Machiavelli today
Wow - Machiavelli is back in vogue with thousands of new google hits; I guess it's an election year!!
This site, although a year old, has the tightest correlation of contemporary events to specific text references (the model we'll be encouraging in class), even including the original Italian!! Please note that most of the other sites use the phrase "Machiavellian" as an adjective, sometimes without a full understanding of what The Prince actually said.
First blog assignment for English: find a recent primary source (probably a line from a speech or press release) and offer a very brief analysis through Machiavelli's lens. Due Saturday, September 13th at Midnight. ps: feel free to have fun with it.
posted by erdecker @ 9:57 AM
39 comments
39 Comments:
He also says "It is best to be both feared and loved, however, if one cannot be both it is better to be feared than loved."
That said, the plan of the Republicans would be to elevate Hillary to a kind of martyrdom so that she may be viewed more favorably by the left wing Democrats who are her most alienated group. This would be in the hope that she gets the nomination.
This was taken from
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sheldon-drobny/what-would-machiavelli-do_b_57115.html
I believe that Machiavelli would say that Hillary was using love to get people to want her as president. He would disapprove her methods and would go against all that she was doing. Since he believes that fear rules better than love. He would say that she needs to use force and to push the fact that she needs to be fearful in order to gain and lead the people.
"Senator John McCain, the Republican nominee for president, says he selected her as his running mate because of her image as a reformer, but she is also making motherhood an explicit part of her appeal, running as a self-proclaimed hockey mom."
-taken from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26602065/ -
McCain is using her as people bait. Machiavelli's idea of it being best for a leader to be both loved and feared is not applicable to McCain's campaign. He just wants the love, and he's attaining what he wants through the American people's sympathies and similarities with Palin.
Palin is "making a prince" and, although it appears that McCain is not making use of Machiavelli's concepts for now, perhaps if he is placed in office he will take a leaf out of the old book and do away with Palin before we start to like her more, impeach McCain for not giving us the free taco Tuesdays that he promised, and smack her in the oval office.
George W. Bush could be compared in some ways to Machiavelli's comments on hereditary princes that is discussed in chapter 2. There, Machiavelli states..
"hereditary states are more easily kept than new ones" and that "the hereditary prince has less cause and less need to offend than a new one. Hence it follows that he is more readily loved" (by the way, my copy of the prince has a different translator than the ones everyone else has)
Following this, perhaps it is possible that the reason George W. Bush ended up as president (or kept his presidency for a second term) might in some way relate to the fact that his father was also a president. After all, aren't republicans also known for avoiding change as much as possible? It is also interesting that Hillary Clinton then lost to Obama, however, becuase if the paradigm of keeping a line of hereditary princes is indeed true, wouldn't this mean that Hillary would be more favored becuase her husband was once president? Yet becuase Hillary Clinton is female, the paradigm of avoiding change becomes muddied since though Hillary Clinton is married to a past president, she herself would be a very different kind of president simply because she is female. Yet I still think our culture tries to avoid change, and that Machiavelli was correct when he said a hereditary prince is more accepted. After all, nobody seemed to have much of a problem with Bush until 9/11. Or at least, those that did became much more upset with him after that event. Not to mention, a Democrat hasn't been president in a while either.
This is in regard to the Prince Symposium that was today(9/11/08).
In chapter 9 is where Machiavelli brings up the situation of a prince surrounded by nobles that are 'equal' to him and what should be done.
"As a prince, he finds himself surrounded by many who believe they are his equals, and because of that he cannot command or manage them the way he wants. A man who becomes prince by favour of the people finds himself standing alone, and he has near him either no one or very few not prepared to take orders."
A little further down the same page Machiavelli says this: "Again a prince must always live with the same people, but he can well do without nobles, since he can make and unmake them everyday, increasing and lowering their standing at will."
This part of chapter 9 can be tied to today's world by that of any corporate business by act of 'climbing the corporate ladder'. For example if the President of Best Buy were to retire then the Vice Presidents would race/fight to become the President. The person that becomes President would want to look out for himself/herself and fire those that had competed with him for the job. By doing that the 'new' President would lessen the chance of the 'others' challenging for the President postition any time soon. Another point is that it would be hard for the 'new' President to be 'supreme' over those that were 'equal' to the new President that had competed for the position . This eliminates threats for power within the company.
Another point that was discussed during the symposium today was that of being feared or loved as a politician/government leader.
