Posted by The peddler of old dreams on August 10, 19100 at 01:32:46:
In Reply to: Generally speaking the public distrusts extremists of any kind posted by The peddler of old dreams on August 10, 19100 at 01:25:31:
: It's only when things are really bad that people turn to an out and out leftist (FDR during the depression) or an out and out rightist (such as Reagan after the humiliations of the Carter era). Goldwater was slaughtered for being too right wing. Bush Jr has had to stress his "compionate" side. Look at all the recent Republican presidents apart from Reagan: Bush Sr, Ford, Nixon, Eisenhower - all from the moderate, kinder gentler wing of the party.
: As for the US liking "small government", it just means that there is a very weak executive and legislature and that it is through the judiciary and the crazy legal system that effectively you get all the characteristics of "big government" i.e. mive interference in people's lives and business affairs. I think most people would prefer power to rest in the hands of the executive and legislature - at least they are elected, instead of everything being determined according to how a relatively small number of unelected individuals happen to interpret the wording of laws that were devised decades ago. A genuine example of small government would be Italy where all the branches are weak, nothing ever gets done. No wonder Italians are the most enthusiastic supporters of a European government.
: By the way, talking about crazy right-wingers, what has happened to your friend, Sir Kingsley? Did he find Wulf's ruthlessly logical mind too much to cope with?