The coarseness of government

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

The Government of the World is a great thing, but it is a very coarse one, too, compared with the fineness of speculative knowledge.

Marquess of Halifax, Moral thoughts and reflections, late 17th-C

Planks of political platforms are very narrow stands on major societal problems. But, there is a value in various viewpoints for healthy legislative debate. The two dominant political parties in the US government include many caucuses within them with their own platforms, but their respective national platforms are staid. Healthy democratic elections enjoy competition among more platforms- more caucuses for party primaries, and, more "parties" (major, minor and/or independent) for general election.

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Circumstances

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

Circumstances (which with some gentlemen pass for nothing) give in reality to every political principle its distinguishing colour and discriminating effect. The circumstances are what render every civil and political scheme beneficial or noxious to mankind.

Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France, 1790

The economy, the culture, global warming, war are the surroundings of which the current political campaigns for office work within. These circumstances color how people view political platforms by our candidates. And of course all of these same circumstances color constituents' views of their legislators, too.

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