Bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people who don't
William E. Simon, financier and statesman, once declared with the weight of experience: “Bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people who don't vote.” In this sharp truth he laid bare the tragedy of democracy: that silence, even if born of apathy or despair, is itself a choice. When the righteous abstain, the corrupt are exalted. When the wise withdraw, the foolish are empowered. Thus, the destiny of nations is not only forged by those who act, but also by those who refuse to act.
The origin of this saying lies in Simon’s years as Secretary of the Treasury in the 1970s, when America struggled through inflation, political scandal, and public distrust. He saw how cynicism toward government bred inaction, and how this inaction opened the door for lesser leaders to rise unchecked. His words are less a condemnation of bad politicians than of the good people who surrender their power by neglecting the ballot. In democracy, abstention is not neutrality—it is surrender.
History provides living testimony. In Nazi Germany, the apathy of many citizens who opposed Hitler but chose silence allowed the fervor of the few to dominate the many. By not acting, by not raising their voices, they helped pave the way for tyranny. So too in America’s own history, moments of low voter turnout have delivered power into the hands of those unworthy to wield it. The evil need not be strong if the good are idle.
The lesson was echoed in the words of Edmund Burke, who warned that all it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. Simon’s saying sharpens this lesson for a democratic age: doing nothing at the ballot box is itself a deed, one that gives voice to the corrupt by silencing the just. The ballot not cast is a weapon handed to another.
Therefore, O seekers of wisdom, never despise the power of your single vote. It is small only in appearance, but mighty in consequence. Good people who do not vote create the very space for bad politicians to thrive. To abstain is to consent; to withdraw is to concede. Let this truth echo through the generations: democracy is a garden, and neglect is the surest way to let the weeds take root. For freedom lives not by silence, but by the daily choice to speak, to act, and to vote.
PD10CT2-07- Ho Phuong Duy
I think this quote sheds light on a critical issue in modern politics. Many good, well-intentioned people don’t vote, which can lead to the election of politicians who don’t represent their best interests. It makes me wonder—how do we address the systemic barriers that discourage voting, like voter suppression or apathy? How do we change the culture around voting so that more people feel compelled to participate in shaping the future?
QNQuynh Nguyen
This quote suggests that voter apathy is a major factor in the rise of bad politicians. It’s a harsh reality, but one that’s true in many ways. If people don’t take the time to vote, they essentially allow others to make decisions that affect their lives. What would it take to get more people to engage in the democratic process? How can we make the act of voting feel more relevant and empowering?
UGUser Google
I find this quote particularly thought-provoking because it highlights the irony in our political system. Good people who don’t vote are essentially handing over power to those who may not represent their values. But I also wonder—how much of this is due to a lack of trust in the political system itself? Could it be that people don’t vote because they feel that their choice doesn’t matter, or that all candidates are equally flawed?
MTDo Minh Thuan
This quote really makes me reflect on how important every vote is in shaping the future of our government. If good people are not voting, they're letting the less informed or less responsible voters decide who leads the country. But what can be done to motivate more people to vote? How do we combat the feelings of disillusionment and powerlessness that may prevent them from casting their ballots?
TNHo Ngoc Thao Ngan
I think this quote speaks to the consequences of not exercising one's right to vote. When good people choose not to vote, they inadvertently contribute to the election of leaders they may not agree with. It makes me ask—why do people feel disconnected from the political process? What steps can be taken to help people see the power of their vote and make them realize that it's not just a right, but a responsibility?