Read this post at Dr. Sanity.
It is a fascinating post for different reasons. One – to me the most important one – is that it shows a particular kind of reasoning that is – as far as I can tell – present on both sides of the political equation (in the US). It is not just thinking in terms of ‘opposing views’ on what’s best for the US. Instead, the way of thinking is one in which the ‘other side’ is simply ‘evil’ or at least the enemy of the (people of the) USA.
From the left one might notice the ‘fascist!’-attacks.
From the right the attacks that try to make the other(s) look ‘anti-American’ or as ‘traitors’.
The problem with this kind of reasoning is – obviously – that it ensures on thing: there is no need to listen to the arguments of the other. Why should one listen? The opponents are enemies -> not just political enemies, but even enemies of America.
No compromises will be made, while the very fundament of politics is to compromize.
UPDATE
Commenter ‘Ack’ pointed this book out in the comment section of this post. It is called The Broken Branch: How Congress Is Failing America and How to Get It Back on Track written by Thomas E. Mann and Norman J. Ornstein. Sounds like a very interesting book.
