Don’t Let the Imperfect, become the Frenemy, of …

(noon. – promoted by ek hornbeck)

“Don’t Let the Perfect become the Enemy of the Good” — it’s common knowledge, right?

Important words of wisdom with Great Historical Significance, right?

OK, if you say so …

François-Marie Arouet, better known by his pen name Voltaire, was a French writer, deist and philosopher.

Le mieux est l’ennemi du bien.

* The better is the enemy of the good.   — La Bégueule (1772)

 Variant translations:

   The perfect is the enemy of the good.

   The best is the enemy of the good.

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/V…

Voltaire

Author and Philosopher, 1694 – 1778

Francois Marie Arouet (pen name Voltaire) was born on November 21, 1694 in Paris. Voltaire’s intelligence, wit and style made him one of France’s greatest writers and philosophers.

[…]

In 1726, Voltaire insulted the powerful young nobleman, “Chevalier De Rohan,” and was given two options: imprisonment or exile. He chose exile …

Woooo, some drama … could be a notable lesson here?  

In 1726, Voltaire insulted the powerful young nobleman, “Chevalier De Rohan,” and was given two options: imprisonment or exile. He chose exile and from 1726 to 1729 lived in England. While in England Voltaire was attracted to the philosophy of John Locke and ideas of mathematician and scientist, Sir Isaac Newton. He studied England’s Constitutional Monarchy and its religious tolerance. Voltaire was particularly interested in the philosophical rationalism of the time, and in the study of the natural sciences.

http://www.lucidcafe.com/libra…

The exiled Voltaire got to rub elbows with John Locke and Isaac Newton, because he took the path of “least resistance” … He was lucky, if you ask me — taking the “easy road” doesn’t always turn out so well, for most of us … and  “Standing on principle” DOES have its merits too.

“Don’t Let the Perfect become the Enemy of the Good”

What’s so great about “this Perfect”, anyways?

Who says standing on principle, and fighting for what’s right, will ever fly in the “Real World”, anyways?

When Progressives (in the Media and in Govt) demand to be heard, to get a Vote, to get their Amendments an up-or-down Vote — Tell me, JUST. WHAT. ARE. THEY. THINKING ???

A Seat at the Table for Single-Payer

posted by Katrina vanden Heuvel on The Nation — 06/04/2009

Q: Tell me about the purpose of the meeting with Senator Baucus today?

Senator Sanders: The truth of the matter is–and I say this not ideologically but just from an objective analysis of the health care situation–the only way you’re gonna provide comprehensive, universal, and cost-effective healthcare to every man, woman, and child in this country is through a single-payer system.

[…]

Q: What can you tell me about your meeting with President Obama?

Senator Sanders: The President wants a very aggressive timetable, I’m not sure that that can be met. His hope is that legislation is passed in the Senate before the August break.

[…]

Q: Your bill that would allow five states to administer a single-payer system (S.898) –is that an incubator to move towards a national single-payer system?

Senator Sanders: That’s right. And we’re gonna push for that. We are absolutely gonna push for that. That came up at the meeting with Senator Baucus and it’s something that I want in the bill.

http://www.thenation.com/blogs…

Great Goals Bernie, way to fight for what’s right!  (How’s that working out for you, lately?)

OK how about some Reality checks on what happens, when you follow Voltaire’s oh-so-sage advice (about “Not letting the Perfect be the Enemy of the Good“):

NO Advocates for Single Payer, were allowed into the debate:   Check!

NO Bill by August, and No bill by October, and No Bill by Xmas:   Check!

NO Strong Public Option:   Check!

NO State-initiated Single-Payer systems to gum-up the works:   Check!

NO Real Choice on the Exchange for 90% of consumers:   Check!

NO Real Constraints on Insurers to stop the price gouging:   Check!

and Now, NO More Real Choice for Women, to manage their own Bodies:   Check!

OK Progressives have compromised, time and time again, to NOT be the Enemy, to NOT stop forward Progress, to NOT block an “otherwise Good Bill”.  

Check!!

And what has it got us?

A decidedly, NOT-So-Good Bill !

And now the fencing-sitting Middle-of-the-Road Dems are be told, by Ex-Pres’s and by some of the President’s Men — Don’t you be the Enemy — Don’t YOU be the one to Stop Progress …  “Don’t YOU be the Enemy of ‘the Good’, please.”

(WHO made them the Standard-bearers of “What’s Good?”, by the way?)

Enough of the Compromises!    Enough of the endless giveaways to the Insurance Industry!

When is someone going to stand up for “The Principles of The People” — that we started out with?

And if, that is too much to ask — I’d say it’s about Time for a New Slogan, then — One that reflects the New Political Reality — one of which Voltaire, could have only dreamt of from 17th Century France England …

How about:

“Don’t Let the Imperfect, become the Enemy of the NOT-So-Good”

“A Bad Bill is Better, than No Bill”  

“A Status Quo Insurance Industry, without any real Public Competition, will just cut their premiums and copays, out the ‘Good’-ness of their Profits.”

???   snarky, snark, snark …

OK, but WHAT about this “Enemies” Business?

We all know the Watch-word in Congress, is usually “Go along to Get Along“.

It’s a collegial place. No need to Stand on Principle.

No need to resort to, “Fighting Words”

Urban Dictionary

1.)   frenemy (2559 up, 712 down — love it, hate it)

An enemy disguised as a friend.

2.)    frenemy (421 up, 111 down — love it, hate it)

The type of “friend” whose words or actions bring you down. (whether you realize it as intentional or not) The type of friend you ought to cut off but don’t cuz…they’re nice… good …you’ve had good times with them.

http://www.urbandictionary.com…

OK that kind of fits the Political Compromise of the 21st Century — where “life-and-death” battles get waged in the “Arena of Frenemies.”

SO How about, one of these “newly revised” slogans:

“Don’t Let the Imperfect, become the Frenemy of the NOT-So-Good”

“Don’t Let the Imperfect, become the Frenemy of the Should’s”

???   Not-so snarky, snark, snark …

In other words, we Progressives should just QUIT complaining — we should just “count our Blessings”

It’s a Blessing they still “let us Play” — afterall with stalwarts like Lincoln, Nelson, Lieberman, and Snowe — it a wonder, that Progressives are still allowed a Voice on the Floor, these days …

Those Middle-of-the-Roaders should be careful however, just what they wish for …

Cuz they really haven’t seen “watered down” yet:

Snowe: Democrats Best Frenemy?

by George Stephanopoulos – October 14, 2009

Olympia Snowe’s decision to support the Baucus bill sent a jolt of excitement through the WH and Democratic ranks.  But progressives fighting for a public option likely to find that yesterday’s best friend is tomorrow’s worst enemy.

In her conversation with Robin Roberts this morning on GMA, the Maine Senator made it clear that a public option “trigger” is her bottom line.  

http://blogs.abcnews.com/georg…

Post Script:

There was some more Sage advice from that “did-nothing” French Philosopher, that so many love to quote these days:

“Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.”

— Voltaire

Hmmm ??    That one, might be worth quoting too?

And the Political Frenemies Argument on Health Care reform, has finally boiled down to something as shallow as this:

“A Bad Bill is Better, than No Bill!”

vs.

“No Bill is Better, than More of the Same …”

may the best side win!

The Art of Compromise, isn’t it swell?

We WILL (probably) get a HCR Bill, by early next year (or so everyone says) — It’s just whether it will Help or Hurt matters, THAT … what’s still yet to be seen.

Maybe we just need a few more compromises, before then, eh?

Yup! … That’s the Ticket! … It’s worked SO well, so far.