I fould a really good quote on page 97 that sums it up really well that could be applied to today especially during the Presidential Campaign.
"The prince must nonetheless make himself feared in such a way that, if he is not loved, at least he escapes being hated. For fear is quite compatible with an absence of hatred; and the prince can always avoid hatred if he abstains from the property of his subjects and citizens and from their women. If, even so, it proves necessary to execute someone, this is to be done only when there is proper justification and manifest reason for it."
In other words Machiavelli is saying that there is a fine line between being to 'soft' (not feared enough) to being 'hard' (feared too much). The prince or the ruler(i.e. the President) must attempt to walk the fine line, as to which no one knows its GPS cordinates(the 'exact' line).
Have the right level of the feeling of fear and love in the people for the sake and safety of the citzens themselves.
Suzy Kent hrs. 6,7
(For The Prince Symposium) 9/11/2008
About my earlier post, that was also meant for the prince symposium we did today, 9/11. I did not mean it for the assignment due on Saturday! Sorry for not stating it earlier..
"The DAV has defined some of these obligations in your Stand Up for Veterans pledge. And though it's not my practice to sign pledges as a candidate, I will give you my word that as president I will see that these obligations are kept."
John McCain in a speech delivered on August 11th, 2008 to the 87th Annual Convention of Disabled American Veterans
http://www.johnmccain.com/informing/News/Speeches/e4b01dcf-f713-4a89-8b6a-19113b38d996.htm
McCain makes it clear in this segment of the speech that he rarely makes campaign commitments. This is in stark contrast to Machiavelli's idea that a prince can depart from the truth whenever it suits him. McCain is avoiding being put in a situation where he would have to renege on his word because he does make campaign commitments. This leaves him free to pursue his political aims immediately upon entering office without having to worry about other promises that he made while running for office.
To continue on the route that Samantha S. took I have a different connection.
Machiavelli says "It is best to be both feared and loved, however, if one cannot be both it is better to be feared than loved.
For most of the fans of the Harry Potter series the first character that would be named as the one that is most feared by the students would be Severus Snape. Also most people would say that Dumbledore is the most loved.
At times Snape can be loved and Dumbledore can be feared, but mix the two together in a tag-team and you have the 'best to be both feared and loved' that Machiavelli was writing about.
As for Harry Potter's character I sense that he 'loves' Dumbledore for always looking out for him, but Harry also has this fear of Dumbledore because of his 'status' as the headmaster and his authority.
Harry Potter has this fear of Snape because of his strict discipline and classes and his overall reputation. Also Harry has a knew found 'love' of Snape after taking a look into Snape's memory lane toward the middle of the series (book 4 or 5) and learns what other students did to Snape during his own student days at Hogwarts, including some bullying by Harry's own father 'back in the day'.
So tie in the following quote from J. K. Rowling and you have the 'best to be both feared and loved'.
Dumbledore and Snape were 'tag-teaming' together to 'save' Harry Potter for his prophesized 'only one shall live' death battle to get rid of Voldemort or as to prepare Harry for the Ultimate Battle against Voldemort to save everyone(muggles, wizards, witches, centars, and etc).
Snape and Dumbledore's tag-team was to save and prepare Harry for the ultimate showdown against Voldemort, which if Harry were to succeed against Voldemort, Harry would save everyone.
The following info was taken from: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1571977/20071015/index.jhtml
"Snape is vindictive, he's cruel. He's not a big man," she insisted. "But he loves. I like him, but I'd also like to slap him hard."
Earlier, Rowling said she was particularly pleased with how Snape's story played out throughout the course of the series, contrasting his character arc with that of Dumbledore.
"Although [Dumbledore] seems to be so benign for six books, he's quite a Machiavellian figure, really. He's been pulling a lot of strings. Harry has been his puppet," she explained. "When Snape says to Dumbledore [toward the end of 'Hallows'], 'We've been protecting [Harry] so he could die at the right moment' — I don't think in book one you would have ever envisioned a moment where your sympathy would be with Snape rather than Dumbledore."
Machiavelli would more than likely agree with the 'tag-team' of Dumbledore and Snape because they brought together the 'best to be feared and loved' to promote/bring together the only chance at saving everyone from evil(Voldemort). Dumbledore brought the love portion and Snape brought the fear portion to everyone, especially Harry Potter himself.
