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About this quote

What does it mean?
Obama compares good legislation to art, saying it is recognized when it works.
In plain terms
Good laws should work and make sense like good music.
What can you take from it?
Effective legislation should be universally recognizable as sound.

Where it applies

  • policy reviews
  • legislative debates
  • public discussion

Putting it to work

  • judge by utility
  • seek consensus
  • prioritize function

Questions to consider

  • How do you measure a law's success?
  • What makes a compromise good?

Another view

The quote assumes that what works can be easily recognized by everyone.

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