What's on the agenda menu?
It's important to give recognition to those who discuss the big picture - I can prattle on all day about the moral bankruptcy of those who hate our country while eagerly devouring the bounty it bestows on them, but that doesn't mean I've offered a positive alternative, and plenty of pundits fall into the same routine, trashing the trashers without offering sufficient specifics on what really and truly needs to be done.In that spirit, I'd like to echo our always-informative team at National Review, whose "Corner" blog (http://corner.nationalreview.com/) linked to this article recently:
http://www.claremont.org/writings/crb/fall2006/voegeli.html
I think you'll find it a good discussion of where the 'big ideas' debate is at.
I'm still rather shocked by the vehemence of those critics who snarl endlessly about the evils of Bush and everyone who voted for him, especially when they begin to discuss what they think should actually be done - it's chilling stuff. For example, I'm still waiting for John Kerry to explain how he would have fought the war on terror with more "Sensitivity", and more importantly, how that would have been more effective.
The same applies to the larger debates:
-Do you really believe that more spending on schools would improve them? Such spending has been on the rise for decades and hasn't helped; why should it be any different now?
-Do you really want the government and society in general having more control over the way you live your life? This admittedly vague query at least forces you to think about what would be appropriate boundaries and roles of government. (Warning! For effectiveness, do not turn this question into a referendum on abortion or gay marriage; we'll have plenty of other opportunities to beat those drums.)
-Do you believe in equality? (Yes, of course, it's a trick question!) Does equality mean that if the population is 10% black, that this statistic must be reflected in any grouping of people, by force if necessary? Does equality mean that you should pay a higher percentage of your income to taxes as your income rises? If so, what formula should be used to calculate that 'fair' taxation?
-Do you believe that George Bush's foreign policy is a miserable failure? What would you have had him do differently, and how would that have been more effective? (Warning: calling for more dialogue or negotiation is often a quagmire of its own!)
Honest answers to these questions are welcome. Anyone want to try? Anyone who's actually running for office? Let's hear it.
posted by ET @ 1:20 PM
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