Huainanzi - Entry 46

Trey Smith

There are ways to evaluate people. If they are in positions of high status, observe what they promote.
~ a passage from The Book of Leadership and Strategy by Thomas Cleary ~

This is how I evaluate politicians. I rarely pay much attention to what they say; sophistry is the hallmark of the political stump speech. Flowery rhetoric devoid of substance is their stock and trade.

Aside from trying to discern where most of their campaign contributions derive from, I want to know -- if they have held elective office before -- how they have voted. For me, this is the best method to figure out the kind of worldview they promote.

For example, in 2008, a lot of Democratic incumbents assailed the war in Iraq. They called it a mistake and a waste. Since that certainly matches my opinion on the subject, I might have been amenable to supporting such candidates. Unfortunately, a good number of them voted FOR the legislation authorizing the war and almost every single war appropriation since.

In other words, their voting records belied their rhetoric! They said one thing, but did another.

~

I should note that this paragraph from the Huainanzi lists five different suggestions for evaluating people. I have dealt with one here and will deal with the other four in the next four subsequent posts in this series.

To read the introduction to this ongoing series, go here.