Suzy Kent
"Machiavelli today" assignment
In his September 5th acceptance speech, Senator John McCain says "I'm not in the habit of breaking promises to my country and neither is Governor Palin. And when we tell you we're going to change Washington, and stop leaving our country's problems for some unluckier generation to fix, you can count on it. We've got a record of doing just that, and the strength, experience, judgment and backbone to keep our word to you."
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/Speeches/ef046a10-706a-4dd5-bd01-b93b36b054bc.htm
In "The Prince", Machiavelli claims, "Men in general judge by their eyes rather than by their hands; because everyone is in a position to watch, few are in a position to come in close touch with you....In the actions of all men, and especially of princes, where there is no court of appeal, one judges by the result."
So if we consider McCain's quote from a Machiavellian lens, McCain is doing exactly the right thing; it is unlikely that McCain, should he be elected President, will avoid breaking any of his promises to our country, and so he puts on a good appearance to gain support and therefore gain votes. According to Machiavelli, McCain's appearance is far more important than his reality, because "men in general judge by their eyes rather than by their hands", and so the people will be more impressed by what McCain says than by what he actually accomplishes in reality.
Prince Symposium
Going along with how it is ok to be Machiavellian and whether one should be loved or feared, I would have to agree that one should be both loved and feared because in chapter 18 of "The Prince", Machiavelli says, "Men in general judge by their eyes rather than their hands; because everyone is in a position to watch, few are in a position to come in close touch with you."
To me this says, do what you need to so you may become the leader, and then do what you need to to stay the leader.
This ties in to when we discussed political leaders and how in their campaigns, they say things to either bash their opponents or to "one up" them. They are doing what they can to become the leader.
It also goes on to say, "The common people are always impressed by appearances and results."
This ties with doing what one can to stay the leader a.k.a appearing to follow your word.
MACHIAVELLI TODAY
Michael Cooper says, "The operation was nearly broke, having spent freely despite lackluster fund-raising."
This comes from the article "Savior or Machiavelli, McCain Aide Carries On" from the New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/us/politics/23davis.html
I believe Machiavelli would have frowned upon McCain's wasteful spending of precious money.
Machiavelli states, "I say it would be splendid if one had a reputation for generosity; nonetheless if you do in fact earn a reputation for generosity you will come to grief."
Basically, if you save your money for when you really need it, you will be fine. McCain hasn't done such a great job at saving his money to spend it when the time is right. He has spent too much too early in the game.
Sorry the think got cut off. here it is again.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23
/us/politics/23davis.html
Machiavelli says (when referring to man) ..."(they) break when it is to their advantage to do so"
In the press release "Big Oil Allies in Congress Vote Against Energy Solutions 61 Times" congress voted against energy solutions..
In another quote from the article NRDC’s Legislative Director Karen Wayland said "They’ve voted against the real solutions to high gas prices and tried to kill other bills that would have put us on the path to the clean energy future"
What Machiavelli would say about that today is the reason that congressmen and big oil have not voted for these "energy solutions" is because it is not to their advantage. They do not fear, nor see gain in making such changes.
http://www.nrdc.org/media/2008/080908.asp
Ben Ringhofer
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-campaign-obama-web13sep13,0,4938314.story
This article linked to above is concerning Obama's latest comments regarding McCain after being unsure of how to respond to the Sarah Palin attack. The article says how Obama has released an ad about how computer illiterate Mccain is, and that he has not adapted to the modern atmosphere. The article adds that the campaign is becoming more aggressive. This shows that Obama has clearly picked a side to be on, and does not hesitate to openly attack his political opponent. Machiavelli would admire this trait, for in chapter 21 he discusses how a prince can gain esteem when he "acts as a true ally or a true enemy, that is, when he openly declares himself for or against one of two conflicting parties." Judging by this quote Machiavelli would compliment this trait of Obama's, because he has clearly stated his positions and does not back down or stay neutral in his views. Certainly to some extent Obama has become known, in Machiavelli's words, as a "great man of excellent ability" and his supporters seem to admire him sincerely.
"With their usual certitude, they told us that all was lost - there was no hope for this candidate who said that he would rather lose an election than see his country lose a war."
This is a small excerpt from a speech vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin gave at the Rebuplican National Convention. I realize it is hard to understand what she is talking about so let me explain. She is refering to what some experts in Wahington said about John Mccain after they ruled him out of the presidential election.
I believe that Machiavelli would say that mccains statement would almost certainly gurantee his rise to power. By promising war for his troops, Mccain is following the rules laid out by Machiavelli in his book, "The Prince."
