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Ambiguity
The lifeblood of politics
Flipping and flopping
&nbasp;
~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~
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Embed from Getty Images
nbsp;
Ambiguity
The lifeblood of politics
Flipping and flopping
&nbasp;
~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~
Dom DiFrancesco 
Nice poem, Dom. Says a lot in so few words.
Really interesting claim, that ambiguity is the lifeblood of politics. You got me thinking.
First, what I noticed is that for me, ambiguity is not the same as flip flopping.
So, I looked it up. Ambiguity can be defined as indecisiveness,, or shifting, changing, doubtful, which agrees with your poem.
To me, though, ambiguity is more something that is so unclear as to be able to be interpreted as one thing, when it in fact means something else– sometimes perhaps even the opposite. It is very frustrating to me when I noticed a politician’s staff person answer a question I asked in such a way. I thought, because I know the issue I am calling about, they are trying to reassure me, but, I know better than to be reassured.
Flip flopping of course implies going back and forth, perhaps to suit different geographic audiences while touring different states. Changing your position seems legitiate to me, given that representatives of the people are more or less honor bound to change as their constituency changes.
The trouble is, they are also honor bound to do what they feel is right, in my opinion, or at least to avoid doing what they think is truly wrong.
It’s no easy job, both to please people, which as your poem perhaps even implies, is essential to staying in the job, and continuing to get to do the work *(which, in my view, has the potential to be good) AND to try to accomplish good and important things to make the world a better place. So often, the two are in conflict.
Now, politics is another word I felt inspired to look up, and there are a couple of good quotes, from the source below. One of them basically says what I have tried to say above, but probably says it better than I didf
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=politics
Thank you Elaine for such a thoughtful comment and I’m glad that although it consisted of a mere 3 line you found food for thought contained within.
You’re welcome, Don. With poetry, one often has the leeway and/or the necessity to read between the lines, and, as my comment may have told you, I’m good at that! :~) It was fun.
I’m glad you had fun with it, to me that is a great compliment. Thank you Elaine.
Sorry Dom, typo on your name. Did not catch it till I had it the post button. :~)
That is not a problem, my mother-in-law always called me Don. In the end I answer to almost anything. 🙂
We can talk for hours without answering a question or saying anything.
That has become abundantly clear in my mind and it appears in yours as well.