Lane, re: "But I think your attachment of the merit/hard work element to the dues-pay one is iffy. While I recognize a relationship, I don't think the overlap is total."
I fully agree with that statement. Surely some talented people are hard working and have paid their dues.
The best of all worlds would be to have three very talented, very experienced, very ethical, very inclusive and very hard working persons who'd paid their dues. In that event we could look at their policy positions and not worry about their abilities to exercise judgement, exercise effective leadership and get things done.
In this election we have different levels of talent, experience, hard work, and dues payment among the three remaining candidates.
Obama is short on experience, Clinton is short on judgment or integrity, whichever one it is that makes her vote for the Iraq war, the Iran resolution and engage in underhanded tactics, and McCain is short on intellect.
Obama can largely make up for his lack of experience with advisors, good judgement and on the job experience but Clinton isn't likely to suddenly develop better judgment or better integrity and McCain isn't likely to suddenly get more insightful. Ed |
