"American politics used to be an amateur sport. But somewhere along the way, we handed over to professionals all the things people used to do for free"

This quote by Bob Schieffer speaks with the altering nature of American politics. It suggests that in the past, politics was a more grassroots endeavor, with people participating in it out of passion and dedication, rather than for monetary gain. Nevertheless, in time, the political landscape has actually shifted, and professionalization has actually taken over. Individuals are now paid to do the work that utilized to be done for totally free, and the focus has shifted from the people to the specialists. This has resulted in a disconnect in between the people and their federal government, as individuals no longer have the very same level of involvement in the political procedure. This quote serves as a pointer of the importance of grassroots participation in politics, and the need to make sure that individuals stay at the center of the political process.