Occasionally it is good practice to reflect on the roots of the Independence movement, especially when one gets angry or upset about obstacles that are presented. One such figure is Admiral Stockdale, Ross Perot’s running mate, who has been mistakenly judged on his 1992 debate performance. Even as late as 1999 he expressed disappointment about not being prepped by the campaign for the debate. Frankly he was not treated well.
The Admiral was actually an amazing intellectual, someone who was difficult to keep up with in any real debate, especially anything regarding his field of philosophy. One of his most common themes, as described on a warm summer day in Palo Alto in 1995, was leadership on bringing reform. He was the first person I ever heard that very clearly made the observation that it is the things that are getting politicians elected are the things that make them absolutely unable to lead. The Reform/Independence movement has always articulated great concern about special interests, but Admiral Stockdale put that concern into an clear equation and said exactly what was wrong with government. The means to getting elected run counter to the means of bringing reform. Boiling that down….while many would point the finger that “we can’t win” (we can sometimes), they are oblivious to the fact that they can’t govern”.
The only way to break this vicious cycle is by not giving up on the fight. The odds are certainly long, but what we fight for is so very important.
...here's the operative quote: 'When underdogs choose not to play by Goliath's rules, they win.'
Jack Uldrich in "How the IP Can Win" Join the discussion
