Skip to content
quotesby

I'll show you politics in America. Here it is, right here. 'I think the puppet on the right shares my beliefs.' 'I think the puppet on the left is more to my liking.' 'Hey, wait a minute, there's one guy holding out both puppets!' 'Shut up! Go back to bed, America. Your government is in control. Here's Love Connection. Watch this and get fat and stupid. By the way, keep drinking beer, you fucking morons.'

Bill Hicks#63

PoliticsMediaControlDistraction

About this quote

What does it mean?
Hicks argues that US politics is a distraction designed to keep people passive and ignorant.
In plain terms
Politics is just puppets fighting to keep the public distracted and controlled.
What can you take from it?
Recognize political theater as a tool for public distraction.

Where it applies

  • discussing political apathy
  • critiquing media consumption
  • analyzing power structures

Putting it to work

  • questioning political narratives
  • reducing media consumption
  • engaging critically with news

Questions to consider

  • Is politics just distraction?
  • How does media affect your engagement?

Another view

The cynicism dismisses genuine civic engagement possibilities.

More from Bill Hicks

  1. Just keep selling them the shitty shit. We'll be fighting the next war. They'll have muskets. 'America won a war with this.' 'Yeah, a hundred years ago!' [make…

    Permalink to quote #62
  2. There's a new party being born: The People Who Hate People Party. People who hate people, come together! 'No!' We're kind of having trouble getting off the boa…

    Permalink to quote #64
  3. And don't tell me this is the military that protects our freedom - hey, ladies and gentlemen, there ain't no one out there who's a fucking threat to us. They d…

    Permalink to quote #61

Related quotes

  1. If those in charge of our society - politicians, corporate executives, and owners of press and television - can dominate our ideas, they will be secure in thei…

    Howard ZinnHoward Zinn quote #1
  2. There have always existed three ways of keeping the people loving and loyal. One is to leave them alone, to trust them and not to interfere. This plan, however…

    Elbert HubbardElbert Hubbard quote #6
  3. If you don't want a man unhappy politically, don't give him two sides to a question to worry him; give him one. Better yet, give him none.

    Ray BradburyRay Bradbury quote #25