Politics is who gets what, when, how.
Interpretation
This quote defines politics as the distribution of resources and power in society.
Harold Lasswell's quote encapsulates the essence of political dynamics by emphasizing the mechanisms of distribution within a society. It highlights that politics is fundamentally about the allocation of resources and power among individuals and groups, determining not only who benefits but also the timing and methods through which these benefits are realized. This perspective reveals the strategic nature of political interactions and the significance of understanding these processes to engage effectively in political discourse.
In practice
In a political debate, one might say, 'As Harold Lasswell pointed out, politics is about who gets what, when, and how.'
So great are the psychological resistances to war in modern nations, that every war must appear to be a war of defence against a menacing, murderous aggressor. There must be no ambiguity about whom the public is to hate. Guilt and guilelessness must be assessed geographically and all the guilt must be on the other side of the frontier.
It is fascinating to watch politicians come up with 'solutions' to problems that are a direct result of their previous solutions. In many cases, the most efficient thing to do would be to repeal their previous solution and stop being so gung-ho for creating new solutions in the future. But, politically, that is the last thing they will do.
The only difference between the Democrats and the Republicans is that the Democrats allow the poor to be corrupt, too.
People tend to judge presidents on how the economy performs, and yet we don't expect them to have the power to do much about it. Or we don't want them to exercise that power, if they were to have it.
I have declared war on the rich who prosper on our poverty, the politicians who lie to us with smiling faces, and all the mindless, heartless, robots who protect them and their property.
Even the most cynical can hardly be surprised by the antics of Nixon and his accomplices as they are gradually revealed. It matters little, at this point, where the exact truth lies in the maze of perjury, evasion, and of contempt for the normal - hardly inspiring - standards of political conduct.
The ballot is stronger than the bullet.
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