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June 03, 2003
Whats' In a Name?
Its been apparent for some time that the labels "Republican" and "Democrat" are not as useful as they once were. For example, how does a Republican stand for less government but then turn around and give to government sweeping police powers designed to crush the Constitution under its polished boots? How does a Republican hold that competition is good but then ram through sweeping changes in FCC rules that would do just the opposite?
Conversely, how does a Democrat say they are for the environment but then do everything they can to erode the beaches by building illegal sea walls so that they can increase the size of the pricey ocean-front mansions? Or how does a Democrat support public education but send their children to exclusive private schools?
Others, more perspicacious than I, have taken up the challenge. For example, fellow Daynoter Dr. Jerry Pournelle (see it here and rationalist Steven Den Beste (see it here) have tried to create new ways of describing the political arena.
Perhaps these are the first steps to a more descriptive language when speaking about politics. But I'm struck more by the contradictions in the new labels than by what they cover. In either case, we need new ways of describing ourselves and these are two efforts at starting the ball rolling.
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