Every political community includes some members who insist that their side has all the answers and that their adversaries are idiots. But American liberals, to a degree far surpassing conservatives, appear committed to the proposition that their views are correct, self-evident, and based on fact and reason, while conservative positions are not just wrong but illegitimate, ideological and unworthy of serious consideration. Indeed, all the appeals to bipartisanship notwithstanding, President Obama and other leading liberal voices have joined in a chorus of intellectual condescension. ..
This condescension is part of a liberal tradition that for generations has impoverished American debates over the economy, society and the functions of government -- and threatens to do so again today, when dialogue would be more valuable than ever.
It's been awhile since I suggested you "read the whole thing", but you should read the whole thing.
That indeed says it all.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the lead...good article.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'd say that says about half of it.
ReplyDeleteI might note that saying "This condescension is part of a liberal tradition that for generations has impoverished American debates over the economy, society and the functions of government -- and threatens to do so again today, when dialogue would be more valuable than ever." is just as condescending in its own way.
ReplyDeleteNot that I disagree with the comment, totally, only with the moral rectitude it displays.
I would like to see everyone settle down a bit. The fighting and whining, while not new in any way (historically politics has been quite nasty, racist, sexist and generally unclassy to a degree we no longer see) is tiresome.
I have not yet read the article but I have perceived that the Democrats are trying to play as if they have the moral high ground when it comes to governance. they are frequently referencing the ideas of the right as outmoded and irrelevant. The Republican party generally stands for the ideas of the founders - limited government, federalism, and individual rights for example - how can those be out of fashion? I hope that people can see that the Democrats are not interested in bipartisanship and that they are only interested in power to achieve their agenda.
ReplyDeleteNice although I might have touched on the lefts promiscuous choice of leaders as well as the left's attraction to fads.
ReplyDeleteWhen you look at some of the mutts the left has treated like the golden calf its a factor that bears examination.
I mean, Al Gore for God's sake. What were they think? A man so wooden in front of an audience that one of his nicknames, the Tennessee Two-by-Four, couldn't be considered an insult.
So I would have mentioned the left's ability to turn some pretty unpromising stuff into glorious leaders.
Then there's the faddish nature of left wing issues.
Anyone old enough to remember unilateral nuclear disarmament movement? How about the homelessness crisis? The anti-nuclear power movement?
I know there are others but when the left loses interest in some issue or an issue becomes an embarrassment like global warming is in the process of becoming, they just turn their backs on the issue and refuse to discuss what was formerly desperately important. It becomes idea non grata and it's not hard to simply forget all about it.
All in all I'd say the article was pretty temperate but the subject perpetually inflamed. Nice read.