The Dell Theory of Conflict Prevention argues that no two countries that are both part of the same global supply chain will ever fight a war as long as they are each part of that supply chain.
Thomas FriedmanRead
No matter where I go - London, Beirut, Jerusalem, Washington, Beijing, or Bangalore - I'm always looking to rediscover that land of ten thousand lakes where politics actually worked to make people's lives better, not pull them apart.
Interpretation
The quote reflects a longing for a place where political actions lead to positive outcomes for people.
Thomas Friedman's quote expresses his yearning for a political environment where governance truly serves the populace, contrasting this ideal with the political landscapes he has observed in various global cities. He emphasizes the disconnection between politics and the betterment of people's lives, lamenting that in many places, politics seems to divide rather than unite society.
In practice
In a conversation about effective governance, this quote can highlight the importance of prioritizing people's welfare.
The Dell Theory of Conflict Prevention argues that no two countries that are both part of the same global supply chain will ever fight a war as long as they are each part of that supply chain.
When it comes to dealing with the world's climate and energy challenges, I have a simple rule: change America, change the world.
The hidden hand of the market will never work without a hidden fist -- McDonald's cannot flourish without McDonnell Douglas, the builder of the F-15. And the hidden fist that keeps the world safe for Silicon Valley's technologies is called the United States Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps.
Do you know what my favorite renewable fuel is? An ecosystem for innovation.
If you don't visit the bad neighborhoods, the bad neighborhoods are going to visit you.
Inspiring conduct has so much more of an impact than coercing it.
The State has invariably shown a striking talent for the expansion of its powers beyond any limits that might be imposed upon it.
Politics is almost as exciting as war, and quite as dangerous. In war you can only be killed once, but in politics many times.
The conservative movement, to which I subscribe, has as one of its basic tenets the belief that government should stay out of people’s private lives. Government governs best when it governs least – and stays out of the impossible task of legislating morality. But legislating someone’s version of morality is exactly what we do by perpetuating discrimination against gays.
Politics is not about power. Politics is not about money. Politics is not about winning for the sake of winning. Politics is about the improvement of people's lives.
The passions, therefore, not the reason, of the public would sit in judgment. But it is the reason, alone, of the public, that ought to control and regulate the government. The passions ought to be controlled and regulated by the government.
A politics that is not sensitive to the concerns and circumstances of people's lives, a politics that does not speak to and include people, is an intellectually arrogant politics that deserves to fail.
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