Although I have written in the past about the need for people to grow and change, and thus the fact that it is unreasonable for us to label politicians as flip-floppers simply because they have changed their mind on one or more positions, today I shall argue the opposite. Consider how much rides on our staying the course and remaining steadfast on certain beliefs. Money is a good example. The only thing that gives value to our dollar bills made of paper, and the denominations printed on them, is that we can count on the fact that although this paper has no inherent value, it is given value by the fact that we all agree to adopt a mindset in which it has value. If a leader could be easily influenced to try radically different approaches to problems, we would not have the confidence in our money system that we do. Without being 100% certain that our government won't abandon this system, everything could be thrown into disarray. Everything. So consistency is a virtue. Except when it isn't.