Rant: Why do people believe that any political change can be, or has to be, perfect?

[radcen]

Why do people believe that any political change can be, or has to be, perfect? If they don't think so, they sure act like it when they debate. Fictitious scenario for example purposes...

Proposal: We will develop a mind ray to make every politician honest and selfless.

Objection: But that will work on only 99% of the politicians. The others will be immune to it. Oh no, we can't have that!

Really? You're willing to forgo a possible HUGE improvement simply because it isn't 100% absolutely perfect? :doh Or, are you just mad because you didn't think of it first? :roll:

 

[dontworrybehappy]

Re: Rant: Why do people believe that any political change can be, or has to be, perf

Why do people believe that any political change can be, or has to be, perfect? If they don't think so, they sure act like it when they debate. Fictitious scenario for example purposes...

Proposal: We will develop a mind ray to make every politician honest and selfless.

Objection: But that will work on only 99% of the politicians. The others will be immune to it. Oh no, we can't have that!

Really? You're willing to forgo a possible HUGE improvement simply because it isn't 100% absolutely perfect? :doh Or, are you just mad because you didn't think of it first? :roll:

Uh, can you actually come up with some sources, links, etc backing this up?

I don't see this at all. In anyone here. Nobody expects perfection, but they would like IMPROVEMENT.

 

[MaggieD]

Re: Rant: Why do people believe that any political change can be, or has to be, perf

Why do people believe that any political change can be, or has to be, perfect? If they don't think so, they sure act like it when they debate. Fictitious scenario for example purposes...

Proposal: We will develop a mind ray to make every politician honest and selfless.

Objection: But that will work on only 99% of the politicians. The others will be immune to it. Oh no, we can't have that!

Really? You're willing to forgo a possible HUGE improvement simply because it isn't 100% absolutely perfect? :doh Or, are you just mad because you didn't think of it first? :roll:

Example from the other day: I posted something like, "I could virtually end entitlement fraud in a New York Minute." Another poster posted up something like, "Yeah?? How, Smarty Pants?" I said, "I would give employees within these programs a reward based upon their finding these cheats and turning them in -- maybe 5% of money saved over a 2-year period." Other poster said, "That wouldn't end all of it."

Now, I think my idea's a pretty good one. And I think it'd put a huge dent in entitlement program fraud. But apparently it wasn't worthy of a even a simple, "Not a bad idea."

I think many of us on DP are professional hair-splitters.

(No offense to this poster. I didn't think much of it at the time, but this reminded me of it.)

 

[Real Korimyr #9]

Re: Rant: Why do people believe that any political change can be, or has to be, perf

Perfection really is a silly notion; there is only good enough and better. The problem is, there are very few proposals I see that would genuinely constitute better-- there are a lot of people who would seemingly be glad to discard good enough for something they claim is perfect, and who complain loudly whenever someone points out the flaws in their "perfect" system that would in reality keep it from even being better.

For contrast, Maggie's solution seems like it actually would be better despite the obvious flaws that would keep it from being perfect.

 

[LaMidRighter]

Re: Rant: Why do people believe that any political change can be, or has to be, perf

I don't thnk that a majority of people want perfect. What I do see when those arguments come up is that people who are happy with the status quo are the ones to bring that up. For instance, if you say "current drug prohibition isn't working, let's legalize marijuana and apply tobacco style taxes and regs to it, then allow people clinical use of hard drugs as a legal alternative under doctor supervision with light in patient options to get users off the street" Someone almost always comes out and says "but that won't stop people from using drugs" of course it will not, that's the thing, users will use until they decide to quit and the idea is to get the illicit use under control, make the products safer for those who choose to consume, and get them out of situations where a bad interaction could involve innocents. Is it perfect, no but it is probably a better solution to prison and the black market.

It comes down to what can be compromised for improvement and what cannot be.

 

[KevinKohler]

Re: Rant: Why do people believe that any political change can be, or has to be, perf

Example from the other day: I posted something like, "I could virtually end entitlement fraud in a New York Minute." Another poster posted up something like, "Yeah?? How, Smarty Pants?" I said, "I would give employees within these programs a reward based upon their finding these cheats and turning them in -- maybe 5% of money saved over a 2-year period." Other poster said, "That wouldn't end all of it."

Now, I think my idea's a pretty good one. And I think it'd put a huge dent in entitlement program fraud. But apparently it wasn't worthy of a even a simple, "Not a bad idea."

