Reply #10: You Need To Read Benjamin Franklin:An American Life [View All]

[KittyWampus]

Wherein you will learn what it takes to be an EFFECTIVE diplomat and political advocate.

In part one must learn to APPEAR moderate even while one's agenda might be quite radical.

Also, one must learn not to burn bridges or alienate someone with whom one might have to work with later.

Franklin never cut himself off from England and was therefore able to play England and France off against each other before and during the Revolutionary War. It was his communications and seeming negotiating with England, that pushed France to aid us militarily and financially.

I believe this might be called "triangulation"?

Alot of Franklin's editorials were, in fact, written with psuedonymns precisely so that he would be able to maintain his viablilty as a diplomat. In fact, MOST politicians of his time wrote critiques and "slams" anonymously for that reason.

And there were a few pols who Franklin had public feuds with who he actually worked TOGETHER with later on.

In short, only a political novice would "smack down" an opponent.

There's a world of difference between critiquing or lampooning the opposition and insulting them.