So as of now, i would say Mccain is doing everything right by Machiavelli's standards.
Here is the Hyperlink
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/04/america/04palin-speech.php?page=1
"After Mr. Obama asked supporters to send prayers and donations to victims of the Gulf Coast storm, he aggressively attacked his Republican rivals and argued that Senator John McCain would do little to improve the nation’s economic condition."
Taken from the article
"Cautious Campaigning in Shadow of Storm" or http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/us/politics/14CAMPAIGN.html
I think that this goes along with Machiavelli's quotes -
"he who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation; for a man who wishes to act entirely up to his professions of virtue soon meets with what destroys him among so much that is evil." and also "it will be found that something which looks like virtue, if followed, would be his ruin; whilst something else, which looks like vice, yet followed brings him security and prosperity."
Because even though Obama is seeming to be virtuous towards the victims of the hurricane, he is still bashing McCain. So Obama isn't neglecting what he believes should be done with the victim or with his competitor. Which means in the long run he might be gaining security by getting votes from those victims, but also making people think that McCain doesn't care. So that his compelling vice and convincing virtue might win him the campaign and thus he will obtain prosperity.
"The fight is over how she is going to be defined in the eyes of the American public," said Terry Nelson, McCain's former campaign manager. "She's been introduced, but all the information about her has not been introduced, and once that information comes to light people are going to draw conclusions about her, and the campaigns are fighting to shape the conclusions."
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-091108-palin-media-sep12,0,5091254.story
This states exactly what Machiavelli states:
"Men in general judge by their eyes"(in this case ears)"rather than by their hands; because everyone is in a position to watch, few are in a position to come in close touch with you...In the actions of all men, and especially of princes, where there is no court of appeal, one judges by the result."
The last line agrees especially with that of Terry Nelson, in that, "one judges by the result"
Is it better to be feared or loved?
"Both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me."
-Michael Scott
"The answer is that one would like to be both the one and the other; but because it is difficult to combine them, it is far better to be feared than loved if you cannot be both."
-Niccolo Machiavelli
Obviously, there is some dissidence between the two statements. Although both parties state that it would be best to be both, they stray away from each other on which is better if you cannot have both. Michael Scott states that it is better to be loved whereas Machiavelli states that it is better to be feared.
At the democratic national convention, Barack Obama stated, in his acceptance speech that "America, we are better than these last eight years." He also repeatedly attacked Republican John McCain describing him as an extension of President Bush and calling on the country to say: "Eight is enough."
This was taken from the article, Obama: 'We are a Better Country'
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12963.html
Machiavelli would say that Barack Obama is wrong in stating this and that sticking with what the people are used to is better for the country. He would also disapprove of Obama's strategy in change.
Machiavelli states that, "The innovator makes enemies of all those who prospered under the old order, and only lukewarm support is forthcoming from those who would prosper under the new."
In the view of Machiavelli, change is not the best thing to bring upon your country as a prince. He would approve more of McCain's view in keeping the country basically the same as under the rule of the president before.
Kyle Kubat
"People are by nature changeable. It is easy to persuade them about some particular matter, but it is hard to hold them to that persuasion." (The Prince)
Obama's theme for possibly his term in office as President of the U.S. is "change".
In his August 28th acceptance speech, Obama states "It's time for us to change America. And that's why I'm running for president of the United States."
Obama promises change over and over again in his speeches and easily gains the applaud and support of his listeners. The idea of change for the better is just so appealing to the public that they are drawn to it so easily.
To this, Machiavelli would approve of Obama's technique to gain the support of the public but he would also, if Obama is elected for President, be interested to see if Obama would be able to hold the public to that persuasion by actually creating change that would make the country better and stronger.
Machiavelli says on page 88 in 'The Prince' that " [A prince]must never let his thoughts stray away from military exercises, which he must pursue more vigorously in peace than in war."
Today China is considered to be a world power, and they recently expanded their military budget to $59 billion. China also has modernized there nuclear force and increased the production of advanced missiles. Currently they are not involved in any wars and are in a time of peace. Machiavelli would approve of China's actions because they are maintaining military strength even in a time of peace. Machiavelli also says "the first way to lose your state is to neglect the art of war; the first way to win a state is to be skilled in the art of war." China's mobilization allows them to protect themselves from enemy nations; and, if they wish, can prepare to attack other nations, which is exactly what Machiavelli says a wise prince should do.
