Solutions to Current Public Problems,

¶ … solutions to current public problems, it is important to understand what major political philosophers from the past have said. Such understanding gives perspective that may not be available when merely weighing problems from the limits of today's major lines of thinking. In this essay, a brief debate will be imagined between Locke, Rousseau, Machiaveli, and Nietzsche, regarding issues having to do with climate change, healthcare reform, the war in Afghanistan. All of these issues have been in the news in recent days, as reflected in the Wall Street Journal.

Climate Change: The countries of the world are coming together this week in Copenhagen to undertake discussion regarding international efforts to manage climate change. Business has expressed strong concerns regarding proposed rules for carbon dioxide emissions, particularly in light of recent allegations that some data has been manipulated to make climate change seem worse than it is (Ball and Forrell, 2009; Totty, 2009). Should governments dial back efforts until a clearer picture exists.

Machiavelli: As you know, I have written that "Every one admits how praiseworthy it is in a prince to keep faith, and to live with integrity and not with craft.

Nevertheless our experience has been that those princes who have done great things have held good faith of little account, and have known how to circumvent the intellect of men by craft, and in the end have overcome those who have relied on their word." (XVIII, 1) I believe this issue holds potential for great benefit to the rulers of the earth.

So what if a little fudging of number may or may not have occurred? What is important is the advantage the issue offers to rulers to maintain order by keeping citizens in line. Locke: But princes should be priests first (p. 42). That is they owe their subjects the same duties a father owes his children, to be trustworthy and to act for their benefit. I believe that the property rights of men circumvent the government's interest in all but the most extreme cases.

Governments must be very careful when telling people what they can and can't do with their property. Rousseau: Yes, But the public will always wants what is right, but it doesn't always know what that is (31). It is the legislator's role to tell them. Governments should move ahead cautiously. Nietzsche: Let it burn! But, really… of course science conceals.

That is what it does! (583) But what does any of this really matter ultimately? As I have written: "All great things bring about their own destruction through an act of self-overcoming" (597) Governments are still too mired down in trying to do what is right. Healthcare reform: The Wall Street Journal reports today that abortion threatens to bring down the effort to reform the healthcare system (Adamy and Hitt, 2009).

What say you all? Locke: I have said that "Whenever the legislators endeavour to take away, and destroy the property of the people… they put themselves into a state of war with the people" (111). By attempting to take over a large part of the economy, this government comes dangerously close to that end. So I am glad to see something slow this massive reform down. 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 us enough time.