Bad Faith or Bad Philosophy?
I heard Bill Bennett ask the question of Gov. Nikki Haley and, although I didn't stick around to hear the answer, the question stuck with me. I hate guessing at the motives of the left, and I think it unreasonable to ascribe sinister designs to political adversaries without rock solid proof. However, after three years of charging ahead with reckless disregard of the obvious negative outcomes I am starting to question my assumptions about the left. I've always believed people on the left to be wrong but sincere in their world view. It is becoming harder and harder to hold onto that conviction. David Kahane's excellent and satirical article at NRO today has not helped.
I know we believe we're fighting for the survival of our nation and our way of life. We fight for a philosophy of liberty and natural rights. What is the left fighting for?
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Nov '10
Re: Bad Faith or Bad Philosophy?
I would say that most of what the Left is fighting for is the privilege of escaping of individual, personal responsibility for the consequences of one's own actions.
Dec '10
Re: Bad Faith or Bad Philosophy?
The base, yes; the machine, no. Rousseau at his worst motivates the voters on the left, but the organizers enjoy the perks of power too much to really buy into that stuff.
Jul '11
Re: Bad Faith or Bad Philosophy?
Although they'd never admit it, or even realize it, the organizers of the left are after power and, after they get it, more power, and then more power after that. They'll drape it in language of compassion, of course, but look at their trajectory and logic: they want to micromanage nearly every aspect of our existence. Light bulbs, trans fats, what type of cars you can drive, where you can drive them, in which lane you can drive in, on what fuel, etc., etc. All of these things are meant to protect us from ourselves and our neighbors from our careless and short-sighted behaviors. We obviously need a benevolent but powerful force to keep society from imploding.
The chaos and unpredictability of a free society is anathema to them because it is unpredictable and uncontrolled - who knows what evil will emerge from such unkempt rabble?
And yes, this gives them the benefit of the doubt as to motives. Such grace is wholly unwarranted for many of them, as Hoffa Jr. just demonstrated. For those individuals, power is a goal in and of itself, just as in third world countries. Welcome to Obama's America.
Nov '10
Re: Bad Faith or Bad Philosophy?
The King Prawn
The base, yes; the machine, no. Rousseau at his worst motivates the voters on the left, but the organizers enjoy the perks of power too much to really buy into that stuff. · Sep 7 at 10:50am
I quite agree, but that's not just a problem on the Left. There's very few members of the political class on either side for whom I have much respect (although there definitely are a few).
Dec '10
Re: Bad Faith or Bad Philosophy?
I guess eliminating the possibility of much good coming from the chaos (wait, aren't these the same guys that believe in evolution?) is just a price they're willing to pay.
May '10
Re: Bad Faith or Bad Philosophy?
The Left wants to tell the rest of us how to live our lives.
Mar '11
Re: Bad Faith or Bad Philosophy?
Raw power. Liberalism is simply evil with lipstick.
Jun '10
Re: Bad Faith or Bad Philosophy?
It doesn't do any good to change Obama's mind if you can't also change Richard Trumka's mind, Dennis Van Roekel's mind, Mary Kay Henry's mind, and Hoffa Jr.'s mind. When it comes to domestic matters, they move as one. They sometimes bow to political realities, but not often and not easily.
Sep '10
Re: Bad Faith or Bad Philosophy?
I would have to say it's bad faith because I never hear any philosophy at all, unless you count, "Well, we just disagree." How can one develop a philosophy without self-awareness? You can't, which is why leftists commonly attack others' motives, associations, strongly held beliefs, critiquing rather than conversing, with a stingy, throaty laugh that reminds one of a hyena getting ready to bite. ... All the machine wants is to win. By any means necessary. It's your standard model will to power grab based on vapid mantras that defy analysis. The left seeks power in an effort to force others to live their vision of what's right—never mind that from Rousseau onward their personal lives have rarely exhibited such a stance. Most leftists I know are unhappy, childless women who feel no security within or among themselves. You cannot discuss anything beyond the superficial with them. They're annoyed to be told that any history matters before 1963. It's the religion of being lost into oneself.
Jan '11
Re: Bad Faith or Bad Philosophy?
