Ian Somerhalder Quotes

Some people have much more pull than other people. But when I say that the public has ultimate responsibility, I'm not saying it in a moral sense. I'm just saying it in the sense of what is it that's really going to bring change.

Politics is about power, and it is about group power.

We think the government is running the country, but it is just a policymaker. Unknowingly, people are inviting the government to run their lives. The only business of the government is to come up with the right policies.

There's a big gap between public opinion polls and the vote in Washington, in Congress. The majority consciousness has changed, and often that has made very clear, practical changes in our daily lives, but the centers of power are still not occupied, for the most part, by this new consciousness.

Children have in the past and continue to influence policy makers.

The dominant color of politics is gray; difficult choices and compromise are required at almost every step of the journey toward a major new program.

Policy and politics are always mixed up.

There are many issues, as everyone knows, in the United States on which public opinion leans very much to the left of elite policy, but that's because public opinion hasn't been turned into a political force.

Policy is largely set by economic elites and organized groups representing business interests with little concern for public attitudes or public safety, as long as the public remains passive and obedient.

To some degree it matters who's in office, but it matters more how much pressure they're under from the public.

I've found that any time you go against the people's voice you're going up against a tsunami that will have unbelievable power and implications.

Policy makers who have never served in the military continue to use the military to lead social change in this country.

Leadership is important in politics.

I think that policy matters. I'm a policy guy.

Why should the PM be placed on such a high pedestal? That an ordinary citizen should not even have the guts to write a letter to the PM?

I really focus on making sure that we pass good policy. I don't mind throwing my elbows around to get it done.

There is power in organization. There is power in a community. People have always wanted to destroy communities.

Politics lasts only so long - though today it's getting harder to tell where the campaigning stops and the governing begins.

In India, nothing is accomplished by policy changes alone. Unless people can relate emotionally to something, nothing happens on the ground.

Political books are so often written from the perspective of the politicians, not from the point of view of the people.

The major job was getting people to understand that they had something within their power that they could use, and it could only be used if they understood what was happening and how group action could counter violence.

One citizen, or a few, may be powerless if all the rest are determined to benefit from the imposition of unjust supranational rules. But this excuse cannot work for large numbers. Just imagine 10 million US citizens saying in unison: "I am just one powerless citizen. There is nothing I can do to change my government's policies!"

Policy is driven by more than politics, however. It is equally driven by ideas.

There are enough people who are starting to be actively involved that we can turn things around. And we need to encourage others to become involved.