Enemy of the Good?

This Adam Johnson piece, as usual, puts into words a lot of how I feel lately. (It's amazing how some people can do that--say things that pretty much sum up what you wish you could express. For me it's Bernie Sanders and Adam Johnson.)

He covers a lot of ground, and uses the Gaza genocide as the backdrop. But it really applies to so much in American life. For me it also brings to mind that old cliche, "Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good." Like all cliches, it has come about and endured because it contains at least a kernel of truth and explanation. But at its worst it is just an excuse for perpetuatong the status quo.

Maybe the best example for me is that this sentiment is why America has shit for a healthcare system. "Don't push too hard." "Don't ask for pie-in-the-sky." "Don't drive away moderates." And here we are. The worst healthcare system in the world among developed (and some not-so-developed) nations. Always settling for less.

Some of this is because of the two-pafrty structure in the US. When I was in school in the 1950s and '60s, I was taught that the American political system was superior because we didn't have the instability of the mutiple parties in a lot of other countries. I now believe just the opposite. The stability is good for the capitalist/donor class or whatever you choose to call them. Not so good for the people. Having more than two parties forces the ruling class to be more responsive to those being ruled over.

Maybe it's time to try to change that.