This is why they so greatly resent it when we speak back to their noble personages at town meetings, etc. with the rudeness to voice our lowly opinions.

“I view it all through the prism of F.A. Hayek; they cannot possibly have enough information and knowledge to rule over the swath of policy they task themselves with. It is not humanly possible. But when they add cowardice to the mix, then they become targets of ridicule for their hypocrisy, not just their incompetence.”

Well put.

My anger at politicians is that they hold themselves up to be philosopher-kings who know what’s best for us, and they’re tireless and selfless champions of this. But when it’s put to a vote, they’re cowards.

Eric Massa is playing his hand as if he’s not cowardly, as if he’s going to make the “right” vote despite the consequences in the next election. I actually think he’s being surprisingly brave on this, because he won his seat in 2008 by a 50.9 to 49.1 margin — not exactly a landslide.

I think he’s WRONG on the issue, but if he were on the right side of the issue, I’d similarly expect him to vote on principle rather than politics. That’s what politicians advertise about themselves, the “brave, principled legislators” rather than the cowards most of them truly are.

All that being said, there’s a systemic problem here. Legislators are not philosopher-kings. Many of them get to office by virtue of charisma, connections, and having the right letter signifying their party. Most of them are horribly unqualified to make decisions on just about everything on Congress’ docket. But it doesn’t stop them from mucking it up. I view it all through the prism of F.A. Hayek; they cannot possibly have enough information and knowledge to rule over the swath of policy they task themselves with. It is not humanly possible. But when they add cowardice to the mix, then they become targets of ridicule for their hypocrisy, not just their incompetence.