Tough guys and real courage

You know what the most impressive part of this period of tough guy politics is?

The courage of all the tough guys to admit when they're wrong.

You hear it all the time, don't you? I was wrong. Things went badly because I screwed up. It's my responsibility.

It's amazing. All this courage.

It's so sad, this little period in our history.

Everyone wants the power. Everyone wants the money. Everyone wants exactly what they want. And not one person will admit that maybe things aren't going well because their screwing up. And, from there, all the lying and bullshit proceeds.

The antidote to all that?

More real freedom to admit when we are screwing up.

And, if all else fails, find someone else who will take more honest responsibility.

That's the beauty of political and economic freedom that most free peoples take completely for granted. It is the reason why the world was so stagnant in so many real ways before liberal democracies and liberal values were taken seriously. Because people lacked both the freedom and the real courage and wisdom to just choose differently when they disagreed rather than seek power that, more often than not, was and is abused and defended at all costs, even when that means avoiding any honest responsibility for choices made.

And no matter how we spin it, not taking honest responsibility for our lives and electing leaders for the most powerful nation in the world who will not take responsibility for their failures is weak. No matter how tough we try to appear.

Real strength is found in more real responsibility for our lives. And better understanding. And the courage and integrity to act on that understanding. Period. Everything else is one long lie.

What stands before us is the choice between real strength or the fake kind.

May we choose wisely.