Making Light: Ground-level politics

tnh, darn her, doesn't write in soundbites, so i'm having a hard time snipping out a piece that will make you all drooly about going and reading the whole thing.

but go read the whole thing anyhow, okay?

here's a bit that i like, in any case.

Power is good; purity's a trap. Our political system is based on compromises and coalitions. Sacrificing effectiveness in the cause of perfect ideological purity is for wankers and dilettantes. If you want to do good, you need the power to do good things. That means you have to get into the game and play it right alongside everyone else, even if it means you have to come into contact with people who don't think exactly the same way you do. After all, if you're not coming into contact with people who don't believe the same way you do, who are you preaching to?