Brinkmanship
In a meeting this week, the posturing (as I call it) going on in Congress over the proposed education budget was being discussed. The House version has stripped some very important programs like Title I and Title II and comes in at around $67B. Whereas, the Senate version keeps those programs, increases funding for career and technical education and apprenticeships, and comes it at $79B. The correct terminology would be that there might be some brinkmanship going on. Brinkmanship refers to the tactic of pushing a situation to the brink of disaster in order to achieve a desired outcome. It can be seen as both good and bad, depending on the context and how it is used. In diplomacy and negotiations, brinkmanship refers to the tactic of pushing a situation to the brink of disaster in order to achieve a desired outcome.
If there is brinkmanship going on in relation to the education budget it is a risky strategy, as it may lead to increased tensions, conflict, or even harmful consequences. A careful assessment of the risks and benefits of engaging in brinkmanship is important. Understanding the potential costs and consequences of the actions need to be contemplated to make informed decisions and choose the most effective strategies. The other thing that bothers me is the question of how much money is being spent on lobbying for something that in reality, might not even need to be lobbied for. This seems like a huge waste of time and money that could be used in more productive ways.
I get it. Brinkmanship is a necessary tool. It concerns me that sometimes we overuse it. There are those things that might argue that brinkmanship is unethical because it involves intentionally pushing the limits and risking potential harm or conflict. Others, on the other hand will argue that it can be seen as a necessary tactic in certain situations to protect national interests or enforce boundaries. I just hope that we consider the unintended consequences of posturing and brinkmanship.
Byron's Babbles 
leave a comment