Charles Krauthammer writes excellent commentaries. I consider him one of the very best columnists this country has to offer.
But his latest column, titled “Thought Police On Patrol”, – is especially important – an absolute must-read.
In it, Mr. Krauthammer, through example after example, shows us that the left – empowered by a likeminded President and his Accomplice Media – has, in no small part, become a totalitarian enterprise.
I, of course, urge you to read the entire piece. But, for the moment, here is just a taste:
Twomonths ago, apetition bearing more than 110,000 signatures was deliveredto ThePost,demanding a ban on any article questioning global warming. Thepetition arrived the day before publication of my column, whichconsisted of precisely that heresy.
Thecolumn ran as usual. But I was gratified by the show of intolerancebecause it perfectlyillustrated my argument that the left is entering a newphase of ideological agitation – no longer trying to win the debatebut stopping debate altogether, banishing from public discourse anyand all opposition.
Theproper word for that attitude is totalitarian. It declares certaincontroversies over and visits serious consequences – from socialostracism to vocational defenestration – upon those who refuse tobe silenced.
The newest closing of the leftist mindis on gay marriage. Just as the science of global warming is settled,so, it seems, are the moral and philosophical merits of gay marriage.
Tooppose it is nothing but bigotry, akin to racism. Opponents are to besimilarly marginalized and shunned, destroyed personally andprofessionally.
By that logic,the man whom the left so ecstatically carried to the White House in2008 was equally a bigot.
Tothis magic circle of forced conformity, the left would like to addcertain other policies, resistance to which is deemed a “waron women.” It\’s a colorful synonym for sexism. Levelingthe charge is a crude way to cut off debate.
Thus,to oppose late-term abortion is to make war on women\’s”reproductive health.” Similarly, to question Obamacare\’smandate of free contraception for all.
To what does contraception owe its exalted status? Whyshould it rank above, say, antibiotics for a sick child, for whichthat same mother must co-pay?
Ortry objecting to the new so-called PaycheckFairness Act for women, which is little more than afull-employment act for trial lawyers. Sex discrimination is alreadyillegal. What these new laws do is relieve the plaintiffs of provingintentional discrimination. To bring suit, they need only to showthat womenmake less in that workplace .
Likethe WhiteHouse, where women make 88 cents to the men\’s dollar?
As readers of this blog know, I agree with the conclusions of the left on many issues – including gay marriage and abortion rights (until there is a beating heart and brain activity – certainly not late-term).
But what I, or they, or you, believe is not the point. The point is that, in a free society, all sides must be heard. And when one side tries to deny a hearing for the other, or tries to pre-condemns it before any such hearing takes place, this is not the free society I have in mind.
It has been said – and I agree – that the further to the left or the right you go, the more likely you are to wind up in the same place. In that connection, it is interesting…and dispiriting…to note that, when it comes to the free exchange of ideas, the fascist right and totalitarian left are not only in the same ballpark, they are in the same seat.
