Sunday, June 22, 2008

Obama, Change, and Good Intentions

Daniel Webster said this over 150 years ago:

Good intentions will always be pleaded for every assumption of authority. It is hardly too strong to say that the Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters.
He was absolutely correct, which is why I don't trust government.

Hat tip to Mr. Chanman.

6 comments:

Ellen K said...

"Change" also seems to mean the ability to change one's views on funding campaigns based on which way the wind is blowing. I recommend that you immediately go to OpenSecrets.com. It's a very enlightening, thought depressing, site.

Ellen K said...

Oops. sorry, that should be
http://www.opensecrets.org

Fritz J. said...

As the old proverb goes, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."

Anonymous said...

As a baby boomer, this is the first election year in a long time where I am not decided about a candidate. What confusing times! I will check out the website mentioned by ellen k. Maybe it will help me put things in perspective.

Anonymous said...

I don't trust or mistrust government. I do, however, thoroughly distrust Obama and am only marginally more trusting of McCain.

It is nice to see the Sudden Saint lose some of his gold leaf-luster although he's got a lot of breathless acolytes in the media.

On the "our favorite topic" front, it looks like Obama's toeing the NEA line about charters - the "cherry-picking charge" - which is good but I don't think McCain sees the possibilities inherent in Obama's embracing of the status quo which is bad.

The fracture lines along the education issue haven't showed up at the national level much but they sure do show up at the "around the dinner table" level.

We had a couple of friends over, both lawyers, both lefties and Mrs. Lawyer, a former teacher no less, was very supportive of charters whereas Mr. Lawyer was thoroughly down with all the anti-charter talking points. It was clearly an argument that had been rehashed by them and I don't think it's an argument that's rare on the left. I just have a sinking feeling that it's an issue that McCain won't capitalize upon.

Anonymous said...

As I always say, "Change and Progress are two separate things."