Apocalyptic views hinder constructive political debate

[elleng]

A sizable chunk of the conservative movement is convinced that the nation is headed toward a kind of Marxist dictatorship. It doesn't just think the government was wrong to bail out Wall Street, or that the health-care program is too costly and unwieldy, or that schools should include more religious instruction.

Instead, these people think our morals have sunk so low and our political leaders have become so unresponsive that the rule of law is breaking down in America. In interviews with members of the crowd at the Lincoln Memorial, I found that many shared such an apocalyptic view of a country on the wrong track.

But when pressed for evidence of such severe deterioration, they didn't offer very compelling examples. . .

It's a pretty good accomplishment that even archconservatives nowadays want to lay claim to part of King's record. Now they need to see that liberal government programs aren't the equivalent of Maoism.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/28/AR2010082803848.html?hpid=topnews&sid=ST2010082704942