[Dialogue] Looking to Tuesday . . .

[R Williams]

I just finished the book this morning, and was struck by this quote which is in the last chapter.  On the same page is this:  "Counting on the next president to fix whatever is broken promotes expectations of easy, no-cost cures, permitting ordinary citizens to absolve themselves of responsibility for the nation's predicament."  
 
Would appreciate the opportunity to be part of a dialogue about this book..
 
Randy

--- On Sat, 11/1/08, James Wiegel <jfwiegel at yahoo.com> wrote:

From: James Wiegel <jfwiegel at yahoo.com>
Subject: [Dialogue] Looking to Tuesday . . .
To: "Springboard Dialogue" <springboard at wedgeblade.net>, "Dialogue List Serve" <Dialogue at wedgeblade.net>
Date: Saturday, November 1, 2008, 9:40 AM







"Yet to imagine that installing a particular individual in the Oval Office will produce decisive action on any of these fronts (terrorism and nuclear weapons, climate change and poverty, genocide and disease) is to succomb to the grandest delusion of all.  The quadrennial ritual of electing (or reelecting) a president is not an exercise in promoting change, regardless of what candidates may claim and ordinary voters believe.  The real aim is to ensure continuity, to keep intact the institutions and arrangements that define present-day Washington."  Andrew J. Bacevich, The Limits of Power, p. 171.
 
"If you think the City of Chicago is going to elect a new mayor every 4 years and he is going to come out here and do your work for you, you're wrong.  If this community is going to be different it will be because of you.  You're going to have to do it yourself"  Verdell Trice, paraphrased from the Fifth City video.
 
hmmm . . . .
 
I just finished reading The Limits of Power.  Anyone interested in forming a discussion group to study it?

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One great, strong, unselfish soul in every community could actually redeem the world. Elbert Hubbard
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