That Ron Suskind piece in the New York Times Magazine today is worth reading in full. It reinforces one of my central political views, that easy agreement is dangerous, and powerful people agreeing with each other is even more dangerous. Debate is not, to put it another way, a means of gaining agreement for the right view, it is a way of making the policy (or whatever it is) better, just by talking it through.
The president who comes across in Mr Suskind’s piece is solitary and proud. Perhaps these are appealing traits in a leader – they seem to have played well in kings and princes throughout history. But is it a Christian attitude? I’m sure I remember singing something in my school chapel that went:
When I survey the wond’rous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride.