Heterodoxy
I think heterodoxy is great. Which is to say that I have a certain number of more-or-less heterodox views -- about the death penalty, about affirmative action, about gun control, about education, etc. -- and I think those views are great. But in virtue of my thinking those views are great, what I actually want is to convince people to adopt my views, which is natural. Being heterodox is a bad thing, not because everyone should conform to the prevailing orthodoxy but because if you're heterodox it means your side is losing the argument -- the goal is to turn your heterodox views into the new orthodoxy. Thus, I find a lot of this liberal hawk special pleading on behalf of Joe Lieberman a bit disingenuous.
I mean, back in the day (circa spring 2003) when liberal hawks were riding high was there a big move afoot to ensure that a robust dovish faction remained in the Democratic Party for the sake of serving the higher goals of diversity and heterodoxy? Of course not -- that would have been silly. The idea was to remake the party in their image.
Uh exactly. That's what democracy is. Someone should tell the so-called "liberal hawks" that.
You know since they're all about spreading democracy by the sword and all.
July 31, 2006 8:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Does anyone ever actually meet a liberal hawk away from a think tank? I'm running into lot more conservative doves.
July 31, 2006 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Does anyone ever actually meet a liberal hawk away from a think tank?"
Al Gore is often seen outside of think tanks.
August 3, 2006 6:35 AM | Reply | Permalink