Word: axioms
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...staunchest opposition comes from those who hold absolutely that conception is life. But belief in the inherent value of life is not a trite axiom: it avows some faith in the quality of existence beyond the moral injunction "Thou shalt not kill." It becomes easy to see as hypocritical those anti-abortionists--particularly men--who condone extra-marital intercourse (or even intramarital intercourse) yet would refuse to financially and emotionally support the child conceived because of faulty contraception. The only morally consistent value-of-life position is to have intercourse only if one is willing to accept a child...
...began to circulate that IBM's third-quarter earnings were down. In fact, as announced late in the week, they fell 18%. The unsold paper, possibly $300 million worth, was dumped on the open market, where it fared badly. IBM's timing ignored a hoary Wall Street axiom: "Never commit yourself to a major issue before a long weekend. Who knows, we may be at war by Tuesday." There was no war, but the underwriters were routed nonetheless...
...Whenever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own government." Thomas Jefferson's axiom remains an indispensable premise of democracy. Yet the possibility of a sage and knowing public seems to be growing ever more elusive. Since the rise of science and technology as the commanding force in both government and social change, it has become harder and harder for most Americans to become really well informed on the problems they face as individuals or citizens. Such a trend is bound to raise questions about the future of popular rule...
...enduring truisms of American politics has been that an incumbent President wields all but overwhelming political power. This axiom holds that almost any challenge to a President has only the barest chance of succeeding. But this pattern may be changing. In the case of Jimmy Carter, his incumbency-and the fact that he is thus blamed for every national problem-may be his biggest electoral handicap...
...Army Axiom. An order that can be misunderstood, will be misunderstood...