December 18, 2002
SAINT EDMUND:
The problem with the right (Paul Greenberg, December 18, 2002, Townhall.com)The problem with the right is that it spawns ideologies incapable of the compromises success demands. For now, conservatives, both paleo- and neo-, make common cause, which explains their electoral success. But at any time the right could split, spinning off Pat Buchanans to the right, libertarians to the left, leaving the cause reduced to a few lonely readers of Edmund Burke.
There's much I'd disagree with here, but that bit's right on. Of course, we're happier that way because it confirms our rather dismal view of mankind. Our misery does not love company. Posted by Orrin Judd at December 18, 2002 2:55 PM
Comments
I swear Greenberg wrote that column by doing a Google search on "problem with the right" and taking the first 30 results. He probably knocked it off in 20 minutes.
His point about the fragility of the Republican coalition would hold even more of the Democrats once they lose power: the only thing uniting the various Democratic interests is the idea that they can profit by collaborating to plunder non-Democrats. Once that opportunity disappears, they'll quickly run out of common ground.
Just about all of these problems can be equally applied to the left. Politics is politics.
Posted by: JasonU at December 18, 2002 3:57 PM