Info from
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/04/AR2008030401345_pf.html
[[STEPHEN HANDLON]]
Chapter XVI of "The Prince" opens with these words of wisdom: "..A Prince must have a reputation for compassion rather than for cruelty: nonetheless, he must be careful that he does not make bad use of compassion"
What Machiavelli is saying is that princes should strive to be known as caring, compassionate people because this will make their subjects loyal to them.
The New York Times ran an article today titled "Cautious Campaigning in Shadow of Storm" Senator Mccaine, while showing no great outpouring of sympathy for the people being affected by Hurricane Ike, is nevertheless taking a day off. Barrack Obama canceled his plans to appear on Saturday Night Live, stating that to be making jokes would be innapropriate. He tried to make himself look compassionate by asking people to send prayers and donations to the Gulf Coast. Viewed through a Machiavellian lens, this is a good strategy for getting into office. By mustering as much compassion as possible, Barrack Obama may sway voters. However, as Machiavelli says, he should be careful not to make bad use of the compassion everyone feels for the victims of Hurricane Ike. He seemed to do just that, however, when he issued a number of scathing personal attacks on Senator McCaine, suggesting he was discconected from what was going on and unfit to lead the country. Machiavelli would argue that at this stage, a would be prince (or president) should be concerned with keeping up appearences.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/us/politics/14CAMPAIGN.html
In light of the unfolding crisis in Texas, Senator Obama has decided it is no longer appropriate to appear on “Saturday Night Live” tomorrow evening.
Obama tried to appeal to the side of love for the people to vote for him by showing that he didn't want to be on a comedy skit while people were suffering in another part of the county. If Obama went on SNL people would have thought that him being on a comedy skit was more important to him than the suffering of people in the hurricane. More people would have thought Obmama as insensitive and cruel if he would have spent his time on comedy instead of the pain and suffering going on with the hurricane.
Matt Boutcher link http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/12/obama-cancels-snl-appearance/
During a speech Governor Palin gave on September 3rd, 2008 she says "Taxes are too high...He (Obama) wants to raise them. His tax increases are the fine print in his economic plan,"
This relates to The Prince because Machiavelli states that the prince should not lavish his people with gifts and money. He will not be able to do that forever and sooner or later he will have to raise taxes to an unbearable level. In this sense, Machiavelli would not approve of Obama making so many promises becuase he will eventually have to increase taxes.
Taken from
http://www.johnmccain.com/informing/News/Speeches/c1af6c79-f5bf-42ed-9fb9-9e83b0c580e1.htm
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/4004b368-c714-4239-b359-865c7d921272.htm
"Today's announcement of additional withdrawals of American forces in Iraq demonstrates what success in our efforts there can look like. American troops are returning home in success and with honor because of the improvements in security that followed implementation of the surge strategy. Today's announcement makes clear that the planned withdrawal of up to 8,000 troops is based, as it should be, on conditions on the ground and the advice of our military commanders in the field."
"Today's announcement stands in clear contrast to the reckless approach long advocated by Senator Obama. His proposal - to withdraw forces based on a political timetable, no matter the consequences for Iraq or American national security -- is profoundly irresponsible."
"It is clear that we need additional forces in Afghanistan, and I support the new deployments. Senator Obama believes we must lose in Iraq to win in Afghanistan. I want to win in Iraq and in Afghanistan."
Okay. Here we go.
Machiavelli would not like Senator Obama. Oh no, on the contrary, he would be disgusted with Obama's understanding of the troops. Obviously, President Bush's tactics are working well, and Obama's sense of urgency at pulling the troops would create mass chaos in the Middle East. Senator McCain, a former naval aviator seems offended at Obama's ignorance. "...who does not understand warfare... cannot be respected by his soldiers or place any trust in them." And as we all know, if one cannot trust their own soldiers, one may as well be dead!"
And therefore, Machiavelli supports his soldiers (McCain), and dislikes those who would be put into power without the knowledge of the art of war (Obama).
"John McCain believes that the right of law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms is a fundamental, individual Constitutional right that we have a sacred duty to protect."
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/77636553-6337-4ecd-b170-49e1c07d2fbd.htm
I found this quote on a page telling of the issues tha McCain agree with and doesn't agree with. It is referring to the second amendment and the importance of protecting it.
