I react pragmatically. Where the market works, I'm for that. Where the government is necessary, I'm for that. I'm deeply suspicious of somebody who says, "I'm in favor of privatization," or, "I'm deeply in favor of public ownership." I'm in favor of whatever works in the particular case. ~John Kenneth Galbraith, economist
A relevant comment from Balloon Juice:
I just have no understanding whatsoever of how electing anyone from the now completely insane Republican party furthers any identifiable progressive goal.
Take that, Jane Hamsher, John Aravosis, Melissa McEwan, Dan Choi. Yes, we realize you're disappointed in Obama. We've heard you screeching, whining, flagellating the President for not accomplishing things according to your personal timetable.
Get the frak over it, grow the frak up and move on.
You unleash Romney, Pawlenty, Bachmann and/or Paul Ryan on this country, and you won't have any country left to whine about.
Roe v. Wade: gone.
Planned Parenthood: gone.
Social Security and Medicare: gone.
Any chance at all for gay rights: gone.
We don't have time to waste on your hurt fee-fees.
The original Balloon Juice post commented on this piece by Dan Savage, which is well worth your perusal. A massive dose of pragmatism is what's needed right now, I think, by everybody.
A great definition of pragmatism, from here.
Pragmatism means accepting what’s real and making the best of it.
Pragmatism is figuring out how to fulfill our values and mission in the real world rather than spending our energy complaining that things should be different. When we are pragmatic, we accept the status quo, even if we don’t like it. We explore the cause and effect relationships that govern our lives, and then use the power we have to make things better.
Pragmatism means that we look at our own behaviors and ideas and ask ourselves—Do they work? Are they getting us to where we want to go? Pragmatism and flexibility go hand in hand, because the world keeps changing around us.
In other words: kwitcherbitchin, kids. It makes for inflammatory blog posts, but it doesn't accomplish squat.
Digging down and working to get Obama a second term, save the Senate and get back the House, however, just might.
A relevant comment from Balloon Juice:
I just have no understanding whatsoever of how electing anyone from the now completely insane Republican party furthers any identifiable progressive goal.
Take that, Jane Hamsher, John Aravosis, Melissa McEwan, Dan Choi. Yes, we realize you're disappointed in Obama. We've heard you screeching, whining, flagellating the President for not accomplishing things according to your personal timetable.
Get the frak over it, grow the frak up and move on.
You unleash Romney, Pawlenty, Bachmann and/or Paul Ryan on this country, and you won't have any country left to whine about.
Roe v. Wade: gone.
Planned Parenthood: gone.
Social Security and Medicare: gone.
Any chance at all for gay rights: gone.
We don't have time to waste on your hurt fee-fees.
The original Balloon Juice post commented on this piece by Dan Savage, which is well worth your perusal. A massive dose of pragmatism is what's needed right now, I think, by everybody.
A great definition of pragmatism, from here.
Pragmatism means accepting what’s real and making the best of it.
Pragmatism is figuring out how to fulfill our values and mission in the real world rather than spending our energy complaining that things should be different. When we are pragmatic, we accept the status quo, even if we don’t like it. We explore the cause and effect relationships that govern our lives, and then use the power we have to make things better.
Pragmatism means that we look at our own behaviors and ideas and ask ourselves—Do they work? Are they getting us to where we want to go? Pragmatism and flexibility go hand in hand, because the world keeps changing around us.
In other words: kwitcherbitchin, kids. It makes for inflammatory blog posts, but it doesn't accomplish squat.
Digging down and working to get Obama a second term, save the Senate and get back the House, however, just might.
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