This is Athens

"The wise man belongs to all countries, for the home of a great soul is the whole world." Democritus (fragments)

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Ruth Kelly reaction

Well Gordon now has a little more room for manoeuvre in his reshuffle than was the case yesterday. Fraser Nelson reckons she jumped instead of being pushed. His theory is plausible, but so is the official line. Personally I suspect it’s a combination. Kelly’s seat is pretty marginal (85th on the notional Tory target list) and I suspect she will now be focusing on it intensively. If she were to lose she has a young family (four to date) to support, so will be relieved not to be restricted by the two year purdah that former ministers are expected to observe before working in fields with which they were connected whilst in office.

Kelly is an amazingly bright and driven woman whose officials had a high regard for. She is still young enough to have reasonable hopes of ministerial office again, assuming of course that she retains her seat and that there is a Labour government to serve in.

Reshuffle wise, Democritus tips Jim Murphy for promotion and will be watching to see what happens to Douglas Alexander …

UPDATE: Jim got Scotland. No change for Douggie ...

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The idea of Athens

"Our political system does not compete with with institutions which are elsewhere in force. We do not copy our neighbors, but try to be an example. Our administration favors the many instead of the few: this is why it is called a democracy. The laws afford equal justice to all alike in their private disputes, but we do not ignore the claims of excellence. When a citizen distinguishes himself, then he will be called to serve the state, in preference to others, not as a matter of privilege, but as a reward of merit; and poverty is no bar.

... The freedom we enjoy extends also to ordinary life; we are not suspicious of one another, and we do not nag our neighbor if he chooses to go his own way. ... But this freedom does not make us lawless. We are taught to respect the magistrates and the laws, and never to forget that we must protect the injured. And we are also taught to observe those unwritten laws whose sanction lies only in the universal feeling of what is right....

Our city is thrown open to the world; we never expel a foreigner.... We are free to live exactly as we please, and yet, we are always ready to face any danger.... We love beauty without indulging in fancies, and although we try to improve our intellect. this does not weaken our will.... To admit one's poverty is no disgrace with us; but we consider it disgraceful not to make an effort to avoid it. An Athenian citizen does not neglect public affairs when attending to his private business.... We consider a man who takes no interest in the state not as harmless, but as useless; and although only a few may originate a policy, we are all able to judge it. We do not look upon discussion as a stumbling block in the way of political action, but as an indispensable preliminary to acting wisely...."
Pericles' funeral oration as reported by Thucydides

Democritus says:

"The wise man belongs to all countries, for the home of a great soul is the whole world."