AisA Posted March 30, 2004 Report Share Posted March 30, 2004 The willingness to switch positions from day to day -- or to hold contradictory positions simultaneously -- is one of the chief consequences of pragmatism. Pragmatism holds that nothing can be known beyond immediate, perceptually given concretes. Principles are deemed useless, since “what is true today may be false tomorrow“ or “what is true for me might not be true for you“. Essentially, pragmatism tells us to act on the principle that one should never act on principles. John Kerry, the master of the flip-flop, is providing a breathtaking display of pragmatism's effects. Kerry is simultaneously the most statist national politician in America -- and an advocate of shrinking the federal government! Look at the list of new government programs Kerry is advocating: According to his web site, Kerry has proposals for new government programs for agriculture, AIDS, the disabled, children, minorities, college students, crime prevention, education, energy, health care, nurses, seniors, small business, urban areas, veterans, native Americans, businesses owned by women, you name it, there is something for virtually everyone. Incredibly, Kerry's website also states the following: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John Kerry believes that we need a smaller and smarter government that wastes less money……….He will cut excesses in government and reign in out of control spending. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/economy/) This sort of nonsense is not limited to Democrats. One of the most egregious examples of pragmatism was the shameful statement in which President Bush demanded Israeli restraint in dealing with suicide bombers -- while American warplanes were bombing the Taliban. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Invictus Posted March 31, 2004 Report Share Posted March 31, 2004 John Kerry believes that we need a smaller and smarter government that wastes less money……….He will cut excesses in government and reign in out of control spending. Did anyone else need to rub their eyes after reading this absurdity? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
y_feldblum Posted March 31, 2004 Report Share Posted March 31, 2004 No, but I had to refresh the page a couple times to make sure I was reading it right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AutoJC Posted April 2, 2004 Report Share Posted April 2, 2004 One of the most egregious examples of pragmatism was the shameful statement in which President Bush demanded Israeli restraint in dealing with suicide bombers -- while American warplanes were bombing the Taliban. What makes that all the more shameful is that Bush hasn't really vanquished the Taliban or even Al Qaeda. You know he hasn't captured Bin Laden. Al Qaeda still promotes, participates in, and sponsors terrorism to this day. Witness the train bombings in Madrid. And why is it that America wants to restrain Israel from defending itself? Do they really think that they can reach a peace with terrorists? To fight a war and not win it by defeating the enemy is a colossal example of pragmatism. Kerry is being too pragmatic, BTW. Why doesn't he seize upon the fact that Bush has not succeeded in Iraq due to his pragmatism and lack of resolve? Is he that brainwashed a liberal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AutoJC Posted April 2, 2004 Report Share Posted April 2, 2004 Did anyone else need to rub their eyes after reading this absurdity? I think it's a worthy goal myself, were it supported by true capitalist principle. But it's too weird, in that the rest of his website advocates government programs for a large number of specific groups. Nowhere on that site does he mention how it is he's going to manage all this socialization with a minimal government. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Concerto of Atlantis Posted April 2, 2004 Report Share Posted April 2, 2004 No, but I had to refresh the page a couple times to make sure I was reading it right. If you kept on refreshing the page, the content probably kept changing too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
y_feldblum Posted April 2, 2004 Report Share Posted April 2, 2004 "I'm going to minimize a maximized government. Vote for me." Kerry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AutoJC Posted April 2, 2004 Report Share Posted April 2, 2004 "I'm going to minimize a maximized government. Vote for me." Kerry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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