Well, I know quite a few leftists. Their philosophy is simple and comes down to two principles:
As a conservative, I believe that power is seductive. The urge to immediately use any and all power is tempting. It leads to gathering power, protecting power, and advancing power -- eventually doing it for the sake of power itself. Unlike Tim Allen, the answer to government is never more power.
Whenever an individual is hurting, taking away the rights of others to "fix" an individual's problems is never the answer.
Sep '10
Re: Bad Faith or Bad Philosophy?
Leslie: that was brilliant. Sorry I can only give it one like.
Oct '10
Re: Bad Faith or Bad Philosophy?
"This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live" Deuteronomy 30:19
The left is defined by their choice. All else follows.
Aug '10
Re: Bad Faith or Bad Philosophy?
Pseudodionysius
Leslie: that was brilliant. Sorry I can only give it one like. · Sep 7 at 7:08pm
Pseud - Love ya Brother - I pitched one in too - well done Leslie.
KC - I hit you for one too - I sincerely appreciate your thoughtfulness
Dec '10
Re: Bad Faith or Bad Philosophy?
I've heard it said that the left prioritizes equality over liberty. It makes sense from their rhetoric, but not from their actions. After enough foreseeable unintended consequences it becomes difficult to believe they are unintended. Their policy preferences do nothing for either liberty or equality, but they sure cement the power base. Such often repeated instances make it increasingly difficult to be charitable concerning their motives.
Sep '10
Re: Bad Faith or Bad Philosophy?
I get what you mean King Prawn, but I think it is the left's moral pretentiousness, posturing, and elitism that really keeps them from ever stopping to consider the consequences of their policies. If a person is so single-minded in their agenda, and so sure of their own great intentions, and the smug sense of righteousness they get from them, there is no reason for them to think there could be anything wrong in what they are doing. And when they are confronted with negative results they therefore just jump to the conclusion that they are the fault of the demonized opposition who they already believe doesn't care as much as they do in the first place.
The left, especially leftist politicians, are the modern day version of the hypocritical religious leaders of the New Testament, doing pious acts and charity in order to be seen and admired by the common people.
Aug '10
Re: Bad Faith or Bad Philosophy?
It has been said that socialism is the politics of the disappointed. And I think that generally says it all.
In a free society, people are free to rise to the limits of their ability and work ethic. For people like us, that's perfectly fine, and we're willing to enter the competition of the marketplace and trust in our ability and willingness to work hard to be able to build a life for us and our families.
But what of the people who don't want to enter that competition, or who are capable of mustering the effort to succeed? What do they do? Perhaps they don't want to enter it because they value activities that do not have commercial value, or because they don't trust themselves to be able to successfully compete, or because they've already made bad choices that have left them behind.
If you can't compete in the marketplace, your alternative is to replace the marketplace with another form of control - run by people who promise to take money from the capitalists who beat you in the market and give it to you and other people who think like you do.
Sep '10
Re: Bad Faith or Bad Philosophy?
Exactly, Dan. Which is why for many on the left charity is a terrible word while public assistance is not.
Dan Hanson: It has been said that socialism is the politics of the disappointed. And I think that generally says it all.
In a free society, people are free to rise to the limits of their ability and work ethic. For people like us, that's perfectly fine, and we're willing to enter the competition of the marketplace and trust in our ability and willingness to work hard to be able to build a life for us and our families.
But what of the people who don't want to enter that competition, or who are capable of mustering the effort to succeed? ... If you can't compete in the marketplace, your alternative is to replace the marketplace with another form of control - run by people who promise to take money from the capitalists who beat you in the market and give it to you and other people who think like you do. · Sep 8 at 8:29am
Sep '10
Re: Bad Faith or Bad Philosophy?
Thanks, guys! High praise coming from you. ... I guess it's obvious I think about this a lot!
Instugator
Pseudodionysius
Leslie: that was brilliant. Sorry I can only give it one like. · Sep 7 at 7:08pm
Pseud - Love ya Brother - I pitched one in too - well done Leslie.
KC - I hit you for one too - I sincerely appreciate your thoughtfulness · Sep 7 at 7:35pm
Sep '10
Re: Bad Faith or Bad Philosophy?
Terrific insight, King Prawn. Thanks for the thread.
Jul '10
Re: Bad Faith or Bad Philosophy?
The right of scofflaw union thugs to terrorize and vandalize? Today's public relations bonanza from the wonderful world of "labor"? Right here.