Machiavelli was the one who started the idea of REALISM in politics. This is how things are, and this is how we get things done. The means are sometimes worth the ends and morals have no room in politics. If you want to get your agenda done, you have to be willing to do what's required.
Up until him the main idea floating around was IDEALISM. Plato and Aristotle introduced it as "this is how things and people OUGHT to be." It was much more optimistic.
In modern day politics, being considered Machiavellian is seen as manipulative and powerful. It's something that no one really knows what to do with and when they're faced with it people tend to panic. It's not a new idea but few have been able to carry it out.
Which brings me to the lovely power couple.
The Clintons.
He was president and she was MUCH more than just a first lady who traveled to China and tried to fight childhood obesity (sorry Michelle). Hillary wanted a political career and refused to stand in the shadows of Bill. She was a U.S. senator who served for two years then she ran for the democratic nomination who later became the secretary of state. Up until that point she was a Machiavellian though and through. The moment she started to think in an idealistic mindset was when then-senator from Illinois took the nomination from her and he is now our 44th president.
Being idealistic cost Hilary the nomination and ultimately the presidency.
I am Hilary Clinton in a sense. In all my previous relationships I have always been pretty straight forward and when I wanted out, I left. I never really let anyone past my walls and I think that's why it was so easy to pick up and leave when I did. This time it all started off the same. My walls were up and I was sure as hell going to keep them. This was supposed to be a summer fling and there was no reason why it should be anything more than that. I was going to start college in three months and that was that. Before I knew it, those walls I was dead set on keeping up started to fall, and I let them. I consciously chose to let them down and let this person see all the skeletons I had. He still liked me even after. Even when we had rough spots, I wanted to work it out. I didn't want to walk away. He walked away from me and that's when I knew I was being idealist.
If Hilary can get her act together and run for the democratic nomination again, so can I.
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