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TechnographColumn: A revolution of mediocrity
By John Bambenek
Posted: 2/1/06 Section: Opinions
The current political environment looks down on "ideologues." If it weren't for ideologues we'd still have slavery, and for that matter, would still be under crown rule. The alternative to ideologues is politicians who are bought and sold to the highest bidder. Most people would prefer dealing with a known quantity, not someone who flip-flops depending on who they are talking to at a given moment. Being moderate on ideas like fiscal conservativism (and this current Congress and president are more moderate than conservative) has led to rampant pork-spending and vote-buying. The result is a sprawling and wasteful government that threatens the great economic prosperity we've seen in recent years due to the Bush tax cut.
Compromise has its place, and that place is not in every time and every situation. There are some things that cannot be compromised with: slavery, racism, tyranny and terrorism. People who believe it is acceptable to express political grievances by indiscriminate killing should not be negotiated with; they should be stopped. Slavery, segregation, voting rights and many of the other major advances in freedom in our country were pioneered by extremists (namely Republicans).
Behind every great man is a group of moderates shouting, "Let's be reasonable." The moderate is not the politics of a statesman; it is the politics of a coward and more often than not, the scoundrel.
John Bambenek is a graduate student and academic professional at the University. His column appears Wednesdays. He can be reached at opinions @daily
illini.com.
Compromise has its place, and that place is not in every time and every situation. There are some things that cannot be compromised with: slavery, racism, tyranny and terrorism. People who believe it is acceptable to express political grievances by indiscriminate killing should not be negotiated with; they should be stopped. Slavery, segregation, voting rights and many of the other major advances in freedom in our country were pioneered by extremists (namely Republicans).
Behind every great man is a group of moderates shouting, "Let's be reasonable." The moderate is not the politics of a statesman; it is the politics of a coward and more often than not, the scoundrel.
John Bambenek is a graduate student and academic professional at the University. His column appears Wednesdays. He can be reached at opinions @daily
illini.com.
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