"What this country needs is more unemployed politicians"

Angela Davis’s remark, “What this country needs is more unemployed politicians”, delivers a pointed critique of entrenched political structures and those who inhabit positions of power. Davis, a historically significant activist, critic, and scholar, uses the phrase to call for a transformation in governance and a rethinking of who deserves to hold public office. Rather than seeking incremental change or superficial reform, Davis envisions a political landscape where those whose decisions perpetuate inequality, injustice, or indifference are displaced from positions of authority.

Her assertion reflects frustration with career politicians who seem more invested in maintaining their own status than serving the people. The description of “unemployed politicians” implies a desire to remove those who have become disconnected from public needs, prioritizing self-preservation or allegiance to party politics instead of genuine civic responsibility. By daydreaming of such politicians losing their jobs, Davis upends the traditional respect or deference often granted to officeholders, suggesting that the existing cadre is part of the problem, not the solution.

Moreover, the comment signals a demand for a new kind of public servant, individuals motivated by ethical commitment, accountability, and a true sense of public duty, rather than personal advancement or corporate influence. Her statement echoes wider skepticism about political elites and the way institutional power can become corrupt, ossified, or unresponsive. For Davis, the flourishing of democracy requires the removal of those who impede progress toward justice and social equality.

Lastly, the declaration carries a galvanizing, even subversive spirit. It challenges society to reconsider its standards for leadership and to embrace activism, civic engagement, and radical imagination as vital components in shaping a more just state. Davis’s irony and sharp wit encapsulate her broader demands for meaningful change and resist complacency in the face of persistent injustice.