February 04, 2003

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

I like this quote that Jack Rich has on his website today:

There is a rank due to the United States, among nations, which will be withheld, if not absolutely lost, by the reputation of weakness. If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire to secure peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our rising prosperity, it must be known that we are at all times ready for war.
Yup.

I forgot to add: the person quoted was George Washington.

Posted by Andrea Harris at February 4, 2003 09:49 AM
Comments

Smart guy, and he looks great on the front of the quarter.

Posted by: Steve H. at February 4, 2003 at 10:24 AM

Of course, didn't he also warn against foreign entanglements and alliances?

Posted by: *** Dave at February 4, 2003 at 11:34 AM

Just because GW said one thing that still holds true doesn't mean everything else he said and did still holds true. Notice the lack of slave ownership these days hereabouts.

Posted by: Andrea Harris at February 4, 2003 at 11:59 AM

I think GW had something going with foreign entaglements, but I usually take the meaning of "foreign entanglements" in context with his thoughts on political parties.

I think he was against long-term alliances or parties as they tend to do more harm than good in the long run. I'm just talking out of my ass, but I think his ideal was a constantly shifting set of nominal allies, changing as reality changed. A group of congressmen or whoever would come together to favor or oppose a certain bill, but after that's passed, they disband and form new alliances based on individual situations. The same could be said for international affairs.

After seeing an entrenched two-party system and NATO, I'd have to say that George was mostly right.

Posted by: Paul at February 4, 2003 at 03:04 PM

Peace through strength is like virgunity through fucking!

(I'm sorry, I couldn't help it. Sometimes the stupidity just has to ooze out.)

In a more serious vein: I'm convinced that the two-party system has led pretty directly to our greater freedom and prosperity than countries with more than two parties. God help us if it ever changes.

Posted by: Dean Esmay at February 5, 2003 at 04:21 AM