Welcome to the Tigers' Den

August President's Message

Doing Nothing this Summer

It's summer time.  This, in most parts of the South, translates into slowing down.  Taking a break from the heat.  Yet, as we have just witnessed, our Governor summoned our Legislature into a special session right smack in the middle of summer.  And, when they promptly voted to turn right back around and return to their respective districts for mint julips and constituent service, the Governor called them a "do nothing Legislature" (invoking the chiding of a former Democratic President when his Congress declined to advance his agenda).

All this "do nothing" talk got me to recalling one of my favorite philosophers.  Sir Edmund Burke, Irish political philosopher, is perhaps best known for observing:  "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."  So, was our Legislature confirming the Governor's view that evil is now upon us?  Or did our Legislators simply conclude this didn't apply, given the reference to "good" and all?

Its been a while since I dug into Mr. Burke's wisdom, and so I figured I'd revisit some of his observations to see if he had anything to contribute to our current political climate.  In doing so, I was reminded how timeless a good political philosopher's observations can be, and how instructive they may be for today's leaders.  For instance, while President Obama and the Congress continue to struggle to expand health, income and other social benefits, Burke would offer the following caution should the money run out:  "And having looked to the government for bread, on the very first scarcity, they will turn and bite the hand that fed them."

And, as we observe Governor candidate Rick Scott continue to press his lawsuit against Florida's public finance campaign laws, perhaps he will pause at Burke's suggestion that, "it is not what a lawyer tells me I may do; but what humanity, reason, and justice tell me I ought to do."

In witnessing the recent termination of a long-term, hard working African American federal farm assistance employee for what a "lemming-like" media reported as her racist lack of desire to help white farmers when it turned out the exact opposite was true, Burke aptly observed:  "Writers, especially when they act in a body and with one direction, have great influence on the public mind."  One hopes writers learn from this event.

As Congressman Charlie Rangel and former State House Speaker Ray Sansom mull their respective ethical quandaries, perhaps they will cogitate on Burke's observation that:  "All persons possessing any portion of power ought to be strongly and awfully impressed with an idea that they act in trust, and that they are to account for their conduct in that trust..."

And finally, as we watch another year of political leaders of all party affiliations (or none) battling each other with some of the most negative, corrosive, truth-stretching ads we've seen, it can only be hoped that they stumble upon one of Burke's lesser known but apt observations:  "Magnanimity in politics is not seldom the truest wisdom; and a great empire and little minds go ill together."

Please "do something" by joining your fellowTigers for our upcoming programming as weapproach the fall election season, so that you can do your part to ensure the future of our great empire.  You don't want to contribute to evil, now do you!?

See you in the Den! 

Rob Eschenfelder, President

What’s all this about a “Fang & Claw?”

Perhaps the most appealing benefit of membership is the ability to participate in Question & Answer sessions with our speakers. The coveted "Fang & Claw Award" is presented to the member at each meeting who "slashes through pretension and prevarication" with the toughest question of the day.

Tiger Bay Member Gary Stempinksi (L) took home the Tiger at the June 10th luncheon held at Feather Sound Country Club for asking CFO Alex Sink (R) how she would handle the BP crisis if she were Governor.