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« Ron Paul supporter spreading democracy from Iraq | Main | The Simpsons as Free Liberal Mythology? »

Agreeing with Jonah Goldberg -- Twice!

I normally don't like Jonah Goldberg. He is a National Review neocon who cheered long and hard for the Iraq War.

That said, I actually agree with the guy on a few recent topics. One issue is the evolving use of the words "liberal" and "progressive." As Goldberg points out, conservatives have so vilified the term "liberal" that left-wing Democrats are now embracing the term "progressive." Whether socialism is really progressive is a story for a different day, but perhaps the hard-core left's abandonment of "liberal" will allow centrist and freedom-embracing political movements to re-take the term. Only time will tell, but I say let the statists have"progressive."

Another recent Goldberg column makes sense as well, specifically this one in which he makes the case that voters' lack of basic information about the US system of government devalues the entire system. As Goldberg accurately notes, there are no easy solutions to the problem, but I think it points strongly to the Founding Fathers' wisdom in setting up a "Republic" and not a "Democracy."

While I wouldn't necessarily embrace any particular system of testing or property ownership, we have certainly gotten out of whack in placing the ability to vote on a pedestal as far as our rights are concerned. The rights outlined in the US Constitution are far more important than the mere ability to punch a ballot.

Posted by Paul Gessing on August 11, 2007 01:52 PM | Permalink

Free-for-all (frfr-ôl) -- n. A disorderly fight, argument, or competition in which everyone present participates.

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