Comments on: Play in or play on? http://mementum.org/blog/2008/04/play-in-or-play-on/ Move with Meaning. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:35:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Burbs http://mementum.org/blog/2008/04/play-in-or-play-on/#comment-19 Burbs Sun, 27 Apr 2008 07:18:50 +0000 http://mementum.org/blog/2008/04/play-in-or-play-on/#comment-19 I think the perfect example of how politics is generally played "how it is", rather than "as it should be", and how the general populous doesn't seem to mind, is Clinton and McCain proposing a gas tax removal for the summer. Clearly with the current deficit and lack of a war tax (among other issues), we are in no position to be slicing other taxes and the candidates must know this (not to mention it completely fails to address the overall problem), but they also know that saying gas will be cheaper will get them votes. It'll be interesting to see how this pans out, but I bet Obama's stance against cutting this tax (which in my opinion is the smart thing to do) will hurt him in Indiana. I think the perfect example of how politics is generally played “how it is”, rather than “as it should be”, and how the general populous doesn’t seem to mind, is Clinton and McCain proposing a gas tax removal for the summer. Clearly with the current deficit and lack of a war tax (among other issues), we are in no position to be slicing other taxes and the candidates must know this (not to mention it completely fails to address the overall problem), but they also know that saying gas will be cheaper will get them votes.

It’ll be interesting to see how this pans out, but I bet Obama’s stance against cutting this tax (which in my opinion is the smart thing to do) will hurt him in Indiana.

]]> By: Nate http://mementum.org/blog/2008/04/play-in-or-play-on/#comment-18 Nate Fri, 25 Apr 2008 04:49:52 +0000 http://mementum.org/blog/2008/04/play-in-or-play-on/#comment-18 But when said revolutionary is on the cusp of said change, they're forced to consider the net gain and net loss they would face, so to speak. I'll preface this by saying I'm extremely cynical about human nature. I see it this way: someone will only inspire others to play "as it should be" when they lead by example. However, the only way they will be effective is by doing so when the stakes are high, and they have to win. The impact of someone choosing the high road in a presidential election for a nation is much higher than someone choosing the high road in the presidential election for Student Body President, but concurrently, the effective potential of each position is equally staggered. And a loss would only reinforce the idea that playing fair inevitably ends in defeat. To the one contemplating how they should play, it becomes a battle between the "big picture" and their own ambitions. I don't think I'm explaining this with much clarity. I think I just went back to my prisoner's dilemma comment with more digression. Blah. But when said revolutionary is on the cusp of said change, they’re forced to consider the net gain and net loss they would face, so to speak.

I’ll preface this by saying I’m extremely cynical about human nature. I see it this way: someone will only inspire others to play “as it should be” when they lead by example. However, the only way they will be effective is by doing so when the stakes are high, and they have to win. The impact of someone choosing the high road in a presidential election for a nation is much higher than someone choosing the high road in the presidential election for Student Body President, but concurrently, the effective potential of each position is equally staggered. And a loss would only reinforce the idea that playing fair inevitably ends in defeat.

To the one contemplating how they should play, it becomes a battle between the “big picture” and their own ambitions. I don’t think I’m explaining this with much clarity. I think I just went back to my prisoner’s dilemma comment with more digression. Blah.

]]> By: Mike http://mementum.org/blog/2008/04/play-in-or-play-on/#comment-15 Mike Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:03:48 +0000 http://mementum.org/blog/2008/04/play-in-or-play-on/#comment-15 That is a good point, but it also lays the groundwork for someone to break through said environment/methodology and inspire lasting change. It's such a great set up for a real paradigm shift and a real revolutionary to emerge. That is a good point, but it also lays the groundwork for someone to break through said environment/methodology and inspire lasting change. It’s such a great set up for a real paradigm shift and a real revolutionary to emerge.

]]> By: Nate http://mementum.org/blog/2008/04/play-in-or-play-on/#comment-14 Nate Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:02:07 +0000 http://mementum.org/blog/2008/04/play-in-or-play-on/#comment-14 It's your typical prisoner's dilemma. Whenever people are in it to win it, they'll tend toward the negative/negative bracket, and that's just because of human nature. One might argue that a politician who invests in the "as it should be" tactic might not be as motivated to win as another candidate, because (let's face it) mudslinging works. I think it'd be remarkable to see how many people vote based on their emotions, morals, and predetermined perceptions, as opposed to the actual campaign platforms. It’s your typical prisoner’s dilemma. Whenever people are in it to win it, they’ll tend toward the negative/negative bracket, and that’s just because of human nature.

One might argue that a politician who invests in the “as it should be” tactic might not be as motivated to win as another candidate, because (let’s face it) mudslinging works. I think it’d be remarkable to see how many people vote based on their emotions, morals, and predetermined perceptions, as opposed to the actual campaign platforms.

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