Cicero- Who Should Go Into Politics?

Here is one of my favorite quotes from Cicero. Even though this was written before the birth of Christ, it could easily have been written today.

"They say that most politicians are worthless, that it is demeaning to be classified with them, and disagreeable and dangerous to come into conflict with them, especially when they have stirred up the mob. Hence, they argue, it is no business for a wise man to take over the reins, since he cannot check the mad, uncontrollable rush of the crowd; nor does it befit a free man to struggle with corrupt and uncivilized opponents, lashed with foul abuse and submitting to outrages which would be intolerable to a person of good sense- as if good, brave, and high-minded men could have any stronger reason for entering politics than the determination not to give in to the wicked, and not to allow the state to be torn apart by such people in a situation where they themselves would be powerless to help even if they wished to do so."

Cicero published this not long before the fall of the Roman Republic. It is possible that because the public customarily gave such little respect to politicians, that men of good character did not become politicians. Of course, the opposite could be said, and it becomes a chicken or the egg question.

Cited- Cicero's Republic

End of Term Talks

McCain, Obama, and W are all getting together to talk about the economy. I'm sure part of this is for showmanship, but I also think its good for them to sit down and talk about ideas. The reality is that 2 of the 3 of them will spend time in the White House in January, and that the economic crisis will likely still be here then.

This call for discussions between current and present Presidents isn't without precedent. With Franklin Roosevelt as the president-elect, and Herbert Hoover a lame duck President still in the White House, Hoover sent an urgent request to meet to discuss his plan for getting the American economy out of the Depression. FDR didn't respond, either to the first request or several thereafter. In those days the conventions took place earlier, in this case July. After taking office, FDR did implement a plan very similar to that which Hoover had urged him to support several months earlier.

Had they met, and had they implemented the plan 6 months earlier, would it have made a difference? That's hard to say, but FDRs refusal to meet with Hoover, apparently out of political motives, was not a bright spot on his historical resume. Hopefully with this meeting between W, Obama, and McCain, our current and future presidents will show that some non-partisanship is a good thing.

See: David M. Kennedy, Freedom from Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929-1945 (1999)