Conference thebay::joyoflex

352.0. "So where's the panacea?" by CHUCKM::MURRAY (Chuck Murray) Thu May 07 1987 14:12

    I've read and heard innumerable statements that such-and-such
    "is not a panacea..."  Invariably, the writer or speaker is
    trying to advance some proposal, suggesting that it is a
    workable, realistic alternative. ("Of course, XYZ is no panacea;
    however, it will allow us to make significant progress in ...")
    
    Rhetorically, this is effective (or at least used to be, before
    it became trite through overuse) -- the speaker is presenting himself
    or herself as reasonable, modest, etc.
    
    Now, what I'd really love to see is some public figure make a
    forthright statement: "After all these failed policies, I have
    come up with the panacea!"   [(:-), he added, modestly...]

    Well, there's always the case of the 19th Century psychic who heard
    of the gold find out at Sutter's Mill and went to California to
    offer his services to those seeking gold in the streams.
    
    He was the panners' seer.
    
    Or the explorer who went to Arcady looking for ancient Greek deities
    and demigods.  He spotted a certain half-man/half-goat, and said,
    
    "Pan, I see ya!"
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.

    How about supply-side economics?

    MLNOIS::HARBIG
                  Or as the French General asked when looking at
                  a particularly slovenly, dispirited group of
                  soldiers;
                            "So where's the panache here ?"
    
                  Max