In yesterday's post I used the term "terrorist tactics" to describe how Republicans engineered the debt ceiling crisis.
A very dear and respected friend reprimanded me with a note that said " That's a very disappointing comment that not only ignores what happened but uses a term that when properly applied conveys horrible physical outcomes for innocent people.... please be more careful with your choice of words than the people you criticize."
What do you think? Does organized and irresponsible behavior have to result in burning buildings, pools of blood and severed limbs before it can be called terrorism? Millions of Americans have already suffered horrible outcomes due to the calamities that began in 2007, reached a crescendo in the autumn of 2008 and still continue. Now, I don't blame this mess we are in solely on the Republicans. There is plenty of blame to apportion to both political parties, to unethical businesses, etc. And I would not use the T-word generally to apply to the actions that contributed to the mess.
But some of the Tea Party legislators were ready to push the country into default to get their way even though they are a minority. Such zealotry, had it been successful, would have dealt a serious blow to the government's ability to meet its obligations not just to its creditors but also to the general citizenry. It would surely would have amplified greatly the suffering so many of our neighbors are already experiencing. Terrorism or not? You be the judge.
1 comment:
Clearly, none of the actions of any of the politicians rises to the level of actual "terrorism". Selfishness, pandering, near-sightedness, greed - I think these are the faults that are crippling the political system, and since these are behaviors that might also be attributed to a petulant 4-year old, I don't think the term "terrorist tactics" necessarily applies.
Nevertheless, I think we should focus on the actual intent of the statement, instead of the exact word choice. The hypersensitivity to certain words or phrases has derailed legitimate political discussion. This was a case of hyperbole used to illustrate a point (much like Michelle Bachmann's "metaphor" comparing the recent earthquake and hurricane to God's congressional public-address system).
One more thing - the last line of your post ("Terrorism or not? You be the judge."), smacks of the Fox News slogan "We Report, You Decide". I'd prefer to hear your un-filtered opinion. It is a blog after all.
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