The Egg of Ideology and the Hard Rock of Realty

Is this about pragmatism?

 

Idealism is for those who cannot come to terms with reality nor the world as it is. I mean this sincerely.

 

A second Obama term.

 

One of the most apt examples to compliment post # 3

 

It may be one that you disagree with, but it's not nonsense.

 

Re: Obama's second term.
Idea: The apparent majority in America believe that Obama's agenda can be had with little real expense. They believe it's only the rich and greedy big business who will see their taxes increase. This belief was reaffirmed last tuesday.

Reality: We've yet to see the full results, but we know that taxes will go up for almost everyone.

I know my point is overly simple, but I hope that you don't consider this a cute one-liner that says nothing.

 

Reality does not conform or change to accommodate ideology.

I believe my point is on topic, if the above quote of yours is what the thread is about.

I guess I don't understand what you are looking for.

 

I know people who have a naive trust of people who call themselves "Christian" e.g. They want to only go to "Christian" doctors. I have been screwed to many times by people claiming to be "Christian." I would trust a person with an "Arab" name before a person with a fish symbol on their advertisement.

 

Along that line, and in all seriousness, I'd be more trusting of a mormon than someone who called himself a christian (generic sense). I have yet to find one who did not do business with me in an honest way.

 

>I am speaking of when blind faith in an ideology blinds a person to reality. An example from history, American doctors refusing to believe in sanitation and refusing to believe in germs even though Lister had shown absolute convincing evidence in how lives could be saved with sanitation. For instance because of this blind following of ideology Garfield was not killed by the bullet from the pistol, but from infection caused by doctors.

A current example might be climate change, whatever the reason. The current issues of National Georgaphic and Scientific American have articles about current data and historical evidence going back thousands of years about sea level rise wiping out villages and hugh living areas.

A current example is government finance. Large companies know that roofs will leak and machines wear out and plan for it. Govrnments and and military are not permitted to plan for maintainance. Fairchild AFB, a major air tanker base, repair facilities from WW2 that are VERY expensive to operate and zero replacement funds. The planes now being flown were built by the grandparents of the pilots. The reason a small replacement part costs 100 times it's modern worth is that the production line was shut down 40 years ago.

School districts can't budget for building repair and replacement. The voters would go crazy if a school distric had a million bucks in the bank because a new building would needed in 10 years.

Around here road repair costs could be cut in half if studded tires were banned. Fat chance of that! With 90% of the cars having front wheel drive, 4WD, or AWD, when road conditions are such that studs might help it is to dangerous for 90% of the motorists to be driving anything.

 

Well, I know the answer is 42, but what was the question?:smilewinkgrin:

 

I hear tell "by their fruits ye shall know them", or words to that effect.