From Deseret News archives:
Principles, pragmatism often collide
Principle sometimes ends where inconvenience begins. In 1803, Thomas Jefferson, the vigorous defender of the strict interpretation of the Constitution of the United States, stretched the Constitution beyond his principles to get a real estate deal he couldn't pass up. Napoleon, broke after his many wars, was forced to sell the entirety of Louisiana for a mere $15 million. Jefferson refused to pay homage to foolish principle and purchased what was to become the major piece of western America.
Harry Truman, president of the United States, decided to forgo the principle of only using the atomic bomb in response to an attack on American soil when he authorized the bombing of two Japanese cities. But in so doing, he undoubtedly saved many more people by ending World War II.
Today, the White House, the very institution that gains laughs when it says "I'm from the government and I am here to help you," is proposing spending $1.5 billion over the next five years to give states funds to promote marriage. Suddenly conservatives in the Bush administration have found virtue in big government. We will see what our state does with that money. Will there be tax money wasted on billboards on the freeway that say, "Marriage is great: a friendly message from the state of Utah"? But serious counseling of the unmarried during the "magic moment" of childbirth could spawn healthy marriages. Then conservatives embracing a government program would be virtuous.
On the other hand, the Salt Lake City Council rested its case on principle when it said that the previous agreement with The Gateway not to house department stores did not allow them to rezone The Gateway to allow Nordstrom to move there to avoid leaving the city. Though our City Council stuck to principle on the Gateway/Nordstrom matter, many things have changed since the Gateway was first built. It might have been just as reasonable to allow Nordstrom to move. It will take time to judge whether that was a good decision.
There is a joke in town that goes, "If you disagree with Rocky Anderson, wait awhile and he will come around to your point of view." So is Rocky a flip-flop artist or does he have the ability to recognize foolish principle and thus solve problems like the LDS Church plaza affair? The voters will decide on Nov. 4.
Principle is important to political leaders. As they express it, it becomes a kind of truth-in-packaging providing the voting public a confidence in leadership. On the other hand, how long do we want our leaders to hang on to foolish principle?
