Many thoughtful people are trying to make sense out of present day politics. I wish them well. One view is from Chris Nolan (see his post here). His is a prescription for what he calls Progressive Libertarians.
Conservative's reliance on organization and structure and lines of authority make it out-of-touch. The Republican Party's anti-gay, anti-abortion and anti-immigration rhetoric is also unattractive. But they are equally unimpressed by the high-flying rhetoric of the Left with its conspiracy theories and "us v. them" rich v. poor rhetoric. In a world where the individual works best - and succeeds the most - the class warfare of the Democrats looks backward when taking for large corporations and giving to labor, taking from the wealthy and giving to the poor, worked and worked effectively. The pro-union, patronage politics that has come to characterize the Democratic Party - its version of the corporation, as slow moving as the Republican's - is also deeply disturbing.
The first group to articulate a philosophy - and political philosophy is always rooted in economics - and move past these out-of-date views is the one that will run national politics in this next generation.
I don't know if his neo-utopian view will come to pass [insert standard disclaimer here] but I put it out there for your consideration. My own view is it won't and that we will continue on into our own Dark Ages, led by well meaning, but seriously flawed neo-cons who have faith, but no light.
