"But generally speaking, I felt to engage in the political process was to sully oneself to such a degree that whatever came out wasn't worth the trouble put in"

This quote by John Perry Barlow speaks to the concept that engaging in the political procedure can be a difficult and typically unrewarding experience. He recommends that the effort put into the procedure is typically not worth the result, as it can lead to a person becoming sullied or tainted by the procedure. This could be interpreted as an alerting to those who are considering taking part in politics, as it indicates that the procedure can be harming to one's credibility and stability. It might likewise be viewed as a criticism of the current political system, as it suggests that the procedure is not beneficial to those who participate in it. Eventually, this quote works as a suggestion that participating in politics can be a hard and often unrewarding experience, which it is necessary to consider the potential effects prior to taking part.