I think many of us on DP are professional hair-splitters.

(No offense to this poster. I didn't think much of it at the time, but this reminded me of it.)

I can split hairs like a ninja.

I try not to, but I'll admit, most of the time I do, it's because I'm wrong...and trying DESPERATELY not to be, lol.

 

[MaggieD]

Re: Rant: Why do people believe that any political change can be, or has to be, perf

I can split hairs like a ninja.

I try not to, but I'll admit, most of the time I do, it's because I'm wrong...and trying DESPERATELY not to be, lol.

Diogenese, over here!!!!!

:rofl

 

[radcen]

Re: Rant: Why do people believe that any political change can be, or has to be, perf

Example from the other day: I posted something like, "I could virtually end entitlement fraud in a New York Minute." Another poster posted up something like, "Yeah?? How, Smarty Pants?" I said, "I would give employees within these programs a reward based upon their finding these cheats and turning them in -- maybe 5% of money saved over a 2-year period." Other poster said, "That wouldn't end all of it."

Now, I think my idea's a pretty good one. And I think it'd put a huge dent in entitlement program fraud. But apparently it wasn't worthy of a even a simple, "Not a bad idea."

I think many of us on DP are professional hair-splitters.

(No offense to this poster. I didn't think much of it at the time, but this reminded me of it.)

Your example is a perfect example of what I am talking about.

There are probably very few issues, if any at all, that could be solved 100% even if we wanted to and all agreed. So, why ignore the opportunity to improve it at least?

 

[haymarket]

Re: Rant: Why do people believe that any political change can be, or has to be, perf

Uh, can you actually come up with some sources, links, etc backing this up?

I don't see this at all. In anyone here. Nobody expects perfection, but they would like IMPROVEMENT.

the word IRONIC does not begin to describe the delicious justice of a self proclaimed LIBERTARIAN taking exception to the OP.

 

[Real Korimyr #9]

Re: Rant: Why do people believe that any political change can be, or has to be, perf

the word IRONIC does not begin to describe the delicious justice of a self proclaimed LIBERTARIAN taking exception to the OP.

Most Libertarians might want no government and no taxes, but there's a lot of them that just want less government and less taxes. Cut a few superfluous programs here, make a few essential programs more efficient there, and then pass the savings on to you! That's better by anyone's definition, and then when they start trying to cut a few things we'd rather keep-- well, Hell, that's just a difference of opinion.

 

[KevinKohler]

Re: Rant: Why do people believe that any political change can be, or has to be, perf

Your example is a perfect example of what I am talking about.

There are probably very few issues, if any at all, that could be solved 100% even if we wanted to and all agreed. So, why ignore the opportunity to improve it at least?

I think it is situational.

So, for instance...health care. There is the Obama plan, which most dems support, but are all too willing to agree is not perfect by any means. I don't support it because it's less than perfect, though. I don't support it because it's a step in the exact opposite direction I want to go. Oft times, however, I get hedged in with the "Won't support anything that isn't perfect" argument.

On the flip side, I DO support increasing capital gains taxes so that they are a reflection of the income taxes...and typically, I NEVER, EVER support tax increases, on anyone, for most any reason. That is a less than perfect solution to an existing problem.

Or even the snafu with Anonymous, and how they hung officer Pike's ass out on a clothes line to get raped by mob justice. Not a perfect solution by ANYONE'S standards, least of all mine...but I support it, because I view it as a necessary evil, right there with taxes.

I don't intend for any of this to thread hijack...if you want to debate these opinions, there are threads already around that exist JUST for them...take the arguments there...all I wanted to do was list some examples of imperfect solutions to existing problems.

 

[MrMindSpeaker]

Re: Rant: Why do people believe that any political change can be, or has to be, perf

Why do people believe that any political change can be, or has to be, perfect? If they don't think so, they sure act like it when they debate. Fictitious scenario for example purposes...

Proposal: We will develop a mind ray to make every politician honest and selfless.

Objection: But that will work on only 99% of the politicians. The others will be immune to it. Oh no, we can't have that!

Really? You're willing to forgo a possible HUGE improvement simply because it isn't 100% absolutely perfect? :doh Or, are you just mad because you didn't think of it first? :roll:

well if we did go through with it the 99%of politicians would fall victim to the corrupt 1% and they would pretty much take over the world!