Cursing dissent2

[erudito]

From an email correspondent responding to my previous post on cursing dissent:

The treatment of right wing dissent by the Left is curious. They instinctively want to silence it because they see it as evil rather than merely different. Yet the existence of a few (fewer the better) right wing dissenters serves as a convenient alibi for the Left,

Comments

*random person dropping in*

[oronoda]

I think a lot of people realize that you have to have dissent in order for Politics to work. It is the same with competition in the economy.

Thomas Jefferson said that dissent and argument was healthy and necessary. You have to be constantly questioning your beliefs to be honest to yourself and to understand WHY you feel that way. A lot of liberals fail to realize that without the conservatives, there would be no balance.

As one of my state reps said to me once, "You can't take politics personally. It is supposed to be about the people. Not about you."

Re: *random person dropping in*

[erudito]

Agreed. Cass Sunstein has written a particularly good book about this, which I have previously posted about.

[tcpip]

This is the same Thomas Jefferson who prescribed castration for those engaging in consensual sodomy, right?

[oronoda]

Not everyone has a perfect track record. He also said that the tree of liberty must be periodically fed with the blood of patriots.

Regardless of who says it, it is a good point.

[taavi]

If I want to see the sort of behaviour you're talking about, all I have to do is google Anne Coulter. It's hardly restricted to the left side of politics.

Context

[erudito]

And Ann Coulter is wildly treated with the contempt she deserves.

In Australia, such behaviour makes you respected mainstream figure. Provided you do it in the service of approved causes.

Re: Context

[catsidhe]

You are, actually, completely correct.

Re: Context

[catsidhe]

And sometimes the mere attempt to treat Anne Coulter with her deserved contempt is itself considered worthy of opprobrium.

Although I note in the comments that even that echo chamber doesn't like her much.