Agreeing with Machiavelli

Although Prince Machiavelli proposes many ideas in “The Qualities of a Prince,” that some people see as unruly and unjust, I believe that some politicians may actually benefit from Prince Machiavelli’s concerns on military matters. If deciding to go to war (which shouldn’t be created in the first place,) there are a few things that Machiavelli thinks can benefit your chances. “It is evident that when princes have given more thought to personal luxuries than to arms, they have lost their state.” (38) In this era, politicians are constantly being the objects of the media. The scandals in the white house concerning Bill Clinton is an example of a head of state giving more thought to his personal matters than to the more important issues, his responsibility. Machiavelli’s strategy also includes knowing everything about his country from the terrain, to the nature of the rivers and swamps, to the weather of each area. “Such knowledge is useful in two ways: first, one learns to know one’s country and can better understand how to defend it: second, with the knowledge and experience of the terrain, one can easily comprehend the characteristics of any other terrain.” (38) This I believe would be useful today in our combat in Iraq because we are fighting in a place that is very different from the United States. Perhaps, if our politicians where more educated of the terrain in other countries we would have a better shot at succeeding in battle. Machiavelli may have been a savage leader, but he still was devoted to his job as a Prince. He would hear others opinions, express his own, back everything with arguments, so that, “When leading his troops no unforeseen incident could arise for which he did not have the remedy.”(39) Lately it seems that our political system has gotten lost in what is right and wrong. Many people are unhappy with the way our country is being handled and believe that our president is not fulfilling his job. The 9/11 tragedies should have been prevented, but instead thousands of people lost their lives. Few years’ later conspiracy theories are spreading and no one knows the truth as to if our political system is corrupt. I believe that if we listened to some of Machiavelli’s ideas our country may have been more successful in the prolonging Iraq war and on many other issues. Not all of Machiavelli’s ideas should be upheld, but I believe some of his strategies are beneficial. I feel that if I knew our leader was doing everything in his power to keep his country from being destroyed, I would feel safe and guarded from harm. He was a man that was devoted to his duty and let nothing take advantage of him.