I read Jacoby’s article in the LA Times over the weekend, summarizing her theory.
I am a typical white middle aged guy, into God and guns. I opine very regularly on bloga and to editors of newspapers…three letters were published in LAT last year, one so far this year, FWIW.
I usually address letters to columnists of articles I comment on, if possible. Some respond, most don’t. Even if there are glaring errors of fact or logic. None seem interested in engaging in debate.
Same especially for anti-gun writers such as Laura Washington, who continues to misinterpret the 2nd Amendment and deny the impact of “shall issue” programs regularly.
Certainly there are people on the right who are similarly not interested in engaging. Most of the ones I meet are tired of talking to blank stares or being called racist/sexist/hating Gaia, etc.
Obama’s utter clueness about marginal tax rates and capital gains is a good example of why debate is so hard. The playbook he runs out of has no interest in contrary data. There is no way to debate faith in Marxist doctrine, because it is not about results but about hate, class and envy.
How does one discuss “hope”? Base a campaign on it, generate lots of emotion…but the discussion Jacoby seems to want is impossible.
Leftists are not all at fault, but they have to get over their idea that any disagreement is evil. Otherwise there will not be discussion.
And I agree that is not a good state of affairs.
It takes two to tango…
