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Topic: The Iron Law of Politics

I like freedom of speech, and I like the golden rule. But the golden rule is imprudent for statesmen, for it is the recipe for ruin. Instead, statesmen must practice the iron rule: do it to others before they do it to you. Unfortunately, there are too many high-minded liberals who think it's their duty to disturb civic order by criticizing not the prudence or necessity of a state's actions, but the very fact that they practice the iron rule. And I'm sick of it. Since practicing the iron rule is necessary for political survival, to object to its practice seems indistinguishable from objecting to the survival of one's own state. So, to me it seems sensible to label such people as traitors.

Thoughts? Any liberals with a justification?

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Re: The Iron Law of Politics

Umm sure

*walks away confused*

Everything bad in the economy is now Obama's fault. Every job lost, all the debt, all the lost retirement funds. All Obama. Are you happy now? We all get to blame Obama!
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  • Xeno
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Re: The Iron Law of Politics

How can a nation's politicians practice this 'iron rule' against each other and yet at the same time clamor for nations to treat each other according to the 'golden rule'?

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Re: The Iron Law of Politics

If your political survival depends on the iron rule, somethings wrong with your gov. 9 out of ten its better if its replaced by something better if you can afford it.

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5 Reply by Justinian I (edited by Justinian I 10-Mar-2012 21:50:53)

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Re: The Iron Law of Politics

Xeno,

When politicians clamor for nations to treat each other according to the golden rule, they are just speaking sweet words. In practice, no country doesn't practice the iron rule.

LP,

I should clarify that I was applying the iron rule to foreign policy. It's short for political realism.

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Re: The Iron Law of Politics

Justinian I wrote:

>In practice, no country doesn't practice the iron rule.

This may be true, for it would explain why we continue to have so much the trouble on the geopolitical stage, but this is unjustifiable. It seems you are trying to justify the iron rule, as if it weren't morally reprehensible.  Is this your position?

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Re: The Iron Law of Politics

> xeno syndicated wrote:

This may be true, for it would explain why we continue to have so much the trouble on the geopolitical stage, but this is unjustifiable. It seems you are trying to justify the iron rule, as if it weren't morally reprehensible.  Is this your position?>

I believe the iron rule is justified as a practical necessity. As for morality, I am not saying anything about it. My thought is that if you are a statesmen, then your choices are either practice the iron rule or die.

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8 Reply by Firewing (edited by Firewing 12-Mar-2012 08:54:12)

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Re: The Iron Law of Politics

Transparency is the solution. All political decisions must be public, even the negotiations how the decisions were formed. Everyone must have the opportunity to participate through ideas and statements in the discussions. The internet provides mankind this opportunity. When this model is introduced by the western world, democracy will rise to a new level of acceptance throughout the world. When everyone can read about the political decissions, there is no need for distrust anymore.

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