Technically I believe we are classified as a Republic. Luckily, we don't have direct democracy as the Greeks experimented with way back when... We elect people to represent us and empower them to act on our behalf. If we are lucky, they do that. Hopefully they act as a benevolent parent and don't do things to our detriment such as spoil us or rob us of our future social security...
Unfortunately, there is a world of difference between a politician and a statesman. To better illustrate the point I show you the following illustrations from the web article & comments for "Leadership in a nutshell: Politician vs. Statesman", February 8, 2008 by Miki Saxon: Politicians talk it - Statesmen walk it Politicians run to win - Statesmen run to serve Politicians are ideologues - Statesmen are open-minded Politicians, "it's all about me" - Statesmen, "it's all about them" Politicians focus on the next election - Statesmen focus on the future Also: Politicians posture - Statesmen act. A Statesman leads from in front of the people - A politician tries to influence and pander behind-the-scenes Statesmen do what's right and correct - Politicians do what is expediant and popular Those who can't commit, committee... -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ron Greenman Sent: Monday, March 01, 2010 6:04 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: SC Newspaper articles about the adoption of the 2009 IRC in SC and possible legislative action Both articles were good. Best was Ms. Williams in the Courier and Post. She is obviously an advocate. Ms. Rupon's in The State was a more balanced "reporting" but as we all know she reported on the Builder's untruths as passionlessly a she reported on the win. The reader's comments were upsetting but certainly reflected the state of democracy in our day and age--opinions based on opinion. Sometimes I deplore the egalitarian nature of western democracy but to paraphrase Churchill, as bad a form as it is, it's the best form we've got. On Mon, Mar 1, 2010 at 9:15 AM, David Blackwell <[email protected]> wrote: > http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/feb/28/politics-endanger-sprinkl > er-mandate/ > > http://www.thestate.com/2010/03/01/1180617/builders-say-change-too-costl > y.html > > > > > > David W. S. Blackwell, II, PE, CFI-I, CFPE > Engineering > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > Office of State Fire Marshal > 141 Monticello Trail > Columbia, SC 29203 > Phone: 803.896.9833 > Fax: 803.896.9806 > Email: [email protected] > OSFM Website: http://www.llr.state.sc.us/firemarshal.asp > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > [email protected] > http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum > > For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] > > To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] > (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) > -- Ron Greenman Instructor Fire Protection Engineering Bates Technical College Tacoma, WA Member: SFPE, ASCET, NFPA, AFSA, NFSA AFAA, NIBS, WSAFM, WFC _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field)
