--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the absence of specific solutions or…" description: "\"In the absence of specific solutions or evidence that we have people in Washington, D.C., who can make a significant difference... people will cling to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/todd-young-6633_absence_in-the-absence-of-specific-solutions-or_695035.jpg" --- # In the absence of specific solutions or evidence that we… ![“In the absence of specific solutions or evidence that we have people in Washington, D.C., who can make a significant difference... people will cling to those who at least speak to their frustrations.” quote by Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/todd-young-6633_absence_in-the-absence-of-specific-solutions-or_695035.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/todd-young-6633_absence_in-the-absence-of-specific-solutions-or_695035.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/todd-young-6633_absence_in-the-absence-of-specific-solutions-or_695035.jpg) > “In the absence of specific solutions or evidence that we have people in Washington, D.C., who can make a significant difference... people will cling to those who at least speak to their frustrations.” [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People gravitate toward leaders who voice their frustrations when concrete solutions are lacking, seeking emotional resonance over tangible change. **In simple terms:** People follow those who speak their concerns when solutions are unclear. Key Takeaway Seek leaders who offer both empathy and actionable plans. Themes politics leadership communication frustration Mood skeptical hopeful Type political motivational When to use this quote - voting decisions - community organizing - public discourse - advocacy Key Concepts Populism emotional appeal policy gaps Questions to Reflect On - What qualities do you value in a leader during crises? - How can citizens demand concrete solutions? A Different Perspective Charismatic appeals can mask lack of substantive policy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absence/) [Frustrations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frustrations/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [“The amount of evidence and its quality do not count for much, because poor evidence can make a very good story. For some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/the-amount-of-evidence-and-its-quality-do-not-count-for-much-because/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [“A bookstore is one of the only pieces of physical evidence we have that people are still thinking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/a-bookstore-is-one-of-the-only-pieces-of-physical-evidence-we-have/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [A bookstore is one of the only pieces of evidence we have that people are still thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/a-bookstore-is-one-of-the-only-pieces-of-evidence-we-have-that-people/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [Everywhere I go I see increasing evidence of people swirling about in a human cesspit of their own making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-angell/everywhere-i-go-i-see-increasing-evidence-of-people-swirling-about-in/) [Norman Angell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-angell/) > [Our best evidence of what people truly feel and believe comes less from their words than from their deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cialdini/our-best-evidence-of-what-people-truly-feel-and-believe-comes-less/) [Robert Cialdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cialdini/) > [restrictions create frustrations!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-jerome-dickey/restrictions-create-frustrations/) [Eric Jerome Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-jerome-dickey/) > [In China, the rules of the market are not always that transparent. So it's very hard. Also, the national TV networks are all owned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yang-lan/in-china-the-rules-of-the-market-are-not-always-that-transparent-so/) [Yang Lan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yang-lan/) > [Any customer of government - whether it's with education, taxes, housing, or health care - understands the frustrations when they have a bad experience.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-hoekstra/any-customer-of-government-whether-it-s-with-education-taxes-housing/) [Pete Hoekstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-hoekstra/) > [It was Hurricane Sandy that not only decimated parts of my district but pushed me to the brink of my frustrations with the game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-runyan/it-was-hurricane-sandy-that-not-only-decimated-parts-of-my-district/) [Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) > [I'm sure one of the frustrations of being a Western enthusiast of Japanese food and culture is you're confronted every day with the absolute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/i-m-sure-one-of-the-frustrations-of-being-a-western-enthusiast-of/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [I had a lot of frustrations, and I was drinking far too much, and I was just trying to survive and this is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lars-von-trier/i-had-a-lot-of-frustrations-and-i-was-drinking-far-too-much-and-i-was/) [Lars von Trier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lars-von-trier/) > [“Turn your frustrations into something productive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/turn-your-frustrations-into-something-productive/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfullfilled potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-xxiii/think-not-about-your-frustrations-but-about-your-unfullfilled/) [Pope John XXIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-xxiii/) > [“Jealousy is just a reminder of the frustrations you have with yourself. Who”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/jealousy-is-just-a-reminder-of-the-frustrations-you-have-with/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [I grew up on the street, and I found a way to vent my frustrations through fighting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-shamrock/i-grew-up-on-the-street-and-i-found-a-way-to-vent-my-frustrations/) [Ken Shamrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-shamrock/) ## More by Todd Young > [“Somewhere forward, somewhere in the future, the summer was locked in the snow. Waiting. More a promise, more a dream, than anything you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/somewhere-forward-somewhere-in-the-future-the-summer-was-locked-in/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [Promoting and protecting human rights internationally is not just a matter of principle or morality - doing so also serves our national security interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/promoting-and-protecting-human-rights-internationally-is-not-just-a/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [There is a responsibility as president to choose your words carefully, especially on foreign policy, and to speak as clearly as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/there-is-a-responsibility-as-president-to-choose-your-words-carefully/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [I think we need to prepare for the worst, and so I support energy efficiency measures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/i-think-we-need-to-prepare-for-the-worst-and-so-i-support-energy/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [“Did it matter that he was gay? That was one thing Dr Rutger hadn't asked him, but then, when he'd taken Joel through to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/did-it-matter-that-he-was-gay-that-was-one-thing-dr-rutger-hadn-t/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [It is both wrong and short-sighted to believe that we can better protect our national security interests by ignoring or sidelining