Demosthenes-
I think you have identified a very real issue- Having traveled a bit over the last couple of years, it's very clear that citizens of many other countries have been very concerned that we've gotten the "big head" and are out of control. I certainly believe this to be true.

But as we've been discussing in the Mickey thread, I think we're also running a bit of a risk to focus to deeply on this single issue. From our other discussions you know that I'm certainly not a Bush supporter. But I'm finding it harder and harder to concentrate ON PRACTICALLY ANY "NEGITIVE" ISSUE THESE DAYS because they all turn out to be tactical in the long run.

In other words, if we choose to make Iraq, our lack of national humility, or any other stupid thing that Bush has done the primary focus of debate, it’s incredibly likely that the pendulum will simply swing and we’ll just bring in Kerry with his own brand of political faults instead.

It’s a bit like the coach walking up to a pitcher on the mound at the bottom of the 8th, with bases are loaded, and saying, “you better not throw to the outside because you know this batter loves that pitch”. Sure the pitcher might luck out and pull the play off, but by laser focusing on a single issue, it’s very likely that he’ll miss the big picture and more than probable that he will throw to the outside because that’s the focus.

Or as Mickey has been putting it, we live in a world of extremes- Sure we’ve got big problems with Bush, but we don’t have decent healthcare, strong job growth, immigration reform, or a strong economy based on close relationships between labor and management. Shouldn’t we focus on the bigger picture? Or am I pulling to hard for Mickey in this case?

Cheers

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