“We must face the bitter fact that we have forsaken our great dream of a life of, for, and by the people; that the burning passions and ideals of the American dream lie congealed by cold cynicism. Great parts of the masses of our people no longer believe that they have a voice or a hand in shaping the destiny of this nation. They have not forsaken democracy because of any desire or positive action of their own; they have been driven down into the depths of a great despair born of frustration, hopelessness, and apathy. A democracy lacking in popular participation dies of paralysis.” PeopleBelieveHas BeensFactsDreamHandsActionAmericaFacesLyingDesireDiesPassionNationsVoiceBornDestinyDemocracyColdDespairMassIdealsDepthDrivenBitterBurningFrustrationApathyCynicismAmerican DreamLackingParticipationHopelessnessParalysisForsakenBurning Passion Author:Saul Alinsky
“Representative democracy frequently manifests a disconnect between parliamentarians and the people, so that parliamentarians have agendas that do not correspond with the wishes of the electorate. This has led in many countries to apathy, cynicism and large-scale absenteeism in elections. What is needed is not only parliaments, but parliamentarians who genuinely represent the wishes of the electorate.” PeopleCountryWishDemocracyNeededElectionScalesAgendasApathyCynicismRepresentativesParliamentLarge ScaleElectorate Author:Alfred-Maurice de Zayas
“We must renew democracy itself. We have to fight cynicism and inertia and restore faith in the advancement of our country.” CountryFightingDemocracyOur CountryCynicismAdvancementInertia Author:Paul Wellstone
“If democracy is ever to be threatened, it will not be by revolutionary groups burning government offices and occupying the broadcasting and newspaper offices of the world. It will come from disenchantment, cynicism and despair caused by the realisation that the New World Order means we are all to be managed and not represented.” IfsWorldMeanGovernmentPoliticalOrderDemocracyGroupsRevolutionPoliticianDespairOfficeNewspapersManageBurningRevolutionaryRealisingNew WorldCynicismThreatenedRepresentingNew World OrderWorld OrderRealisationBroadcastingDisenchantment Author:Tony Benn
“Without the truth of the people, politics degenerates into mere spectacle and democracy declines, leaving demagoguery and cynicism to fill the void.” PeopleDemocracyMereLeavingVoidCynicismDeclineDegeneratesDemagogueryFill The Void Author:Jerry Brown
“Its [Dreams from My Father] also a reflection about how we might start a better conversation in our democracy about how to solve problems, because it feels as if our political system - it just seems there is so much cynicism and negativity in our politics.” IfsFeelsProblemDreamSeemsMightPoliticalFatherDemocracyConversationReflectionSolveCynicismNegativityPolitical SystemsDreams From My Father Author:Barack Obama