A couple of things happened today that helped, a little, to restore my faith in America as a fit place for humans.
It wasn't the polls, which continued to show Barack Obama ahead in the popular vote and (more importantly) on the electoral map. It wasn't the Wall Street rebound; after all, stocks were due for a bounce after a huge wave of panic selling.
No, I'm talking about little things. Little things that mean a lot.
First, there was a telling moment at an Obama rally in Ohio. "Now, my opponent..." the candidate began. "Boo!" called out some of the crowd. "Now, we don't need that," said Obama, hushing them quickly. "We need you to vote." And the crowd responded with a cheer. Here, in a couple of seconds, was a partisan crowd being reminded of, then drawing upon, their better natures. Primed to grab for the bait, instead they rejected the option to answer in kind the vitriol that's been flaring up at some of McCain and Palin's recent events.
Second was something the economist and journalist Paul Krugman said during an interview on NPR after winning this year's Nobel Prize in Economics. Asked who should have foreseen the severity of the economic crisis, he answered, "I should have." He went on to say that a lot of people should have, and singled out Alan Greenspan for ignoring warnings. But Krugman first pointed the finger at himself.
Mea culpas are far too rare in American society. In Japan, businessmen who fail at their jobs tend to apologize and resign. In America, they get golden parachutes and rarely admit personal responsibility. In America, candidates' economic advisers take purely partisan lines and won't admit that an opposing point might have any validity whatsoever.
Paul Krugman did something different today, something more honorable. It was a very little thing. But like the Obama crowd's sudden veer towards positivity, it was a bright spot in a difficult and dark time.
Humanity rears its mild, non-hate-filled head. Twice in one day! Imagine that.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Baritone
Such moments are rare, are they not?
It was interesting that when McCain attempted to bring down the vitriole at one of his rallies last Friday, he was booed. It is clear that his stump crowd want and expect their candidate to go for Obama's jugular and take no prisoners. While I applauded McCain's efforts to cool things off Friday, it appears that in fact nothing has changed with his campaign nor the RNC. Neither have relented in their negative personal attacks on Obama, and it appears that even McCain has taken a step back and rejoined the mud slinging.
Your point is well taken as regards the failure of anyone stepping up and admitting any responsibility for the near collapse of our economy - the failure of specific companies or failures of government oversite. It is not in our nature, I guess, to step up to the plate when it's obvious that the pitcher is only going to throw bean balls. No question that to do so takes guts. So often these supposed dynamic, blustery, entrepreneurial types take great pains to brag on themselves, who are usually contemptuous of all "beneath" them, and who almost without exception love to soak up the limelite. But when things go sour, they are also most often the first ones out the back door, huge severence tucked in their off shore accounts, hurriedly boarding their private jet (usually a part of the aforementioned severence) to retreat to their private Carribean island (also a part... yada, yada, yada.)
Oh, well.
B
2 - Dawn
Wonderfully put Jon. Life is truly a gift everyday. When I look around and see the suffering going on in the world, with children being sold as sex slaves or forced to dig through garbage just to make ends meet, it makes me realize that as a species, we still have a LONG way to go until we actualize our true potential.
We, despite our differences, are ALL lucky to live in this wonderful melting pot of ideas, cultures and colors. I may sound like a pathetic, bleeding heart liberal to some, but I believe in trying to live by the words of a wise man: love thy neighbors as thy self. It can only help make the world a little bit better.
3 - Jon Sobel
Thanks, Dawn.
True, Baritone - I watched the Fuld testimony before Congress, for example, with a certain amount of familiar disgust - in his initial statement he paid lip service to "taking responsibility" for what happened to Lehman under his watch, but carefully couched his statements and his answers in a way that essentially boiled down to "no one could have foreseen..." and hence, by inference, "not my fault."
4 - Arch Conservative
Hey [personal attack deleted] you forgot the part where McCain stood up for Obama at one of his rallies.
I'm sure it was an honest mistake though.
5 - Mark Saleski
really nice jon. with all of the chatter that passes as discourse these days, we sort of forget that thoughtful people do still exist on both sides of the argument.
it's just that the shrivel-brained loudmouths are, well, the loudest...and speak with absolute certainty.
6 - Joanne Huspek
I don't know why we as a people just can't say "sorry, I made a mistake" and then do better the next time. I see this all the time, not just in politics. Passing the buck ought to be an Olympic event.
7 - Jon Sobel
Arch, calling me names is so obviously an example of the hate I'm pointing out that I'd suspect you're just being cleverly ironic... if I didn't know better.
8 - zingzing
mccain only stood up for obama because he's got his attack dogs out in other places. plus, i think he's realized how fucking dumb a good portion of his own supporters are. he had to defend him, because he's got to go home at night, and some of the more hick-like republicans are getting pretty dangerous-sounding. what with "kill him!" and "he's an arab!" junk.
now, bush there, that's an arab.
9 - Christopher Rose
"In Japan, businessmen who fail at their jobs tend to apologize and resign."
Maybe politicians and businessmen should adopt that older Japanese tradition of seppuku; that way we could have more confidence in their actions...
