--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Politicians usually get the blame for…" description: "\"Politicians usually get the blame for dragging their feet on environmental issues. And fair enough. Most of them do just that. But the blame isn't thei..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/zac-goldsmith-15438_afraid_politicians-usually-get-the-blame-for-dr_1617495.jpg" --- # Politicians usually get the blame for dragging their feet… ![“Politicians usually get the blame for dragging their feet on environmental issues. And fair enough. Most of them do just that. But the blame isn't theirs alone. For politicians afraid of losing votes, a bristling media waiting to transform good green ideas into monsters is a colossal disincentive.” quote by Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/zac-goldsmith-15438_afraid_politicians-usually-get-the-blame-for-dr_1617495.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/zac-goldsmith-15438_afraid_politicians-usually-get-the-blame-for-dr_1617495.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/zac-goldsmith-15438_afraid_politicians-usually-get-the-blame-for-dr_1617495.jpg) > “Politicians usually get the blame for dragging their feet on environmental issues. And fair enough. Most of them do just that. But the blame isn't theirs alone. For politicians afraid of losing votes, a bristling media waiting to transform good green ideas into monsters is a colossal disincentive.” [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Politicians are blamed for slow environmental action, but media fear and vote concerns also hinder progress. **In simple terms:** Both politicians and media block green progress. Key Takeaway Address media narratives and voter education. Themes politics environment media public opinion accountability Mood cautious critical Type analytical commentary When to use this quote - legislative debates - campaign messaging - public protests - media analysis Key Concepts policy inertia media framing electoral pressure Questions to Reflect On - How can media responsibly cover environmental policies? - What incentives could reduce politicians' fear of losing votes? A Different Perspective Media bias can exaggerate issues, causing public disengagement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) [Alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alone/) [Blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blame/) [Blame Dragging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blame-dragging-6166540/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Colossal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colossal/) [Dragging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dragging/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Environmental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmental/) [Environmental issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmental-issues/) [Fair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fair/) [Feet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feet/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/green/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Losing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losing/) [Media](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/media/) [Monsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monsters/) [Most](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/most/) [Politicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politicians/) [Politicians Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politicians-afraid-231361/) [Politicians Usually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politicians-usually-1032423/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Theirs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theirs/) [Theirs Politicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theirs-politicians-6166539/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) [Transform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transform/) [Votes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/votes/) [Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting/) ## Related quotes > [“What America needs more than political reform is political courage—candidates and politicians who are not afraid to risk losing the office they hold to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-schieffer/what-america-needs-more-than-political-reform-is-political-courage/) [Bob Schieffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-schieffer/) > [Politicians are usually the first to forget that if you assume someone else is acting in bad faith, they will do the same to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sununu/politicians-are-usually-the-first-to-forget-that-if-you-assume/) [John Sununu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sununu/) > [People want to see politicians who are not afraid to speak the truth. They want them to be honest, no matter how uncomfortable it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sajid-javid/people-want-to-see-politicians-who-are-not-afraid-to-speak-the-truth/) [Sajid Javid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sajid-javid/) > [The grip of the NRA is so suffocating in Washington that politicians are too afraid of the gun lobby to pass even the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/the-grip-of-the-nra-is-so-suffocating-in-washington-that-politicians/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [It's always sort of amazing, sitting in Baghdad, to watch visiting dignitaries being received in the Green Zone by politicians who have usually very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-cockburn/it-s-always-sort-of-amazing-sitting-in-baghdad-to-watch-visiting/) [Patrick Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-cockburn/) > [Character is destiny, and politicians usually get the scandals they deserve, with a sense of inevitability about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-packer/character-is-destiny-and-politicians-usually-get-the-scandals-they/) [George Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-packer/) > [Attack politics costs us dearly in terms of insight into the candidates. In a presidential campaign, the focus is so tight that the politicians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-germond/attack-politics-costs-us-dearly-in-terms-of-insight-into-the/) [Jack Germond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-germond/) > [Scholars who become politicians are usually assigned the comic role of having to be the good conscience of state policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/scholars-who-become-politicians-are-usually-assigned-the-comic-role/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [There goes a river dragging an ocean behind it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/there-goes-a-river-dragging-an-ocean-behind-it/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [For too long, Japan has been dragging its feet as it ignores the steps the U.S. has made to ensure a safe beef supply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-neugebauer/for-too-long-japan-has-been-dragging-its-feet-as-it-ignores-the-steps/) [Randy Neugebauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-neugebauer/) > [My dad took me and my brother to see Corrosion of Conformity. All I remember was that there was a dude swinging a chain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-tuff/my-dad-took-me-and-my-brother-to-see-corrosion-of-conformity-all-i/) [King Tuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-tuff/) > [This dame keeps dragging me into the bushes. Keep your eye open, you may have to rescue me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-selznick/this-dame-keeps-dragging-me-into-the-bushes-keep-your-eye-open-you/) [David O. Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-selznick/) > [“He felt, rather than saw, her chin lift toward him. But instead of pulling her hand from his grip and turning away, she tightened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-s-carnes/he-felt-rather-than-saw-her-chin-lift-toward-him-but-instead-of/) [V.S. Carnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-s-carnes/) > [“It was one of those days when you're dragging life along behind you like a bag full of sand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrik-groen/it-was-one-of-those-days-when-you-re-dragging-life-along-behind-you/) [Hendrik Groen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrik-groen/) > [If you find your feet dragging, check your path. You are probably on the wrong one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-toshio-sudo/if-you-find-your-feet-dragging-check-your-path-you-are-probably-on/) [Philip Toshio Sudo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-toshio-sudo/) ## More by Zac Goldsmith > [I can't be bought. I don't need to be bought. I'm not a careerist. I don't need to have a career in politics. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-goldsmith/i-can-t-be-bought-i-don-t-need-to-be-bought-i-m-not-a-careerist-i-don/) [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) > [We always hear from newspapers that while people understand the environmental challenge, they are unwilling to stomach the solutions. The trouble is, we only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-goldsmith/we-always-hear-from-newspapers-that-while-people-understand-the/) [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) > [By uploading 40 years of 'Ecologist' editions online, we will be creating the world's most extensive ecological archive. 'The Ecologist' will continue to set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-goldsmith/by-uploading-40-years-of-ecologist-editions-online-we-will-be/) [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) > [All schools should teach children basic cooking skills. Every school should be able to buy sustainable, good quality food wherever possible from local sources.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-goldsmith/all-schools-should-teach-children-basic-cooking-skills-every-school/) [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) > [The food system is not a free market. In this country, we impose reasonably high standards of animal welfare - but we haven't applied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-goldsmith/the-food-system-is-not-a-free-market-in-this-country-we-impose/) [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) > [Politics colours everything, and anyone who wants change is necessarily political. As an environmental campaigner more or less since I left school in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-goldsmith/politics-colours-everything-and-anyone-who-wants-change-is/) [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) > [Politicians are so detested. And the main cause is not policy; it's the fact that there is no trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-goldsmith/politicians-are-so-detested-and-the-main-cause-is-not-policy-it-s-the/) [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) > [Yes, Heathrow is the U.K.'s busiest airport, but new runways or a new airport are not the answer. It is far better to focus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-goldsmith/yes-heathrow-is-the-u-k-s-busiest-airport-but-new-runways-or-a-new/) [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) > [In North America, more than half of all children travel to school by bus. We need a similar programme in London.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-goldsmith/in-north-america-more-than-half-of-all-children-travel-to-school-by/) [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) > [While big business gain subsidies and political access, small businesses drown in red tape, and individuals now risk being classified as terrorists for complaining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-goldsmith/while-big-business-gain-subsidies-and-political-access-small/) [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) > [The Conservatives are a confusing lot. They first denied climate change was a serious issue and then suggested strengthening the nuclear industry as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-goldsmith/the-conservatives-are-a-confusing-lot-they-first-denied-climate/) [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) > [Sense About Science is much more than an innocent fact-checking service. It is a spin-off of a bizarre political network that began life as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-goldsmith/sense-about-science-is-much-more-than-an-innocent-fact-checking/) [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) > ['Green' cannot be allowed to become an excuse for stealth taxes. And nor should 'green taxes' be about punishment. Instead, they should represent a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-goldsmith/green-cannot-be-allowed-to-become-an-excuse-for-stealth-taxes-and-nor/) [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) > [Green policy is about triggering a shift to a cleaner way of doing things. To be effective, it needs to incentivise the right behaviour,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-goldsmith/green-policy-is-about-triggering-a-shift-to-a-cleaner-way-of-doing/) [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) > [If there was a time when 'The Ecologist' appeared not to be making a difference at all, not doing something useful, I wouldn't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-goldsmith/if-there-was-a-time-when-the-ecologist-appeared-not-to-be-making-a/) [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) [Explore all 43 Zac Goldsmith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) [Darlene Senger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darlene-senger/) > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) [Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Politicians usually get the blame for dragging their feet on environmental issues. 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