Definitions for  NO Argument: Democratic Dirty Hands? (By D. Shugarman)

Danielle Dodham-Wright

 

 

Archetypal “moral politician”: a politician who accepts the guilt of having dirty hands.                      

His confession shows the public that he is honest and has the state’s best interest at heart thus he is “good.”

 

Defensible/Indefensible Dirty Hands: although this definition is debatable, defensible

hands occur in an extremis situation. Indefensible hands occur when a politician employs dirty tactics when there are other viable options.

 

Deontological: the theory of our duties. It places a sense of duty over what is naturally

good.

 

Dirty Hands: the use of unnecessary force, brutality, trickery or deception to obtain an

end goal that reflects either a state or personal objective.

 

Extremis Situation: a radical situation that calls for dirty politics as the only feasible

option. Any individual can feel remorse but not guilt under these circumstances (i.e. although pushing is condoned by society there is no blame in pushing a child out of the way of a moving vehicle).

 

Henry Kissinger: Richard Nixon’s right hand man in foreign affairs as national security

Advisor and then as secretary of state. Although a Nobel Peace Prize winner and public figure in public policy Kissinger had continually “dirty hands,” notably his involvement in the air attacks on Cambodia.

 

Machiavellism: a philosophy taken directly from Machiavelli’s beliefs on hard rulers and

the end being able to justify the means.

 

MKULTRA: a program of mind-control experimentation funded and organized by the

CIA and implemented by Dr. Allen Cameron.

 

Realpolitik: politics based on practical and material factors other than theoretical or

ethical objectives

 

The Khmer Rouge: a radical Marxist based group that controlled Cambodia for four

years.

 

 

Questions for  NO Argument: Democratic Dirty Hands? (By D. Shugarman)

Danielle Dodham-Wright

 

 

Comprehension/Theory

  1. What are dirty hands? Can we clearly define them?
  2. Was the MKULTRA an extreme situation?
  3. Are traditionally indefensible hands defensible?
  4. How does the media romanticize our perception of dirty politics? Do any other factors influence how we perceive “dirty politicians”?
  5. Is the phrase “democratic dirty hands” an oxymoron?
  6. Does western society “punish” dirty politicians? If so, is the punishment adequate?
  7. Are some individuals naturally dirty politicians or does the situation impact individual decisions? How much does the extremity of the situation affect whether or not dirty hands are put into use?

 

Application

  1. Does president Bush have dirty hands, regarding his ultimatum towards Sudan Hussein?
  2. Explain how dirty politics are prevalent in smaller structures, such as the school system.