Charleymane could have put his question more politely, no question about it.
But you didn't seem to clarify, in the initial post, whether the term "moderate" was meant to apply to the tone of the forum, or to its political/social content, or to both.
If to tone, that makes sense -- there's enough ranting around that a respite from it is welcome.
If to political/social content, there are some issues where a moderate position is certainly possible -- the economy, tax policy, tort reform.
But isn't it legitimate to wonder whether there are some issues for which the term "moderate" is meaningless? What, for example, would be the "moderate" position on the war in Iraq, abortion, the Israeli-Palenstinian issue, drug legalization?
Of course, nor is there a clear liberal position on some of these issues. I am a great admirer of Nat Hentoff, who is certainly a card carrying liberal, but who finds that the principles of liberalism require opposition to abortion on demand and support of the war in Iraq. He has written clear-headedly on both issues, and I frankly find little fault in either of those positions as he expounds them. |
