Orthodoxy and Society

True orthodox communists believe that if we restructure society properly, human greed will fade away, and we'll all live together, sharing everything equally. 

True believers in laissez-faire capitalism know that's a crock; they believe not only that greed won't disappear from our character, but that it's actually a virtue, which—applied in aggregate over an entire population—will deliver the best possible societal outcomes. 

This latter belief is as full of shit as the former; each has more in common with a religious cult than a serious, practical economic system.  In their unalloyed form, each overlooks human nature, and its consequences - to the severe detriment of society. 

Real problems don't yield to rigidly orthodox solutions.  Those societies which progressed the most in the twentieth century are those which have thrown out the tomes, and have employed pragmatic contributions from all the various systems.      

Leadership and Uncertainty

Leadership is not defined by the decisions one makes when the outcome is certain. These are few and far between. 

Absolute certainty is the realm of zealots, fools, and snake-oil salesmen.  Reality is rife with extraneous factors, countervailing forces, and unintended consequences.  It is those decisions one makes within that crucible of uncertainty—then stands behind— that strip away patina of public persona, and reveal a leader’s true mettle.

Education vs. Misinfotainment

If people had focused as intensely when they were in school as they do now to the right-wing misinfotainment outlets—like Fox and the Glen Bimbaugh clones—those outlets could never have built an audience, and would exist only for the fringe audience that they merit.