Page-boys and Politics

[jackofallgeeks]

I heard this morning on the news that, due to the recent Senate scandal, they're talking about closing down the page program entirely. "We can't subject young men and women to this kind of thing," someone was quoted as saying.

I think this is a bad idea. Not just bad, stupid. I have no political ambition myself (ask me again in, say, 30 years and I may have changed my tune, but...), but I know people who have, and one of the biggest obstacles they face is getting their foot in the door. You have to know people to get anywhere, but usually that means you have to know people before you can know people. it's a catch-22 type thing (a reference I don't fully understand, as "Catch-22" is still number 12 or 13 on my list of To-Read books). The page program gives aspiring politicians an opportunity to get known early on, to be exposed to the political workings of things and such.

Taking that away will only hurt the pages (and page-aspirants). It would be denying a symptom (pages being solicited) without addressing the problem (sick old men). And the problem would persist and find outlet elsewhere, but there would never be another page. It's dumb because it's punishing the victims (or potential victims) without affecting the culprits much at all.

I suppose it would be a visible sign that The Powers That Be are "doing something"; they seem to be very interested in looking like they're doing something without ever really doing anything. Now as before, as long as it looks good, nothing really has to change.

Comments

That's some catch, that Catch-22...

[singinteenangst.livejournal.com]

To quote the novel itself (which you MUST read in its entirety, it is my third favorite book of all time, following only Peter Pan and Dandelion Wine):

"You mean there's a catch?"

"Sure there's a catch," Doc Daneeka replied. "Catch-22. Anyone who wants to get out of combat duty isn't really crazy."

There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's own safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he was sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn't have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to. Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle.

"That's some catch, that Catch-22," he observed.

"It's the best there is," Doc Daneeka agreed.

That's a HARD rule...

[jackofallgeeks.livejournal.com]

You know, I think I've heard that except before. And even if I didn't have your shining recommendation (now I have to read Dandelion Wine, too!), I think that little passage would be enough for me to read the book!