[cuchulain]

Another quick point about politics and such. The perfect is often the enemy of the good . . . or so the old saying goes.

As in, when we look at politicians, we should think in terms of comparing apples with apples, rather than with ideals of perfection, etc.

They are very flawed human beings. Like all of us. But it's probably heightened when it comes to politicians, because of the dynamics of power, the climb up the ladder to that power, and all of the compromises one necessarily has to make to gain that power.

It is rather easy for us who remain outside the political system to keep our ideals and principles intact, clean and pure. We're typically not asked to make compromises to achieve this or that objective. We can just think what we think without much in the way of obstacles.

Politicians, OTOH, of necessity, never, ever can get exactly what they want. Because they're (obviously) dealing with other politicians who want what they want as well. And different constituencies, etc. etc. Battling for what they want. Agon and so on.

So, to make a long story short . . . I compare RFK with other pols of the time and today . . . and I see him as the best of the whole lot . . . insofar as . . . someone who was more likely to achieve progressive goals within the system . . . and reform that system.

Apples with apples. RFK was the best apple of the bunch, IMO.