A proposition offered for debate:
Much of what’s wrong with American political discourse results from a simple error in sustainability analysis. The problem is that too much stuff — ideas, proposals, arguments, people — gets recycled when it really needs to be composted. (For all I know, the same may be true of management and commerce; I’m not as clear about academia, though the idea that There is No Truth does seem to keep coming back to haunt us under various labels.)
Here are some examples that spring to mind. Other examples are welcome and will be posted if I’m in the mood. (Oh, and speaking of lists that I promised to update: a reader reports having spotted a truly fine “ness” monster: “ineptness” for “ineptitude.”)
Items currently being recycled instead of being composted:
1. Nader for President.
2. “Soft on terrorism” (a recycled version of “soft on Communism”).
3. Don Rumsfeld.
4. “Deficits don’t matter” (recycled supply-side economics).
5. George Stephanoupoulos.
6. Reparations.
7. Al Sharpton.
8. Protectionism
9. American Imperialism.