In the September/October Foreign Affairs, Joseph Biden is quoted thusly, “America’s greatest strength is not
the example of our power but the power of our example.” These are not fightin’
but idealistic words and they make you wonder what would have happened if Biden had chosen to run. At the same time they beg the question of how such such lofty conceptions can
be maintained, considering the complexity of international politics, and the
subtext of Darwinism, (especially Spenser’s Social Darwinism), which turn every
possible initiative into an agenda. The problem lies in distinguishing
realpolitik from political ideals. Ideals cannot possibly exist in a vacuum,
but sometimes it feels like the price the idealist pays is the discovery
that everyone else is fighting with their gloves off. No matter. A politician
like Biden is as experienced on the chessboard of international relations as
anyone so when he comes forth with a high-minded pronunciamento, readers
may be inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt. But how seriously are we
to take the constitution and the bill of rights? In the face of increasing
violence and threats to security, Donald Trump will find considerable support
for reinstituting the torture techniques
used on terrorist suspects that were repudiated by the Obama administration. Taking
the higher road always leaves the fear that Americans while setting an example
may be caught with their pants down and the idea of holding the bar high always
becomes more challenging, when adversaries who don’t, place it under threat.
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
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