A passion for action
Alexandra van Maltzan discusses the questionable "sanity" of many in the Democratic party, for their seeming disregard of our national defense.
I would quibble with the reasoning offered by Mark Steyn ("they are motivated by Bush hatred"), Peter Beinart ("liberals have grown cynical"), and Alexandra ("taboo" politics). Keeping with the principle of parsimony, I would offer a simpler explanation: ambition.
Sounds bites ("Bush lied, People died") are more than rhetorical flourishes. As David Hume taught us, reason gives rise to no action. War requires action; therefore, passions must be aroused. And not all wars are fought on battlefields.
When Hannah Arendt began her discussion of action, she quoted Dante: For in every action ... is the disclosure of its own image. The image I see is: Democrats are ravenous, and their prey is within their grasp. Arendt told us, "men are unable to forgive what they cannot punish." This unrealized desire fuels great ambition.
Machiavelli began his Discourses with a truism, for he said, "envy [is] inherent in man's nature." He told us a story about a host of Gauls moved into Greece and Asia. The Gauls sought peace with the king of Macedonia. The king displayed his gold to convince them of his power. The Gauls desired gold more than they wanted peace, so they bespoiled the king of his treasure.
Ambition and envy engenders great action, while reasoning folks sit and dither. Hume told us, reasoning left unchecked destroys reason. Machiavelli told us, "necessity will lead you to do many things which reason does not recommend." Often, those without political power are the most ambitious. To assuage this great desire, some will take ruinous actions.
Arendt told us, "power springs up between men when they act together and vanishes the moment they disperse." Thus, it should surprise no one to witness Senator Lieberman being tossed from the Tarpein Rock, for he was diminishing their power.
Titus Livy told us about the Plebs' desire for Agarian reform, for the people wanted land. Even while the Volscians and the Aequians were marching on Rome, "it was only with great difficulty that the tribunes were persuaded to allow national defense to take precedence over party politics."
Like Plebs sulking on the Sacred Mount, this past week progressive factionalists mustered in our nation's capital, for they want to seize the throne and banish the Patricians.
I would quibble with the reasoning offered by Mark Steyn ("they are motivated by Bush hatred"), Peter Beinart ("liberals have grown cynical"), and Alexandra ("taboo" politics). Keeping with the principle of parsimony, I would offer a simpler explanation: ambition.
Sounds bites ("Bush lied, People died") are more than rhetorical flourishes. As David Hume taught us, reason gives rise to no action. War requires action; therefore, passions must be aroused. And not all wars are fought on battlefields.
When Hannah Arendt began her discussion of action, she quoted Dante: For in every action ... is the disclosure of its own image. The image I see is: Democrats are ravenous, and their prey is within their grasp. Arendt told us, "men are unable to forgive what they cannot punish." This unrealized desire fuels great ambition.
Machiavelli began his Discourses with a truism, for he said, "envy [is] inherent in man's nature." He told us a story about a host of Gauls moved into Greece and Asia. The Gauls sought peace with the king of Macedonia. The king displayed his gold to convince them of his power. The Gauls desired gold more than they wanted peace, so they bespoiled the king of his treasure.
Ambition and envy engenders great action, while reasoning folks sit and dither. Hume told us, reasoning left unchecked destroys reason. Machiavelli told us, "necessity will lead you to do many things which reason does not recommend." Often, those without political power are the most ambitious. To assuage this great desire, some will take ruinous actions.
Arendt told us, "power springs up between men when they act together and vanishes the moment they disperse." Thus, it should surprise no one to witness Senator Lieberman being tossed from the Tarpein Rock, for he was diminishing their power.
Titus Livy told us about the Plebs' desire for Agarian reform, for the people wanted land. Even while the Volscians and the Aequians were marching on Rome, "it was only with great difficulty that the tribunes were persuaded to allow national defense to take precedence over party politics."
Like Plebs sulking on the Sacred Mount, this past week progressive factionalists mustered in our nation's capital, for they want to seize the throne and banish the Patricians.
posted by Tony Harrison at 11:06 AM
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