Washblog

Imagine adding the word, political, in front of the word "sin" in this passage:

"Given the magnitude of the real problems that confront us -- terrorism, nuclear proliferation, the spread of infectious disease, failing infrastructure, lack of adequate funds for education and health care, etc. -- our war on sin is so unwise as to almost defy rational comment. How have we grown so blind to our deeper interests?"

Harris describes here exactly how I've been feeling about the criticisms over style and ideology -- not infrequently made in the form of personal attacks -- that I observe around me.  
Glaciers are melting, soldiers are coming home broken in body and spirit, our Bill of Rights -- and science and reason themselves -- are under siege. These are big problems, matters of survival.  In response, we need a radically practical politics.  I believe that progressives can no longer afford doctrinal politics.

More strategic tolerance across all the social and political divides -- not just among progressives -- would do us good.  As Jim Hightower says, the real political divide in this country is not left to right, but top to bottom.  The plutocrats have been extremely successful at their crazymaking: getting regular people who should be allies to hate each other. We have handed much power to the plunderers.