Required Reading

Robert Samuelson explains what “reform” means in modern politics:

By casting their agendas as reforms, political advocates don’t aim to stimulate debate and discussion. They aim to suppress it. They aim to stigmatize adversaries as nasty, wrongheaded, selfish or misinformed. If you’re in a debate, you want to be the “reformer” and you want the other guy to be the “obstructionist.” Once you’ve achieved that, you’re halfway to victory. You’ve shifted the contest away from substance — an argument over principles and practicality — and toward symbolism, where your symbol is superior.

Go read the whole thing already.