The American Spectator

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(Page 8 of 16)

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I differ with Nicole Russell's pragmatic approach. Why should Gov. Pawlenty "save" Minnesotans from the consequences of their decision (used universally) to put Democrats into office? Put another way, why should the adults save the children from the consequences of their choices? Perhaps if the democrats of Minnesota really felt the pinch of Democrat rule in their taxes and decreased standard of living, perhaps then they would elect fewer Democrats.

p>When the Pawlentys of the U.S. work hard to save the people from the results of their vote, it prolongs the maturation process for Democrats. We need a terrible national condition (e.g. the Depression) to wake up this country and have it throw off the ideology it learned either in the classroom or the family. Gov. Pawlenty merely prolongs the catastrophe and by making it more mild, makes it longer-lasting. To quote the bard: "I must be cruel in order to be kind. Thus bad begins and worse remains behind." br> -- Hugh Thomson /p>

Philosophical purity is a wonderful pursuit. It contributes to elevating humans above all other life forms; our cognitive abilities are a gift from our Creator and it is from this gift that we know we are made in His image and for His purpose. Further, through this gift, we are able to realize the potential of all else that has been granted us. Descartes, after questioning everything, came up with his answer: "Cogito, ergo sum." Thinking, pure rational thinking. But worthy of consideration is that Descartes had wealth and time to pursue pure philosophy. The working man, having neither time nor money to spare, needs to be set his sights and hands on more earthly matters. Politicians are charged with serving both the houses of the philosopher and the laborer. As such, a wise servant of the people often will consider writers such as Plato, who wrote extensively about the ideal objects that are to be found in the heavens and Theophrastus of Eresos, who wrote prolifically about botany, an actual substance of life. Between these two poles is where the pragmatist set his tent: he must apply cold and efficient logic to the lofty schemes and hopes of the idealist so that both the philosopher and the laborer have food on the table

Minnesota, like any other state, has people (e.g., the idle rich and the life time pols -- too often a distinction without difference) who are willing to make great sacrifice (usually at the inconvenience and expense of others) to find the ideal chair while they are comfortably serviced in their luxurious homes. People of their ilk clamor that Governor Pawlenty has sold out. No, Pawlenty sees that the tax paying, hard working people rather have a rough seat here on earth than wait forever on heaven's (or politicians') promises. Pawlenty's compromise may not meet the conservative gold standard, smaller government with less spending, but it does keep millions in the pockets of Minnesota's tax payers. What can Jason Lewis find to be a "Disaster" about that?

Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou also has much to teach the RINOs in Minnesota and Congress: philosophical purity is important; holding onto one's ideals is a more sure footed path to victory; setbacks are to be both expected and overcome, but compromise is part of the journey. Taiwan's former President Chen Shui-bian may have offered a purer nationalistic philosophy than his successor, but it was neither realistic nor beneficial. Philosophical purity is worth a great effort but so is a living well. Compromise is not always appeasement and often it is the only logical path.

p>William James wrote in Pragmatism : "Pragmatism asks its usual question. 'Grant an idea or belief to be true,' it says, 'what concrete difference will its being true make in anyone's actual life? How will the truth be realized? What experiences will be different from those which would obtain if the belief were false? What, in short, is the truth's cash-value in experiential terms?" This election cycle may be a bloodbath for the GOP, but (true) Republicans will regroup around their core beliefs and grow anew through grass roots efforts. The Democrats will take the White House (either through a pure liberal Democrat, Obama/Clinton, or a Democrat-light, McCain), but the victory will prove to be a pyrrhic one. Once the American people get a whiff of the oppressive stink of true liberalism, they will unite to throw off their government imposed shackles. It will be the pragmatic thing to do. br> -- Ira M. Kessel br> Rochester, New York

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