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Mr Mayor- Nice Guys Finish Last

From: R&JM
SBP: 12
Remote Name: 67.86.22.81
Date: 05/17/08
Time: 05:47 PM

Comments

If I may add two more observations to the article JP posted entitled 'Liberality and meanness'; the first is again from Mr. Machiavelli: "It must be considered that there is nothing more difficult to carry out, nor more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to handle, than to initiate a new order of things. For the reformer has enemies in all those who profit by the old order, and only lukewarm defenders in all those who would profit by the new order, this lukewarmness arising partly from fear of their adversaries, who have the laws in their favour; and partly from the incredulity of mankind, who do not truly believe in anything new until they have had actual experience of it. Thus it arises that on every opportunity for attacking the reformer, his opponents do so with the zeal of partisans, the others only defend him half-heartedly, so that between them he runs great danger." The second observation was proffered by an associate of mine who spent his entire career dealing with the worst of small town politics; The difference between your friends and your enemies is that your enemies never forget. Keep up the good work, but watch your back. Just because you act paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you.