The Reality of Political Disorder

Frank Fukuyama is coming out with a new book, "The Origins of Political Order", and Thomas Friedman wrote a column about some of Fukuyama's ideas.

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“If we are to get out of our present paralysis, we need not only strong leadership, but changes in institutional rules,” argues Fukuyama. These would include eliminating senatorial holds and the filibuster for routine legislation and having budgets drawn up by a much smaller supercommittee of legislators — like those that handle military base closings — with “heavy technocratic input from a nonpartisan agency like the Congressional Budget Office,” insulated from interest-group pressures and put before Congress in a single, unamendable, up-or-down vote.

I know what you’re thinking: “That will never happen.” And do you know what I’m thinking? “Then we will never be a great country again, no matter who is elected.” We can’t be great as long as we remain a vetocracy rather than a democracy. Our deformed political system — with a Congress that’s become a forum for legalized bribery — is now truly holding us back.

-- Thomas L. Friedman at The New York Times

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One does wonder what America will look like at the end of this century. Not that I will ever see it. Which is probably for the better.

The Reality of Political Disorder

Frank Fukuyama is coming out with a new book, "The Origins of Political Order", and Thomas Friedman wrote a column about some of Fukuyama's ideas.

_ _ _

“If we are to get out of our present paralysis, we need not only strong leadership, but changes in institutional rules,” argues Fukuyama. These would include eliminating senatorial holds and the filibuster for routine legislation and having budgets drawn up by a much smaller supercommittee of legislators — like those that handle military base closings — with “heavy technocratic input from a nonpartisan agency like the Congressional Budget Office,” insulated from interest-group pressures and put before Congress in a single, unamendable, up-or-down vote.

I know what you’re thinking: “That will never happen.” And do you know what I’m thinking? “Then we will never be a great country again, no matter who is elected.” We can’t be great as long as we remain a vetocracy rather than a democracy. Our deformed political system — with a Congress that’s become a forum for legalized bribery — is now truly holding us back.

-- Thomas L. Friedman at The New York Times

_ _ _

One does wonder what America will look like at the end of this century. Not that I will ever see it. Which is probably for the better.

PostSecret of the Week

PostSecret of the Week

Atlas Shrugged (1,1) Just Business and Earning a Living

After recalling that dead oak tree from his childhood, that philosophically traumatic experience, Eddie Willers changes mental course and remembers how happy his childhood was.

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He thought of a summer day when he was ten years old. That day in a clearing of the woods, the one precious companion of his childhood told him what they would do when they grew up. The words were harsh and glowing, like the sunlight. He listened in admiration and in wonder. When he was asked what he would want to do, he answered at once, “Whatever is right,” and added, “You ought to do something great … I mean the two of us together.” “What?” she asked. He said, “I don’t know. That’s what we ought to find out. Not just what you said. Not just business and earning a living. Things like winning battles, or saving people out of fires, or climbing mountains.” “What for?” she asked. He said, “The minister said last Sunday that we must always reach for the best within us. What do you suppose is the best within us?” “I don’t know.” “We’ll have to find out.” She did not answer; she was looking away, up the railroad track.

-- “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand

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She, of course, is the chief protagonist of the story, the alter ego of Ms. Rand herself, Dagny Taggart. In reading through this now, I find it interesting that she is taking her sweet time in introducing us to Dagny properly, but even here we are not given the name - building up the suspense, I suppose.

We can see the self-conscious coloring of Dagny’s character. She speaks truths that are “harsh and glowing, like the sunlight.” While Eddie Willers reveals the herd mentality about wanting to do ‘whatever is right’, as instructed by the church minister, Dagny/Rand scarcely has the patience for such pablum, as she focuses instead on the practical concerns that really make a difference in people’s lives, such as running her daddy’s train company.

Of course, this is one of the problems with Rand’s philosophy. We do not all have big companies to inherit, nor talents to lead us to a more meaningful role in the economic order. Is it justice that we less fortunate creatures should be left to bestial labor for impoverished wages, and without such help as public education and subsidized health care? Such is the debate.

Atlas Shrugged (1,1) Just Business and Earning a Living

After recalling that dead oak tree from his childhood, that philosophically traumatic experience, Eddie Willers changes mental course and remembers how happy his childhood was.

_ _ _

He thought of a summer day when he was ten years old. That day in a clearing of the woods, the one precious companion of his childhood told him what they would do when they grew up. The words were harsh and glowing, like the sunlight. He listened in admiration and in wonder. When he was asked what he would want to do, he answered at once, “Whatever is right,” and added, “You ought to do something great … I mean the two of us together.” “What?” she asked. He said, “I don’t know. That’s what we ought to find out. Not just what you said. Not just business and earning a living. Things like winning battles, or saving people out of fires, or climbing mountains.” “What for?” she asked. He said, “The minister said last Sunday that we must always reach for the best within us. What do you suppose is the best within us?” “I don’t know.” “We’ll have to find out.” She did not answer; she was looking away, up the railroad track.

-- “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand

_ _ _

She, of course, is the chief protagonist of the story, the alter ego of Ms. Rand herself, Dagny Taggart. In reading through this now, I find it interesting that she is taking her sweet time in introducing us to Dagny properly, but even here we are not given the name - building up the suspense, I suppose.

We can see the self-conscious coloring of Dagny’s character. She speaks truths that are “harsh and glowing, like the sunlight.” While Eddie Willers reveals the herd mentality about wanting to do ‘whatever is right’, as instructed by the church minister, Dagny/Rand scarcely has the patience for such pablum, as she focuses instead on the practical concerns that really make a difference in people’s lives, such as running her daddy’s train company.

Of course, this is one of the problems with Rand’s philosophy. We do not all have big companies to inherit, nor talents to lead us to a more meaningful role in the economic order. Is it justice that we less fortunate creatures should be left to bestial labor for impoverished wages, and without such help as public education and subsidized health care? Such is the debate.

Latinos for Republicans

Latinos for Republicans