Robert Redford's Sundance Festival Economic Rescue Plan?
Robert Redford runs the Sundance Film Festival. It's a big deal in the film industry. He's a pretty good actor (loved him in "The Entertainer," one of my favorites.
But we're not going to talk about film now. Instead, here's a quote from Redford, complaining about politicians - like Romney - who don't "support the arts" in the U.S.:
"...when you have congressional narrow-minded people, people who are afraid of change when change is the only thing that succeeds, the only thing we know is going to happen is that things are going to change."
I don't know about you but Redford's words got a good chuckle out of me. Actors are always good for a belly laugh when they talk about politics. Heck, you have to wonder why the guy doesn't just run for office. He's certainly got the jargon down pat:
In normal times, I'd ignore this sort meaningless blather. But maybe we can learn something from it to help us sharpen our thinking - something I'm suggesting we all need to do to help us find our way out of the biggest economic and financial crisis of our lifetimes.
The only thing that succeeds is change. Now where have we heard this before, besides every election within memory. Of course it's really just drivel, but oh, how politicians love to throw the word around and - apparently - oh, how lots of Americans seem to think it has some sort of profound meaning.
To which we say: What sort of change? Change from what to what? Hitler changed Germany. Lenin changed Russia. Was that good? No? How can you say "No"? Isn't change good?
The only thing we know is going to happen is that things are going to change. Now we're getting philosophical. Redford must have studied the pre-Socratic Greeks like Heraclitus. Or maybe the man's some sort of modern-day Nostradamus. The man can see the future. What insight. Did I hear anyone say "profound:"?
Maybe Redford should submit a rescue plan for our economic and financial crisis. He's got the jargon down. And he's obviously a deep thinker whose grasp of logic and reason might lead us out of the wilderness (ahem!).
The thing is, people take these sorts of nonsensical statements seriously. You can repeat this drivel over and over and it works every time.
So you see how it doesn't take any reason, or common sense to succeed in this world, even to be taken seriously by - well, there must be some people who take this seriously, right? (Sadly, I'm certain there are.)
I can't wait for Redford to come up with some solutions to our crisis. But why wait? Let's give it a shot ourselves.
What we need is change. How do we know this? It's obvious: the only thing that succeeds is change. Why didn't someone think of this before?
But seriously, can you see why you need to use your reason to keep your thinking sharp? And can you see why Redford's comments are - at best - an example of fuzzy thinking (if it can even be called "thinking")?
But we're not going to talk about film now. Instead, here's a quote from Redford, complaining about politicians - like Romney - who don't "support the arts" in the U.S.:
"...when you have congressional narrow-minded people, people who are afraid of change when change is the only thing that succeeds, the only thing we know is going to happen is that things are going to change."
I don't know about you but Redford's words got a good chuckle out of me. Actors are always good for a belly laugh when they talk about politics. Heck, you have to wonder why the guy doesn't just run for office. He's certainly got the jargon down pat:
- "the only thing that succeeds is change"
- "the only thing we know is going to happen is that things are going to change"
In normal times, I'd ignore this sort meaningless blather. But maybe we can learn something from it to help us sharpen our thinking - something I'm suggesting we all need to do to help us find our way out of the biggest economic and financial crisis of our lifetimes.
The only thing that succeeds is change. Now where have we heard this before, besides every election within memory. Of course it's really just drivel, but oh, how politicians love to throw the word around and - apparently - oh, how lots of Americans seem to think it has some sort of profound meaning.
To which we say: What sort of change? Change from what to what? Hitler changed Germany. Lenin changed Russia. Was that good? No? How can you say "No"? Isn't change good?
The only thing we know is going to happen is that things are going to change. Now we're getting philosophical. Redford must have studied the pre-Socratic Greeks like Heraclitus. Or maybe the man's some sort of modern-day Nostradamus. The man can see the future. What insight. Did I hear anyone say "profound:"?
Maybe Redford should submit a rescue plan for our economic and financial crisis. He's got the jargon down. And he's obviously a deep thinker whose grasp of logic and reason might lead us out of the wilderness (ahem!).
The thing is, people take these sorts of nonsensical statements seriously. You can repeat this drivel over and over and it works every time.
So you see how it doesn't take any reason, or common sense to succeed in this world, even to be taken seriously by - well, there must be some people who take this seriously, right? (Sadly, I'm certain there are.)
I can't wait for Redford to come up with some solutions to our crisis. But why wait? Let's give it a shot ourselves.
What we need is change. How do we know this? It's obvious: the only thing that succeeds is change. Why didn't someone think of this before?
But seriously, can you see why you need to use your reason to keep your thinking sharp? And can you see why Redford's comments are - at best - an example of fuzzy thinking (if it can even be called "thinking")?
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