"The system cannot be fixed by the system"

“The system cannot be fixed by the system” is a saying that has been printed on many images. “The system” means the political system, the government. Writing to an elected official or filing a lawsuit or running for office won’t change a system that is fundamentally flawed and broken.

In a video interview with CNN on June 28, 2016, Tom Morello (an American guitarist who was in the group Rage Against the Machine) said:

“People believe the system is corrupt, the system is irrevocably broken and the system cannot be fixed by the system. One way to fight back is via culture.”

Wikipedia: Tom Morello
Thomas Baptist Morello (born May 30, 1964) is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter and political activist. He is known for his tenure with the rock bands Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave. Between 2016 and 2019, Morello was a member of the supergroup Prophets of Rage. Morello was also a touring musician with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Under the moniker the Nightwatchman, Morello released his solo work. Together with Boots Riley, he formed Street Sweeper Social Club. Morello co-founded Axis of Justice, which airs a monthly program on Pacifica Radio station KPFK (90.7 FM) in Los Angeles.

CNN.com
CNN.com—videos
Tom Morello gets political
June 28, 2016
Tom Morello of Prophets of Rage and Rage Against the Machine thinks dangerous times demand dangerous songs.
(“People believe the system is corrupt, the system is irrevocably broken and the system cannot be fixed by the system. One way to fight back is via culture.”—Tom Morello.)

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CNN Politics
@CNNPolitics
.@tmorello and @prophetsofrage want to #MakeAmericaRageAgain http://cnn.it/2951QO5 via @GabeRamirez & @Deena_CNN
7:30 AM · Jun 28, 2016

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Gabracadabra Studios | #ArtOfficialAge
@GabracadabraInc
“The system cannot be fixed by the system. One way to fight back is via culture” ~ Tom Morello interview #CNN http://fb.me/1lxOadaOr
6:43 PM · Jun 28, 2016

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Raúl Yanes Gálvez
@reyanes
“The system cannot be fixed by the system. One way to fight back is via culture” Tom Morello.
2:16 AM · Jun 29, 2016

X/Twitter
Gwendolyn Hope
@hand_gwenade
“The system cannot be fixed by the system…fight back via culture”
@tmorello for president 👊☝️
5:44 PM · Jun 30, 2016

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Red Shirt Trooper #6
@BaconCros2001
@tmorello “The system cannot be fixed by the system…” Well of course it cannot. Besides PoR, what advice would you give a regular person?
7:41 PM · Jul 2, 2016 from Windsor, CA

X/Twitter
Greg Snow ❄
@Greg__Snow
The System Cannot Be Fixed By The System…
(The saying is shown on an image, credited to Tom Morello.—ed.)
2:58 PM · Aug 26, 2025