Edwards, Woods, McGwire, Madoff: Politics and Why the Pendulum Swings

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Here in the U.S., voters were recently treated to yet another stunning revelation about a public figure and one of the 2008 presidential contenders. It appears that John Edwards had not simply strayed from his marriage and had an affair. He had also fathered a child with his mistress. And despite persistent rumors about it, he did his best to hide or deny the fact. Credible sources also report that during the time he was doing his best to salvage his public persona, he was also lobbying to possibly secure a position as vice-president. So once again, a public figure who broadcast one image got “outed” for the “power at all costs” character he really was and lost more than just a fair shot at the presidency in the process.

For a long time, the dominant milieu in the social sciences had been to be so open to the rich diversity among us that “judging” people in any way — especially making judgments about their character — was frowned upon. But after headlines full of Tiger Woods, Mark McGwire, Bernie Madoff, John Edwards (need I go on?), etc., it seems like the pendulum is beginning to swing the other way. Some people are even starting to say things like character matters after all (giving both me and my publisher hope that my upcoming book will find a receptive audience). Still others are even talking about the risks we all face when persons of questionable character attempt to secure positions of power and influence that can dramatically affect us all. The psychological and philosophical pendulum is indeed swinging in a new direction.

The pendulum swings because it’s hard for human beings to find balance any other way. In Eastern (specifically, Chinese) philosophy there are things such as the Taoist concept of Yin and Yang which proposes that once balance is disturbed in any way, opposite and equal forces must come into play before balance can be restored. The same kind of thing often seems to happen in the “dialectic” of our public discourse. We’re all trying to find the right balance. And to do so seems to require that we alternate between opposing positions.

Living in America, I’m fairly used to a vigorous, contentious debate about many issues from many opposing sides. And it never seems to wear me down. Yes, I have my principles and my convictions. But I’m also open to new learning and to different ways of thinking. And as open as I am to modifying my perspective, I also feel obligated to challenge perspectives that have outlived their usefulness. I value contemplating both sides of the story. And I’m grateful that the value of free expression is so deeply rooted in the culture that we can expect a rigorous debate on almost any issue. So, I’m glad to see the pendulum swing. I trust it will keep swinging as we move steadily, albeit slowly and tenuously, toward a better balance.