On
December 20, 1801, he wrote to Benjamin Rush, "Our winter campaign [the
winter session of Congress] has opened with more good humor than I expected. By
sending a message, instead of making a speech at the opening of the session, I
have prevented the bloody conflict to which the making an answer would have
committed them. They consequently were able to set into real business at once,
without losing 10. or 12. days in combating an answer…." Again defending his reason for sending a
written message, Jefferson wrote to Thomas Mann Randolph, January 1, 1802,
"Congress have not yet done anything, nor passed a vote which has produced
a division. The sending a message instead of making a speech to be answered is
acknowledged to have had the best effect towards preserving harmony....” (Source)
One cannot help but wonder how the present day
bias for showmanship might be influencing the ability of our country to arrive
at effective policy. The task to
accomplish can be lost in theatrics and public antics. Take any job where skill, knowledge, and
precision are involved. We can ask
ourselves how would public theatrics help or hinder that endeavor. I like to take the extreme example of brain
surgery. Who in their right minds would
submit to brain surgery to be performed in a circus atmosphere where the contending
surgeons had to continuously play to an audience and please that audience with
heroics, controversy, posturing, and bravado? Talk about a situation that would bring out
the worst rather than conforming to the best interest of the patient!
Of course, controversy is in the nature of politics
as various interests vie for recognition.
Even so, we should surely consider what might be done to maintain “the
best effect towards preserving harmony.”
Essentially this would entail lowering the level of aggressiveness on
the one hand and defensiveness on the other.
We must ask ourselves, are we really ready or able to give up free-for-all
entertainment for quiet and low key accomplishment.