10 - Baritone
Arch,
I made note of McCain's efforts to diffuse the hate speak coming from his stump crowds, but also noted that neither his campaign nor the RNC have backed off AND that Johnny (TGTBT - to good to be true,) stepped right back into the mud slinging fray pretty much without skipping a beat.
McCain is a self-serving scum bag.
B
11 - Dr Dreadful
Let's be fair here. Remember that Obama was also booed last week when he told his supporters that McCain deserved their thanks for his service to the country.
Clearly this sort of behavior is from a small minority of Neanderthals in both camps. Nevertheless, both candidates deserve credit for standing up for one another at what is a crucial and stressful point in the campaign.
12 - Dr Dreadful
"In Japan, businessmen who fail at their jobs tend to apologize and resign."
It's probably also why the Japanese can't seem to hold onto a prime minister for more than ten minutes.
13 - Baritone
A thought just struck me. Most of us here, myself included, have lambasted our politicians and government in general pretty much ad nauseam. Much of it is, I guess, deserved.
But, where is it any better? Is there any government anywhere that does not get or at least deserve the derision and criticism of their citizenry? What government - at any level - does not receive close public scrutiny and criticism (except, of course, where to do so could get one killed?)
The chances are that if by the waving of some magic wand all of us here were suddenly whisked into public office - with Dave as president, of course - that we would soon find ourselves deluged with the same kind of criticism deriding our foibles, failures and frauds.
We might start out speaking with candor, but would likely soon find ourselves reduced to "political speak" and "double speak" artfully dodging questions along with the best of them. We would soon be judged as harshly as those we now criticize. WE would be the crooks. It's just the nature of the beast.
B
14 - Matthew T. Sussman
"Is there any government anywhere that does not get or at least deserve the derision and criticism of their citizenry? "
I don't know, my SimCity approval rating is pretty solid. Only 12 percent of the people think traffic is a problem.
15 - Dan(Miller)
Baritone,
Your comment #13 suggests two things to me.
1. We have met the enemy and it is us; and
2. Anyone who seriously aspires to high public office is unworthy of the trust which it requires. The concept that public office carries substantial fiduciary obligations is missing. There are doubtless exceptions, but I can't off-hand think of many recent ones.
Dan(Miller)
16 - Jordan Richardson
I don't know, my SimCity approval rating is pretty solid. Only 12 percent of the people think traffic is a problem.
Lucky bastard. My Sims be hatin'.
17 - Jon Sobel
What happens is that power corrupts. Simple as that.
The measure of honor for a politician is how well he or she can navigate a system that's by nature riddled with corruption, without becoming so tainted by it that he or she loses credibility with the public, and at the same time being able to accomplish some things that benefit the public good.
18 - Ruvy
Jon,
Asked who should have foreseen the severity of the economic crisis, he answered, "I should have." He went on to say that a lot of people should have, and singled out Alan Greenspan for ignoring warnings. But Krugman first pointed the finger at himself.
Nice, Jon, to see that a rare few people can take responsibility for his failings and say "I was wrong". That is a mark of manhood. Maybe he was thinking of Yom Kippur when he was being interviewed....
19 - Dr Dreadful
Anyone who seriously aspires to high public office is unworthy of the trust which it requires.
Ah, we're back to the Platonic notion that those who govern best are those who govern unwillingly.
Yet Plato, of course, thought democracy was the most ill-conceived and dangerous form of government devised by man.
20 - Baritone
Jon,
Just another thought: It should be noted that the consequences to Krugman in making that statement are likely little or none. He wasn't really putting his head on the chopping block. It was a nice gesture, but with no real ramifications.
Dan (Miller) and Jon,
Well, yes and yes. It comes down to being a human condition, doesn't it? This revelation doesn't change anything, but it could, perhaps, put into perspective the kinds of pressures and temptations that many of our elected officials face on a daily basis. It is a tight wire act that I would have no interest in attempting. Holding public office means having to try to please as large a number of people with divergent interests as possible. How do you give the nod to this guy without screwing over that guy? After all, they both have a vote, don't they?
I'm not suggesting that we should back away from scrutiny and criticism, but we should perhaps consider just how the system works, attempt to make it better when possible, and, frankly to exploit it when we can. In those instances, we must decide what is the greater good. Yes, we have seen the enemy and the enemy is us.
Matthew & Jordan,
I was thinking of moving to Sim City, but I was told they didn't want my kind. What's up with that?
B
21 - Baronius
Baritone, you're probably too tall.
Krugman is a rank amateur. Nobel Prizes go to unqualified people in every field I know of.
22 - zingzing
baronius, if there was a nobel prize for "commenting on the blogosphere," i'm sure you'd win.
actually, ruvy probably would. his shit is crazy.
23 - Jordan Richardson
Nobel Prizes go to unqualified people in every field I know of.
No, they just go to people you don't like.
24 - Jordan Richardson
I was thinking of moving to Sim City, but I was told they didn't want my kind. What's up with that?
I don't know. I'll have to ask Bob Newbie.
25 - Lisa Solod Warren
I, on the other hand, am thrilled Krugman received the Nobel. Still pissed about Philip Roth, though.