The so-called Triumph of the Moderates

If I read one more editorial announcing the mid-term election as a triumph of moderates, I am going to...what am I going to do? Drink? Hmmm. Depends on the time of day. Scream? Pointless, might wake the neighbors. Throw up? No, not into that sort of thing, but the last time I listened to sports talk radio it sure seemed to be popular among the listeners ("If the Brutes don't sign Jimmy, I am going to be so mad I am going to throw up."). Sit down at the computer and rant?

Bingo!

I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue! -Barry Goldwater

I have this love-hate thing with Goldwater. On the one hand I admire his cojones, and his understanding that moderation is not some be-all, end-all. On the other hand, he was one of the pioneers of the Western "Conservatives" who hijacked conservatism (see Reagan, Ronald W.) and replaced it with the strange blend of libertarianism and highly selective sexual morality issues to produce the so-called neocons.

However, Goldwater's statement, with some modifications, is a good one. If we either remove the problematic term "liberty", which in the case of Goldwater is too saturated with the exaggerated concept of individual autonomy that his liberal ilk bow down to, or make sure that we are endorsing a thoroughly Catholic understanding of Liberty, then it is fine.

What is better is if we replace "liberty" with "the Good, the True, and the Beautiful."

Extremism in the pursuit of the Good, the True and the Beautiful is no vice. Moderation in the pursuit of Holiness is no virtue.

It could be a, dare I say it, bumper sticker!

Instead we get moderate left-liberal milquetoasts and moderate right-liberal milquetoasts wringing their hands over "these ex-treeeeem-ists."

Oh, yes, we know. If only these moderates would have control of everything, and these ex-treeeeem-ists, who are really just selfish because they won't compromise THEIR truths, then the world would be one big bubble bath of peace and free markets (and, whoa! without these ex-treeeeem-ists mucking things up, we could probably even sell people and people parts on the free market. Think of the profits).

Ah, gotta love the lukewarm. Despised by both Heaven and Hell.