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Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
Then you're not complaining about what's happening now, you're worrying that all this expressing of different opinons -- something we didn't have to worry about for several years -- might actually lead to something dangerous, like action.
I understand that it's frightening and exhilerating to have people in the nation's capitol disagreeing with each other, but many countries around the world have had experience with this sort of democracy, and it often works out OK.
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Really? Fascinating. I had not heard of this strange system you discuss.
I am indeed worried that influential voices within my party are pushing the nation to adopt policies that I believe would be mistakes -- ranging from bad to disastrous.
For example, some influential Dems have spoken out in support of beginning an immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq.
I wonder about their motives, because it seems to me that no rational, intelligent and informed person could truly believe that this would produce the best results in Iraq and/or for broader U.S. foreign policy objectives in the long term. Maybe these people [eta: who include John Edwards, who is running for President] have adopted this (ridiculous) policy position completely independently of any domestic political calculation about their own best interests. Maybe not.
Quote:
Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
Who is in a position to pressure him to do anything?
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At a minimum, pressure exists to avoid the further damage to the GOP and its 2008 election prospects. You think there is none? That Presidents face no political pressure in their last two years in office?
Quote:
Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
It is an elitist view, though I was avoiding the word.
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Why avoid the word? Nothing is wrong with being moderately elitist -- although it is wise to hide it well.
Quote:
Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
And let's just say that the Founding Fathers were well acquainted with the kind of bad public policy that results when the government does not need to answer to the people.
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Are you being intentionally obtuse, or did you really misunderstand me so badly?
The point is not that politicians should not be accountable to the people. My point was that they should do the right thing even if they pay the political price down the road. Don't formulate public policy with your own political interests in the forefront.
Quote:
Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
But that's not what we were discussing. And there's surely a middle ground with some accountability, but without constant referenda to decide every issue of the day.
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I'm really not sure we were discussing the same thing.
S_A_M
