Sunday, May 15, 2005
Idealism is Good
Daniel Henninger had a piece in the Friday WSJ that I really loved.
Bush 43 has it all over his father when it comes to "the vision thing." The nation and the world are better for it.
Atop the Bush template sit the oft-repeated words "democracy and freedom." This is the D&F model. The standard criticism of Bushian D&F is that it is too idealistic. But the Bush speech explicitly admits that point, arguing that "it does not end" with independence and elections. Democracy's promise, he insists, is gained only by equal justice under a rule of law, secure rights for minorities (a 21st century sine qua non), a media that isn't phony, viable political parties, an independent judiciary and limits on executive power.Idealism is a guide. Things never get better if we lack a vision for where to go. Ideals form that vision.
Too ambitious? As opposed to what alternative? The status quo? The status quo is called managing festering grievances, aka, the 20th century. Been there, died doing it.
Bush 43 has it all over his father when it comes to "the vision thing." The nation and the world are better for it.
