Is no the point to achieve power without being subsumed? Or are we just jerking off?

  • InevitableSwing [none/use name]
    ·
    2 years ago

    What is the dividing line between strategy and opportunism?

    When an an opportunist says "I'm doing this for the principle of the thing," - they're lying. They're doing it for themselves. It's shocking to me how many liberals don't understand that.

    Is no the point to achieve power without being subsumed?

    I'd like to think that if I was in a position of power - I'd use it to help other people and not use that position to simply give myself more money and more power. But that's very easy to say.

    Nearly all men can stand adversity. If you want to test a man's character - give him power.

    That's a paraphrase of something Thomas Carlyle said.

    • Frank [he/him, he/him]
      ·
      2 years ago

      That's why I always come clean when running for office that I will be corrupt, but I will restrict my corruption to accepting free meals from local restaurants and receiving small dollar bribes from the teacher's union.

        • Frank [he/him, he/him]
          ·
          2 years ago

          It's about having manageable corruption on a scale your constituents can relate too.

          • InevitableSwing [none/use name]
            ·
            2 years ago

            Future me as a congressperson: "Yeah, I do inside trading in congress and I support it too. But not excessively. It's fair that I can have a little inside trading as a treat..."