American politics used to be an amateur sport. But somewhere along the way, we handed over to professionals all the things people used to do for free.
Interpretation
The quote reflects a shift in American politics from grassroots involvement to professionalization.
Bob Schieffer's quote highlights a transformation in American politics, where citizens who once actively participated in political processes have relinquished their roles to professional politicians. This shift suggests that politics has become more of a specialized field rather than a communal or amateur endeavor, leading to a disconnect between politicians and the general public.
In practice
During a town hall meeting, one might reference this quote to encourage community engagement in local politics.
The Iraq war was fought by one-half of one percent of us. And unless we were part of that small group or had a relative who was, we went about our lives as usual most of the time: no draft, no new taxes, no changes. Not so for the small group who fought the war and their families.
I've had a lot of fun, and when I talk to kids in journalism schools, I say, look, I know what the journalism teachers tell you that this is a great way to perform public service and all that, but I say the main reason, if you decide what you want to do is be a reporter, the main reason you want to do it is because it's just so much fun.
I don't think that people are disinterested or uninterested in politics. I think very often they are disengaged from the formal political process. To some extent they are suspicious or even despairing of formal politics as a means to give expression and effect to what they want.
Those looking for ideology in the White House should consider this: For the men who rule our world, rules are for other people.
Social democracy seeks and finds the ways, and particular slogans, of the workers' struggle only in the course of the development of this struggle, and gains directions for the way forward through this struggle alone.
I am not aware how you succeed politically when you insult women, who far more than men consistently provide you with great margins of support.
Populism has had as many incarnations as it has had provocations, but its constant ingredient has been resentment, and hence whininess. Populism does not wax in tranquil times; it is a cathartic response to serious problems. But it always wanes because it never seems serious as a solution.
It is a matter of record that in the German Election of 1933, the Communist Party was ordered by its leaders to vote for the Nazis - with the explanation that they could later fight the Nazis for power, but first they had to help destroy their common enemy : capitalism and its parliamentary form of government.
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