November 12, 2003
From the desk of Jane Galt:Priceless
Two great blog posts on politics have just come to my attention.
From the peerless Poor Man:
I've noticed some recent changes in the nature of the political debate in this country which I thought I'd share with my readers. Perhaps you have noticed some of these same things yourself. I feel it is instructive, at times, to step back a bit, take the "big picture" view, and see what it can tell us about ourselves, and the world around us. It is this which I intend to do here.I've noticed, recently, that people who disagree with me are stupid and dumb. I can't really believe they are as stupid and dumb as they seem, so I think they must be crazy as well.
Why are they so crazy? Well, any discussion of this would have to begin with how stupid and dumb they are. Imagine if you were so stupid and dumb that you actually disagreed with me, even when I was totally right? That would be enough to drive anyone crazy.
And from the incomparable Ted Barlow at Crooked Timber:
Why the Bombings Mean That We Must Support My Politics
by John Montoya
Of course the World Trade Center bombings are a uniquely tragic event, and it is vital that we never lose sight of the human tragedy involved. However, we must also consider if this is not also a lesson to us all; a lesson that my political views are correct. Although what is done can never be undone, the fact remains that if the world were organised according to my political views, this tragedy would never have happened.
. . . .
Of course the World Trade Center attacks are a uniquely tragic event, and it is vital that we never lose sight of the human tragedy involved. But we must also not lose sight of the fact that I am right on every significant moral and political issue, and everybody ought to agree with me. Please, I ask you as fellow human beings, vote for the political party which I support, and ask your legislators to support policies endorsed by me, as a matter of urgency.
It would be a fitting memorial.
Check out Andrew Sullivan today on the polarization of the political debate in America:
http://www.andrewsullivan.com/main_article.php?artnum=20031109
I slog around a bunch of sites (Asym, MJT, Instapundit, Calpundit, LGF, etc.) on a regular basis and generally find what I'm looking for: a nice mix of opinions and arguments that ultimately help me better understand the world and what it is up to.
I am often surprised by the vitriol that some of my fellow commenters spew and am left wondering: are they really that angry? do they really believe what they just wrote? do they behave like this when their mom is in the room?
What is up?!?
Thanks, Jane, you're far too kind. I'm definitely comparable.
"If loving you is wrong, I don't wanna be right..."
"If loving you is wrong, I don't wanna be right..."
There's big money in irrational partisanship, and power and influence and TV appearances also. Where's the profit in careful thinking?
There's an incomparable sense of "making a difference" in irrational partisanship, and fulfillment and gratification and lecture circuit appearances also. Where's the righteous indignation in careful thinking?
What I think most have missed (or just declined to admit they noticed) is that this little essay cuts both ways with equal sharpness.
Yes, justifying your political views using 9/11 is...revolting. But it's just as revolting if you're one of the BAF crowd.
John Montoya a.k.a. "jsm" a.k.a. "streetlawyer" was one of the great trolls of Slashdot. First known appearance here, in the comments titled "just call me streetlawyer man."
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