A column in the New York Post
A medical degree is supposed to ensure everyone that those who hold it are trustworthy of its rights and responsibilities. These people have weakened that notion.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Spring of Cynicism
Why is it that politicians have a stereotype as being dishonest?
Check out this report on Robert Gibbs answering the press' questions on the administration's comfort with the Muslim Brotherhood's potential power in Egypt.
What I notice is the way Gibbs refuses to answer the questions and tries to answer a different question instead. He doesn't come out and say he won't answer the question; he pretends he is answering the question while knowing he is not. Does that mean he's trying to fool us? Does that amount to dishonesty? It's like you ask me if I'm comfortable with the Packers winning the Super Bowl and my answer is that I'm not the one who picks the winner. I'm not exactly lovingly serving you, am I?
I admit that there is a very real issue about not saying anything that could potentially hurt the United States diplomatically in the future. That is certainly an important consideration, and for all I know, the administration has discomfort with the Muslim Brotherhood, but doesn't want to harm possible future relations should that group rise to power.
However, I mean to pick on Gibbs, and these question and answer games happen all the time in politics. Am I wrong to think there is virtue in acknowledging a question for what it is and either answering it or not? I would not be bothered if Gibbs had said he won't answer the question.
But politicians rarely care about honesty. You have to worry about polling, so you have to dishonestly rename things to make them sound less threatening. You attach unrelated amendments into bills in order to get them passed. You gerrymander. You hoard as money for your district as you can.
Wouldn't it be a breath of fresh air if someone refused to do these things?
Check out this report on Robert Gibbs answering the press' questions on the administration's comfort with the Muslim Brotherhood's potential power in Egypt.
What I notice is the way Gibbs refuses to answer the questions and tries to answer a different question instead. He doesn't come out and say he won't answer the question; he pretends he is answering the question while knowing he is not. Does that mean he's trying to fool us? Does that amount to dishonesty? It's like you ask me if I'm comfortable with the Packers winning the Super Bowl and my answer is that I'm not the one who picks the winner. I'm not exactly lovingly serving you, am I?
I admit that there is a very real issue about not saying anything that could potentially hurt the United States diplomatically in the future. That is certainly an important consideration, and for all I know, the administration has discomfort with the Muslim Brotherhood, but doesn't want to harm possible future relations should that group rise to power.
However, I mean to pick on Gibbs, and these question and answer games happen all the time in politics. Am I wrong to think there is virtue in acknowledging a question for what it is and either answering it or not? I would not be bothered if Gibbs had said he won't answer the question.
But politicians rarely care about honesty. You have to worry about polling, so you have to dishonestly rename things to make them sound less threatening. You attach unrelated amendments into bills in order to get them passed. You gerrymander. You hoard as money for your district as you can.
Wouldn't it be a breath of fresh air if someone refused to do these things?
Sunday, February 6, 2011
February Update from Guest Teacher blog
Here are some of my recent posts on the Guest Teacher blog.
http://mlsgt.blogspot.com/2011/02/trip-to-nuremberg.html
http://mlsgt.blogspot.com/2011/01/celebrating-holidays.html
http://mlsgt.blogspot.com/2011/01/center-stage-performances.html
http://mlsgt.blogspot.com/2011/02/trip-to-nuremberg.html
http://mlsgt.blogspot.com/2011/01/celebrating-holidays.html
http://mlsgt.blogspot.com/2011/01/center-stage-performances.html
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