There may be different seismic activity zones of various sizes, but the fault line of dysfunction is shot through through the whole of our political culture.
Respect. I deeply appreciate the sharp moral clarity and strength of character that comes through this piece and previous essays. I've been politically progressive most of my adult life (though I grew up in a moderately conservative family) but have come to the same conclusions after being appalled by the moral hysteria that has overtaken the left in recent years. One of the ways I like to think about the situation is that we need the emergence of a new kind of "integral" left and "integral" right, which describes people who still at their core identify primarily as progressive or conservative, but who recognize the dead-end of the extremism at both ends of the spectrum and are reaching for a higher synthesis. I like this more than appeals to the 'center' which can seem like a tepid compromise that lacks principled strength. Anyway, I share your prayer for divided government -- and I suspect that there are indeed going to be surprises and disappointments for both sides come Tuesday.
An interesting and intriguing insight. I had a similar epiphany a few years ago when I realized that there's a difference between prudence and pragmatism. I came to realize that many of my fellow non-Trump conservative travelers had felt the need to, as you say, shift to the center to counter Trumpism and I found it a flawed response for several reasons. First and foremost, it was a concession to the Trumpist rhetoric and gave life to the "RINO" strawman, allowing for assertions that Trump and his ilk were more conservative and everyone else were squishy moderates. But secondly, I think, similar to your observation, that the answer shouldn't be a moderation of deeply held believes but a hedging in of the margins and re-embrace of responsible and mature rhetoric. It's the tone that should be moderated, not principles and vision.
Respect. I deeply appreciate the sharp moral clarity and strength of character that comes through this piece and previous essays. I've been politically progressive most of my adult life (though I grew up in a moderately conservative family) but have come to the same conclusions after being appalled by the moral hysteria that has overtaken the left in recent years. One of the ways I like to think about the situation is that we need the emergence of a new kind of "integral" left and "integral" right, which describes people who still at their core identify primarily as progressive or conservative, but who recognize the dead-end of the extremism at both ends of the spectrum and are reaching for a higher synthesis. I like this more than appeals to the 'center' which can seem like a tepid compromise that lacks principled strength. Anyway, I share your prayer for divided government -- and I suspect that there are indeed going to be surprises and disappointments for both sides come Tuesday.
An interesting and intriguing insight. I had a similar epiphany a few years ago when I realized that there's a difference between prudence and pragmatism. I came to realize that many of my fellow non-Trump conservative travelers had felt the need to, as you say, shift to the center to counter Trumpism and I found it a flawed response for several reasons. First and foremost, it was a concession to the Trumpist rhetoric and gave life to the "RINO" strawman, allowing for assertions that Trump and his ilk were more conservative and everyone else were squishy moderates. But secondly, I think, similar to your observation, that the answer shouldn't be a moderation of deeply held believes but a hedging in of the margins and re-embrace of responsible and mature rhetoric. It's the tone that should be moderated, not principles and vision.
Exactly.