There is nothing wrong with our leaders playing the violin… as long they are also providing adequate fire-fighting services and fire-safety legislation.
True, but if they don’t provide adequate fire-fighting services and fire-safety legislation, criticize them for that, not playing the violin.
But if the city is burning and all they’re doing is playing…
Criticize them for not doing anything about the fact that the city is burning. What else they are doing or is irrelevant to that point.
You’re contorting yourself here to make your point.
Obviously the mere act of playing the fiddle is not what’s reprehensible, it’s that they’re doing it instead of something useful. The thing is, if you were to criticize them, you’d be going out of your way to not say “the city is burning and yet you’re just here playing the fiddle.” But again, just because you say that doesn’t mean that you have a problem with them playing the fiddle by itself. That fact is easily understood.
It depends on how you word the complaint. It seems some are more concerned about the specific activity he is doing while the city burns, instead of being concerned about what he is not doing to put the fire out. Whether he is playing the fiddle or doing absolutely nothing, the problem is the same. The fiddle is the wrong target. The right target is the fact that he is not doing what he is supposed to be doing.