by George McGovern issued a challenge to politicians everywhere:“be honest”.
Words of wisdom, in truth, and about as likely to be taken to heart by today’s breed of candidate as a California Democrat is to let a tax dollar go unspent.
That’s too bad, because although McGovern represents virtually every bad idea American government has ever tried in the arena of social and economic reform, he is wise enough and distant enough from the system to recognize the root problem of modern representation: politicians are not true enough to themselves or their beliefs.
Conviction is too often sacrificed to expediency and values too frequently compromised in the name of (re-)election. But wouldn’t it be wonderful if George’s words got under the skin of a few of our elected officials?