In chapter XX of the prince Machiavelli states "Now, no new prince has ever at any time disarmed his subjects; rather, when he has found them unarmed he has always given them arms...by arming your subjects you arm yourself; those who were suspect become loyal, and those who were loyal...to being your partisans." Machiavelli tells that it is important to keep those with you armed. McCain's defending the second amendment shows that he has a similar opinion when it comes to this particular Machiavellian viewpoint.
Sarah Anderson
"I got a lot of Ph.D.-types and smart people around me who come into the Oval Office and say, 'Mr. President, here's what's on my mind.' And I listen carefully to their advice. But having gathered the device, I decide, you know, I say, 'This is what we're going to do.'" --George W. Bush, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007
http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/blbushisms.htm
Even though the president can barely make a proper sentence, Machiavelli would approve of Bush's actions. Machiavelli states, "the first opinion that is formed of a ruler's intelligence is based on the quality of the men he has around him." Bush's selection of 'Ph.D.-types' around him make him seem more intelligent (until he opens his mouth). Bush follows Machiavelli's advice that "he should also question them thoroughly and listen to what they say; then he should make up his own mind, by himself." According to Bush, this is precisely the course of action that he takes with his advisers. So, at least in regards to his advisers, Machiavelli would approve of Bush!
"We cannot wish the world to be a better place than it is. We have enemies for whom no attack is too cruel, and no innocent life safe, and who would, if they could, strike us with the world's most terrible weapons."
taken from a speech made my Senator John McCain.
Machiavelli would be quite proud of McCain for using fear in order to make a point, even if that point would help to get him elected. By showing that there are other places in the world that are just waiting to attack sends a message of threat to Americans. Apparently he belives he has the answer to help America through this sticky situation, but as long as he is using fear Machiavelli would be pleased.
obama quote from http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/president/conventions/videos/20080828_OBAMA_SPEECH.html
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/Speeches/872473dd-9ccb-4ab4-9d0d-ec54f0e7a497.htm
this is where i got the quote sorry it didnt go with my other post
This comment has been removed by the author.
Michaela A. [Homework]
Barack Obama, March 18, 2008: in his speech he talks about race and discrimination, all while appealing to his audience. He also talks about kids education, and how he wants EVERY kid, despite their race and how much money they have, to be able to get an education. He wants to accomplish what the people of America want, otherwise he wouldn't be running for presidency.
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/hisownwords
Barack Obama appealed to many people of different ethnics, different customs, and different races.
Obama is appealing to the audience of many different people. He wants the love and not the fear to be able to have an advantage to get into the presidency. If he is feared then he will not have that advantage. It is better to be loved to get into some kind of official positions. By appealing to everyone he is gaining supporters. But Machiavelli would not approve of what he, or any of the recent politicians,is doing because he says that if you cannot have both love and fear then you should be feared. Obama and the other politicians are loved now, but that will probably change when and if they gain power/office.
Machiavelli says, on page 91, that "the fact is that a man who wants to act virtuously in every way necessarily comes to grief among so many who are not virtuous."
In this presidential run, Senator Obama has tried to stand by a policy of non-mudslinging. However, with the ever increasing pressure from the republican party he has been pushed to harsher statements for the sake of his appearance.
In the prince, appearing strong is of the utmost importance. As is stated on page 102 "He will be despised if he has a reputation for being fickle, frivolous, effeminate, cowardly, irresolute; a prince should avoid this like the plague..."
An attack by McCain foreign policy adviser Randy Schuenemann claimed that “Senator Obama is a perfect manifestation of a Sept. 10th mindset.” In response, Senator Obama said that “these are the same guys who helped to engineer the distraction of the war in Iraq at a time when we could’ve taken down the people who actually committed 9/11. So I don’t think they have much standing to suggest that they’ve learned a lot of lessons from 9/11.”
Machiavelli would have praised this retort, since he has corrected his previous mistake. He was facing someone who was “not virtuous” and so he broke away from his stance to reassert his strength. For Machiavelli this would be a critical move in assuring his lead during the campaigning season. At each attack, the candidates must respond for fear of being labeled weak. In this type of atmosphere it is impossible for a purely virtuous campaign to be run. Machiavelli would probably have commented that if Senator Obama had continued, he would only have found grief.
Here is the original article from the Wall Street Journal:
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/06/17/old-topic-sparks-new-obama-mccain-fight/
In Senator Obama's Democratic party acceptance speech, he made it clear that, if elected, the working middle class would benefit greatly. He hopes to award 95% of them with tax cuts. He promises to create more opportunities for the hard workers and entrepeneurs of America.
Through a Machiavellian lens,Obama is making a smart move because "a prince should show his esteem for talent, actively encouraging able men, and honouring those who excel in their profession." Machiavelli also states that a citizen "should not be afraid of improving his possessions, lest they be taken away from him, or another deterred by high taxes from starting a new business. Rather, the prince should be ready to reward men who want to do these things and those who endeavour in any way to increase the prosperity of their city or their state." Our lovely Nic would applaud Obama's goals.
It is encouraging that Obama and McCain are each off to a solid start as both have avoided hatred by "abstaining from their [citizens']women." Refreshing, isn't it?
However, it is quite unfortunate that neither one of the Presidential candidates is "accustoming his body to hardships...with great pains." Likewise, neither follows Machiavelli's memorable advice: "He must study rivers and marshes." It is a true shame; maybe neither man is truly ready for the oval office.
"Mr. McCain reported this month that his money on hand was only a small fraction of that held by his leading rivals. Of his total, $1.67 million can be spent on the primaries, a sum exceeded by the $1.73 million that the campaign owes."
This is a quote from the New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/us/politics/23davis.html) published last year.
At the time, as it says, John McCain was already in a deficit in his campaign. Even though his generosity (throwing borrowed money around, in his case) supposedly was helping his campaign, ("Mr. McCain is, by most accounts, doing better as a candidate: drawing good responses from big crowds) I think that Machiavelli would frown on John McCain's overuse of generosity.
In "The Prince", Machiavelli states that "a prince acting in that fashion will soon squander all resources".
John McCain's campaign is doing this as it is already deficit spending...a YEAR before the election.
I think John McCain did not read the Prince in his high school literature class and is now suffering the consequences.
yeah! 1156!
I didn't have a chance to share my final comment during the Prince Symposium, so it's going to be posted here!
Today so many politicians are percieved as unreliable and unsure if they change their mind on an issue. I personally think that this is terrible because it promotes politicians to not investigate and learn about the issues, and leaves America with a possibly less than the best solution. Machiavelli also thinks that this is a bad thing. On pg. 99-100 he states, "a prudent ruler cannot, and must not, honour his word when it places him at a disadventage and when the reasons for which he made his promise no longer exist." If a politician changes their mind, as both Obama and McCain did on off-shore drilling, when they learn new information it is not a bad thing. New information can make them realize something that they did not before, which changes the pretense under which the politician chose their side, and makes it acceptable for them to change their word, according to Machiavelli. If it will put that politician ahead politically, Machiavelli says that it is necessary for them to change their mind.
Sweet point, Jen.
Obviously with so many rules to abide by, being a prince is not an easy task. When two of Machiavelli's suggestions situationally contradict themselves, I pity the one who has to make the final decision.
Machiavelli instructs a prince to always keep his appearance in close check. Additionally, like Jennifer said, he also notes that a good prince shouldn't keep his word if it "places him at a disadvantage."
How is a prince to know if he should appeal to the public's eye by keeping his word(not "flip flopping"),but being at a disadvantage, OR if he should appear inconsistent by changing his word, but be at a significant advantage? Hmm...
"Senator John McCain of Arizona had infuriated conservatives with his support of an immigration proposal and had alienated independents with his backing for the Iraq war."
I believe that Machiavelli would have proud of Senator McCain. He's taken the approach of doing what he thinks and not what people think. He's taken on Machiavelli's principle of being willing to do what it takes to break down ones opponent as well as move farther into winning the campaign so as to take power. He isn't using the false "love-me" campaign, he's doing what he should and gaining votes by doing so.
In a recent speech by Barack Obama, he stated, “Instead of offering up concrete plans to solve these issues, Senator McCain offered up the oldest Washington stunt in the book: you pass the buck to a commission to study the problem,” Mr. Obama said. “But here’s the thing — this isn’t 9/11. We know how we got into this mess. What we need now is leadership that gets us out.”
from- http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/17/us/politics/17obama.html?_r=1&ref=politics&oref=slogin
"Obama looks to shift focus of campaign to economy"
With this statement, I believe that Machiavelli would agree with what Obama is saying. In "The Prince", Machiavelli states that if you want to win over a country, you have to be there yourself and show that you care. With McCain's plan of giving the problem to another commitee, he shows that he doesn't care that much about it and would rather have someone else take care of it. Obama is right when we need a better leader today to change the problems we have.
-Brian Anderson
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