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Wei wu-wei …

March 17, 2006 By Mark Kleiman @markarkleiman

… is a Taoist term usually translated as “effortless effort” or “passive activity.” Wei wu-wei is the capacity to refrain from intervening when things are going the way they ought to go and don’t need your help. Its maxim is, “Don’t just do something, stand there!” Its political application is exemplified by Churchill’s warning against interfering when an opponent is committing suicide.

Much as I hate to interrupt a nice round of Democratic fratricide and mutual loathing, would it be utterly unreasonable to suggest that not interfering as George W. Bush pours political gasoline all over himself and his party and strikes a match might in fact be the wisest strategy the Democratic leadership could pursue? It does, after all, seem to be working.

Have you noticed that Harry Reid and Lao-tse never appear in public together?

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Medicare

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