human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/it-is-both-wrong-and-short-sighted-to-believe-that-we-can-better/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [Intelligence work in the Marine Corps proved to me the strategic value in establishing a Central Command to act as a clearinghouse for disparate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/intelligence-work-in-the-marine-corps-proved-to-me-the-strategic/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [Hoosiers are practical people, and Hoosier Republicans in particular have a history of unifying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/hoosiers-are-practical-people-and-hoosier-republicans-in-particular/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [It's extremely hard for the economy to grow when the workforce is shrinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/it-s-extremely-hard-for-the-economy-to-grow-when-the-workforce-is/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [Washington's foot-dragging, obstructionism, and overreach must end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/washington-s-foot-dragging-obstructionism-and-overreach-must-end/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [“Paul lifted his hand and brushed his thumb across Leigh’s lips. Then he leaned forward and kissed him. Leigh groaned with release, as though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/paul-lifted-his-hand-and-brushed-his-thumb-across-leigh-s-lips-then/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [We may not realize it, but a crucial step in building a healthy economy is helping people move from welfare to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/we-may-not-realize-it-but-a-crucial-step-in-building-a-healthy/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [In my experience, all Americans - Republicans, Democrats, and everyone in between - want roughly the same thing: an assurance that if they work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/in-my-experience-all-americans-republicans-democrats-and-everyone-in/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [This is an appropriate role for the federal government - to invest in basic research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/this-is-an-appropriate-role-for-the-federal-government-to-invest-in/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [As someone who took an oath to defend this country, I refuse to sit idle until the unimaginable occurs: Iran cheats or simply runs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/as-someone-who-took-an-oath-to-defend-this-country-i-refuse-to-sit/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) [Explore all 98 Todd Young quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) ## More Absence quotes > [Distance sometimes endears friendship, and absence sweeteneth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howell/distance-sometimes-endears-friendship-and-absence-sweeteneth-it/) [James Howell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howell/) > [The work, the work, the work. This is what the business is all about. This is the fun, the glory, the pleasure. It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-dusenberry/the-work-the-work-the-work-this-is-what-the-business-is-all-about/) [Phil Dusenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-dusenberry/) > [Total depravity means the entire absence of holiness, not the highest intensity of sin. A totally depraved man is not as bad as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-greenough-thayer-shedd/total-depravity-means-the-entire-absence-of-holiness-not-the-highest/) [William Greenough Thayer Shedd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-greenough-thayer-shedd/) > [Local and state governments have outrun the federal government. The EPA has served notice that it will enact a rule requiring CO2 reductions by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/local-and-state-governments-have-outrun-the-federal-government-the/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [There, in the center of that silence was not eternity but the death of time and a loneliness so profound the word itself had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/there-in-the-center-of-that-silence-was-not-eternity-but-the-death-of/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [Of all the bewildering things about a new country, the absence of human landmarks is one of the most depressing and disheartening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/of-all-the-bewildering-things-about-a-new-country-the-absence-of/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [Young men have strong passions and tend to gratify them indiscriminately. Of the bodily desires, it is the sexual by which they are most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/young-men-have-strong-passions-and-tend-to-gratify-them/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [It is suggested that in domestic violence at least the presence or absence of a firearm, or of any other type of weapon, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-greenwood/it-is-suggested-that-in-domestic-violence-at-least-the-presence-or/) [Colin Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-greenwood/) > [The absence of God in most spheres of life is perceived to be normal, and even Christians feel it as normal - which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-absence-of-god-in-most-spheres-of-life-is-perceived-to-be-normal/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future. Jobs, family, employers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/every-person-needs-to-take-one-day-away-a-day-in-which-one/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [“I was thinking how most people don't make you feel much of anything at all. Don't make you feel like time spent with them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-lotter/i-was-thinking-how-most-people-don-t-make-you-feel-much-of-anything/) [Jane Lotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-lotter/) > [Cooperation isn't the absence of conflict but a means of managing conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/cooperation-isn-t-the-absence-of-conflict-but-a-means-of-managing/) [Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/) > [Many are observing Ferguson and witnessing the anger, demonstrations, looting and vandalism and calling for quiet. But quiet isn't enough. 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Ambedkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-r-ambedkar/) [Browse all 2,057 Absence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the absence of specific solutions or evidence that we have people in Washington, D.C., who can make a significant difference... people will cling to those who at least speak to their frustrations.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Todd Young" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/in-the-absence-of-specific-solutions-or-evidence-that-we-have-people/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Absence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/in-the-absence-of-specific-solutions-or-evidence-that-we-have-people/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/todd-young-6633_absence_in-the-absence-of-specific-solutions-or_695035.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/todd-young-6633_absence_in-the-absence-of-specific-solutions-or_695035.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/todd-young-6633_absence_in-the-absence-of-specific-solutions-or_695035.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In the absence of specific solutions or evidence that we have people in Washington, D.C., who can make a…” — Todd Young", "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": "Todd Young", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In the absence of specific solutions...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/in-the-absence-of-specific-solutions-or-evidence-that-we-have-people/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/in-the-absence-of-specific-solutions-or-evidence-that-we-have-people/#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 } } ] } ```