I thought Gerard Alexander’s OpEd in Sunday’s WaPo on Why Liberals Are So Condescending would easily generate a pile of intelligent parsing and effective responses. Instead, most of the reaction I read was along the lines of “I know you are, but what am I?” Not a thing I found is worth quoting. Maybe everyone was busy making Palin crib note jokes.
I was entirely unpersuaded by Alexander’s argument. My own view is that the two — liberals and conservatives — are flip sides of the same condescending coin: conservatives believe they are right, and condescend accordingly, because the absolute word of God or the market tells them so. Liberals choose Science or The Academy as their ultimate authority. No difference beyond flavor.
How about in comments you all pick a favorite example of either? I’m sure there are plenty on both sides that pop to mind. Or better yet, take on the harder challenge of finding current examples of respectful difference or actual compromise. But then, that’s exactly the real problem now, isn’t it?
RELATED: Monday the WaPo had an online Q&A with Alexander.