to-me-that-in-a-country-born-of-racial-genocide/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) ## More by Tim Wise > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [Progress is always relative: to the oppressed, it can only be viewed as an all or nothing deal - if oppression continues, even in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/progress-is-always-relative-to-the-oppressed-it-can-only-be-viewed-as/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [I don't think the job of the antiracist is to convert the far-out heathen racist, or give them their 'come to Jesus' moment, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/i-don-t-think-the-job-of-the-antiracist-is-to-convert-the-far-out/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [And in "Elbow Room" the cast sings the glories of westward expansion in the United States, which involved the murder of native peoples and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/and-in-elbow-room-the-cast-sings-the-glories-of-westward-expansion-in/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [If we dont figure out a way to create equity, real equity, of opportunity and access, to good schools, housing, health care, and decent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/if-we-dont-figure-out-a-way-to-create-equity-real-equity-of/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [So, in "Melting Pot" the children (about a third of whom were kids of color) sang the line, "America was the new world and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/so-in-melting-pot-the-children-about-a-third-of-whom-were-kids-of/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [Hardly any aspect of my life, from where I had lived to my education to my employment history to my friendships, had been free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/hardly-any-aspect-of-my-life-from-where-i-had-lived-to-my-education/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [People of color have to do this work as a mater of everyday survival. And so long as they have to, who am I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/people-of-color-have-to-do-this-work-as-a-mater-of-everyday-survival/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [You can't organize people if you don't love them. And however hard it can be to love the racist you come in contact with;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/you-can-t-organize-people-if-you-don-t-love-them-and-however-hard-it/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [The denial of racism is a form of racism itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/the-denial-of-racism-is-a-form-of-racism-itself/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [Being asked to describe what 'post-racial' means is a bit like being asked to describe a leprechaun, cold fusion or unicorns: we know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/being-asked-to-describe-what-post-racial-means-is-a-bit-like-being/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [As a writer, there are times when you have something to say, and yet no particular 'hook' upon which to hang the missive you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/as-a-writer-there-are-times-when-you-have-something-to-say-and-yet-no/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [“The power of resistance is to set an example: not necessarily to change the person with whom you disagree, but to empower the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/the-power-of-resistance-is-to-set-an-example-not-necessarily-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [When you allow racial disparity and institutional inequity to affect one part of the country, eventually it's coming back to get everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/when-you-allow-racial-disparity-and-institutional-inequity-to-affect/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) [Explore all 48 Tim Wise quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) ## More Health care quotes > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don't want people to have to suffer. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/i-believe-in-taxation-and-health-care-that-is-outside-the-usual/) [Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/) > [Leaders need to compromise, negotiate with members of both parties and ideologies, and reform health care the right way - by developing a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-boustany/leaders-need-to-compromise-negotiate-with-members-of-both-parties-and/) [Charles Boustany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-boustany/) > [“the higher the psychological safety in a unit, the fewer errors they made. Why? In the units that lacked psychological safety, health care professionals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-m-grant/the-higher-the-psychological-safety-in-a-unit-the-fewer-errors-they/) [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) > [One reason for the tremendous increase in health-care costs in the U.S. is managerial neglect of the "hotel services" by the people who dominate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/one-reason-for-the-tremendous-increase-in-health-care-costs-in-the-u/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [You know, we can't beat ISIS. We can't do anything. We can't take care of our vets. We can't have good health care. "Obama…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/you-know-we-can-t-beat-isis-we-can-t-do-anything-we-can-t-take-care/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [When the government pays, health care's lack of affordability becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. In health care, as in other things, government is the high-cost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-kling/when-the-government-pays-health-care-s-lack-of-affordability-becomes/) [Arnold Kling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-kling/) > [We have offshored a lot of our industry for critical supplies, critical health care supplies, and critical medicines to save money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-bright/we-have-offshored-a-lot-of-our-industry-for-critical-supplies/) [Rick Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-bright/) > [Many of us believe that we need health care reform. That being said - Americans felt like they weren't being listened to. There were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/many-of-us-believe-that-we-need-health-care-reform-that-being-said/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ If \[Donald\] Trump throws 20 million off of health care, that's going to be - if he handles this badly - and it's very… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/if-donald-trump-throws-20-million-off-of-health-care-that-s-going-to/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [Building great public schools and universities, a strong health care system, including keeping the Affordable Care Act, and then an economy that works well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-castro/building-great-public-schools-and-universities-a-strong-health-care/) [Joaquin Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-castro/) > [In mid-May, the House of Representatives approved the full amount of money that the Veterans Administration said was needed for next year - plus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-hastings/in-mid-may-the-house-of-representatives-approved-the-full-amount-of/) [Doc Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-hastings/) > [If our financial industry regarded security the way the health-care sector does, I would stuff my cash in a mattress under my bed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avi-rubin/if-our-financial-industry-regarded-security-the-way-the-health-care/) [Avi Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avi-rubin/) > [Wherever there is a jackboot stomping on a human face there will be a well-heeled Western liberal to explain that the face does, after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/wherever-there-is-a-jackboot-stomping-on-a-human-face-there-will-be-a/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [You cannot drive a system that's going to be aiming at preventing illness if everyone is not in it. The whole gaming of health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-oz/you-cannot-drive-a-system-that-s-going-to-be-aiming-at-preventing/) [Mehmet Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-oz/) [Browse all 2,440 Health care quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health-care/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“To pay attention to the American political process, and what the candidates for this nation’s highest office have to say and not say about the issues that are of importance to them and thus we are to presume importance to the Nation, you would get the impression that the issue of race, that the issue of racism, that the issue of discrimination, and certainly that the issue of white racial privilege were non existent issues; that they were of really no importance, or that of very little importance, because you will not hear and have not heard any of the candidates for the presidency of the United States, in either party, of whatever political ideology, make this an issue. 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