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If politicians stopped meddling with things they don't understand, there would be a more drastic reduction in the size of government than anyone in either party advocates.
Thomas Sowell
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote suggests that political interference in complex matters often leads to inefficient governance and larger government.

Thomas Sowell argues that the incompetence and lack of understanding shown by politicians in affairs outside their expertise contribute significantly to the expansion of government. If politicians were to cease their interference in such areas, it could lead to a notable decrease in the overreach and scope of government operations, reflecting the idea that less is often more when it comes to political involvement in certain matters.

Themes

PoliticsGovernmentOverreachUnderstandingInterference

In practice

Example use cases

Using this quote in a political debate about government size and efficiency.

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You will never understand bureaucracies until you understand that for bureaucrats procedure is everything and outcomes are nothing.
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The real problem, both in discussions of mass shootings and in discussions of gun control, is that too many people are too committed to a vision to allow mere facts to interfere with their beliefs, and the sense of superiority that those beliefs give them.
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Why is history important? Without history, many people have no idea how many of today's half-baked ideas have been tried, again and again - and have repeatedly led to disaster. Most of these ideas are not new. They are just being recycled with re-treaded rhetoric.
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