Are All Politics Truly Local?
The phrase "all politics are local" is often attributed to former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Tip O'Neill, who served from 1977 to 1987. O'Neill used this phrase to emphasize the importance of local issues and the direct impact they have on constituents' lives. The idea was that politicians need to pay attention to the immediate concerns of their voters—things like local infrastructure, education, and community services—because these issues are what truly matter to the electorate. O'Neill’s perspective was that successful politicians understood and addressed these local concerns to maintain voter support and ensure electoral success.