Red_State_Blue
Reflections on a House Divided
Are We Surprised - Should Anyone Be?
And, like all such persons - ignorant of the safety concerns and precautions incumbent on their practices - such as surgeons who don't know sterile technique, or children unschooled with matches - they simply cannot be allowed to continue in their activities until it is clear that they really know what they're doing.
Are We Surprised - Should Anyone Be?
Trackbacks of the Day:
Don Surber
Point Five
Pirates Cove
Blue Star Chronicles
I pinged you from http://plancksconstant.org/blog1/2006/07/when_you_can_no_long.html
Hopefully the trackbacks will show up sooner or later.
Posted by: bernie | 13 July 2006 at 20:57
DBA: After all, just what do they gain by sticking their necks out like that when they know full well that - sooner or later - someone will snitch on them?
mauve1: The increased support they gain from those tending to be in their political base who are or may be wavering isn't negligible. Taking a risk usually is seen by some as a very positive step. Taking risks may been seen as demonstrating conviction or courage, while to others it may be seen as self-serving.
An element I see as very significant in comparing wwartime now to wartime of the past is that we exist in an instant communications culture, and well as a time of radical terrorists who care not about their lives to make their wretched points.
This is a difficult balance. In such an extreme situation as we have now, Americans may be eager to give up checks and balances they would absolutely insist on in peacetime. But such a situation makes watchdogging the actions of those in power even more important, if one truly wants to protect democracy. (That's the point here, right?)
Power indeed can and often does corrupt. Earning the absolute trust of the governed for those who govern in a time of eroding checks and balances requires much more trust than many can reasonably muster. If politicians of all parties conducted themselves in such a way that they could admit to a mistake now and then, and instead of denying they were wrong, speak the truth (and not wait until they came under intense pressure from the governed to do that), many more people might afford them the trust that IS very important to this country's future.
Every person who wishes to become a political leader should look hard at how they respond to difficult situations. Postures and responses that connect fully with one audience may sabotage completely any hope of relations with another, especially when the stakes are global. There is an art to being tough.
BTW, wasn't it YOU who fell out of that tree? :)
mauve 1 (do not post email addr.)
Posted by: mauve 1 | 13 July 2006 at 18:17