vision2020
Re: Lies that Matter -- in perspective
[This brief perspective on LeClair's copy of the New Republic article had
trouble getting to 2020vision addresses:]
"Thanks for the piece from the NR on the president's fallibilities and
their meaning for the stability of the institution of executive authority
-- and this observation applies of course to all levels of republican
government. I think that your points are well taken and should be broadly
discussed by the American public, as indeed I think they are... We can
only strengthen the democratic proccess that way. At the same time, don't
you think that we ought to seek genuine perspective on such matters and
also try to findthe proper balance in evaluating the affair? US
leadership, power, and involvement around the world are in many contexts
facing delicate situations, fraught with potential reverberations here at
home, even down to regional and local economies. We need to ask what the
risks and fall-outs are going to be if we, the public at various levels
of both official and unofficial reactions. insist on dramatizing the
president's personal behavior traits, as disgusting as some of them
appear top be, to the point of widespread distraction from the major
issues of government?
"Another source of genuine perspective lies in the behaviors of
presidents down the centuries, beginning even with Geo. Washington who
kept an African mistress next to the Mt. Vernon mansion; the scandals
surrounding Andrew Jacxkson, Ulysses Grant; the "secret" women behind
Harding, FDR, Eisenhower, and Bush; the many congressmen over the decades
who have anything but "proud" records; the frequent commission of lies by
many other presidents, including Reagan who was responsible for the
sordid Contra policy but refused to admit it publicly, etc.... You should
read a new biography of the Harading years, "Florence Harding, the First
Lady..." (by Carl Anthony, Morrow Press, l998) -- ythat's an eye-opener
for us.
"Public life is a reflection of all our own private lives, and what
is sanctioned at home usually repeats iteslf beyond the home, with
children and adults alike. Did you ever consult the Kinsey reports
(l960's) about the secual behavior of married men and women? Clinton is
simply keeping up with the Jones', in a way, but in a sorrowful manner, I
would agree. The norms of society are what tend to rule, not our hoped
for ethical principles, which are goals.
"Thank you again for alerting us to this piece and to our collective
need to clean up the human scene so that those who represent us will have
better standards to uphold."
[An addition to the above: If we are motivated primarily by
partisanship in reviewing these matters, we cannot advance the general
welfare nor contribute to a sustainable democratic process! Keep
partisanship out of it.]
------------------------
William K. Medlin
dev-plan associates
930 Kenneth Street
Moscow ID 83843
208/892-0148
Back to TOC