Nietzsche: Piddle! "Man does not repudiate suffering… he desires it" (598). He heaps guilt upon himself as a means of achieving meaning. Why should I pay for anything to benefit my fellow man. A pox on healthcare reform!

Rousseau: As I have written, "the sovereign cannot impose on subjects any fetters that are of no use to the community" (33). We do have some obligation to help each other out, and through doing so, help ourselves with the cost savings proposed. I am sad to see abortion offered as an obstacle.

Machiavelli: Well, princes should not be afraid of being seen as mean to those whom they are not likely to get anything from anyway (XVI, 1). So by passing reform in spite of objections, they get the dual benefit of being seen by liberal by those whom they are helping, and being seen as wielding their power by those in the other party.

Afghanistan Policy: Now the government says the draw down of troops will be gradual, despite a perception earlier that it was timed and absolute (Powers, 2009). Is the administration waffling?

Machiavelli: "A prince who does not understand the art of war… cannot be respected by his soldiers" (XIV, 1). This is a critical moment for the administration and it is being handled badly.

Rousseau: As a Christian nation, committed to doing what is right, the U.S. may be setting itself up for failure (101). There is too much concern in this policy for seeming right and justified, and for pleasing those who want to seem so.

Nietzsche: Hear! Hear!

Locke: We can only pursue the war to the extent that we pursue the bad guys who caused 9/11. Anything beyond that is unjust (95). This policy should give...

He links the freedom to act on the part of the government to welfare of the people in a way that seem less extreme than either Locke, who severely limits government, or Machiavelli and Nietzsche, who seem to believe in rule by any means necessary.
Works Cited

Adamy, J, and Hitt, G. (2009, December 7) Abortion Emerges as Top Bill Threat. WSJ. Retrieved from http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126014615617679331.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsSecond.

Ball, J, and Forrell, C. (2009, December 7). Business Fumes Over Carbon Dioxide Rule. WSJ. Retrieved from http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126020179812780059.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTTopStories.

Locke, J. (1980). Second Treatise of Government. Indianapolis, Hackett.

Miachiavelli, N. (n.d.) The Prince. Retrieved online at http://www.constitution.org/mac/prince14.htm.

Nietzsche, F. (1968) Genealogy of Morals. In Basic Writings of Nietzsche, Kauffman, W., Ed. New York: Modern.

Power, S. (2009, December 7). Afghan Withdrawal to be Gradual . WSJ. Retrieved from http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126011274127378849.html.

Rousseau, J. (1983). On the Social Contract.

Solomon, D, and Ng, S. (2009, December 7). Fresh Pay Skirmish Erupts at AIG. WSJ. Retrieved from http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126015238193279485.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection.

Totty, M. . (2009, December 7). What Global Warming?. WSJ. Retrieved from http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703819904574551303527570212.html?mod=WSJ_hps_MIDDLESecondNews.