Why the Left Hates Debate (and Always Has!)

Marion Smith / January 11, 2011

Many leftist journalists, bloggers, and talking heads are shamelessly exploiting last weekend’s tragedy in Tucson, Arizona. To them, there is a lesson to be learned in this senseless act of violence by an undeniably troubled man. The New York Times’ Paul Krugman says he was even “at some level, expecting something like this atrocity” to happen. Krugman concludes: “If Arizona promotes some real soul-searching, it could prove a turning point. If it doesn’t, Saturday’s atrocity will be just the beginning.”

This fear-inducing argument is a tired and worn-out Progressive prescription, one that rejects the reality of the American political tradition and the ultimate benefits of having a citizenry that embraces a strong spirit of self-government.

Despite all the calls for a more polite public discourse, history reveals precious few such models. Since the founding of the United States, the political scene has been anything but serene. Alexander Hamilton, in Federalist 1, anticipated the intensity of many public debates in America when he noted that: (more…)