Newt Gingrich, who knows about such things, once stressed in his GOPAC tapes that “language matters,” and encouraged Republican politicians to repeatedly apply the term “cynicism” against Democrats as a way to “define our opponents.” This was one of their “contrasting words” used to bring people onto the side of the “optimistic, governing” Republican party. It seems odd to me to criticize hyper-partisanship with a term that has its own, recent partisan history.

If we are worrying about the risks of perpetuating a shrill, unproductive, and unsatisfying rhetorical battle, then perhaps we should consider retiring a term that was used, very effectively, to start this partisan battle in the first place.

Best wishes,

DM

The history of rapid health gains in the United States is not unique; the rate at which death rates have fallen is even more rapid in more recently modernizing countries. The usual explanations for this dramatic improvement—better medical care, nutrition, or clean water—provide only partial answers. More important in explaining the decline in death worldwide is the rise of hope … [through] the introduction of the transistor radio and television, bringing into the huts and shanties of the world the message that progress is possible, that each individual is unique and of value, and that science and technology can provide the opportunity for fulfillment of these hopes.

Perhaps that requires creating a politics, and if you’re creatng a politics you might as well try to create a good one.

But that apocalypse is out there looming where it is not already in progress, and it’d be ridiculous — not to mention infantilizing of the people you’re trying to reach — not to at least mention it, I’m thinking.

“environmentalists believe they can create a great ecological politics out of apocalypse, liberals believe they can create a great progressive politics out of resentment; they cannot.”

The other bits are face saving excuses for past and current gaffes, a sweetener that may make it easier to swallow bitter medicine. Take the medicine. Get well.

More seriously, this just seems empirically wrong. Without taking a position on the rightness or wrongness of left-wing movements as such, it seems strange to say – as this implies – that e.g. the successes of organized labor in either the US, Britain, or Ireland had no component of mobilizing people based on anger and resentment.

Not to be harsh or anything, but come on. Look, ma, conservatives and reactionaries! I’m so glad I’m more generous and large-minded than they are, and that I can get to second base with the future on a first date. Thinking about how good I am makes me feel extra good about myself.

If you want simple-minded, that quotation isn’t a bad place to start.