Let's Be Pragmatic
My brief essay on pragmatism, elicited in part by Barack Obama's own professed pragmatism, has been posted at Theolog, the blog of the Christian Century.
It begins:
It begins:
Much has been made of Barack Obama's professed pragmatism. And not everyone is happy with the idea. After years in the wilderness, some are simply hoping for a more left-leaning government.
To others of us, Obama's pragmatism is attractive because we're practical: we're more interested in what works than in ideology. In times of trouble, we want our leaders to stand together and find solutions to our problems.
And it continues here. . .
Comments
If the last 8 years have proven anything, it is that modern "movement conservatism" of the Goldwater-Reagan-Gingrich-Bush II-type is what is impractical and leads to government that cannot work. Rigid leftwing ideology might do the same, but the American left IS pragmatic.
Take universal single-payer healthcare: It would not only lead to a healthier America, it would help in the revitalization of American manufacturing by eliminating the biggest labor costs. (If GM had been a Canadian corporation, for instance, even with the same bad management, etc., it would not have needed government loans--because the savings from Canada's universal healthcare would have netted GM an additional 20 billion in profits!)
Compared to single payer, it is the half-way forms of healthcare reform, including Obama's plan, that are impractical--and far more costly.
The American Left IS pragmatic--which is why we back a slightly left of center bi-partisan who could get elected rather than a Dennis Kucinich or Green Party candidate Cynthia McKinney. For the most part, we are happy with the way that Obama is charming as much of the GOP and conservatives as he can. We know that getting past partisan divides will help in this crisis. (The story of the "angry left" is a media myth.)
But we are suspicious that the Right will cooperate with the Obama charm offensive and we want to make sure he stands up and doesn't cave in when the GOP decides to knee cap him.