Comments on: Liberalism Doesn’t Scale (and it shouldn’t!)

By: Rameumptom

Rameumptom — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:01:53 +0000

Steve,

Great post. It actually describes my political views. I’m concerned with those who want no government on any level whatsoever. But I’m also concerned with massive federal government. With a large local government, if I don’t like it, I can always move away or work to get it changed. Not possible with a huge federal bureaucracy.
I remember helping to vote out of office a Republican mayor, who did nothing for a Southern city I lived in for 17 years. But I also voted a Democrat out of the governor’s office, and replaced him with a Republican who was more moderate in his stance.

By: John

John — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:17:50 +0000

Hi Steve

I linked over here from Chris’s blog. Your thoughts are interesting. I wrote along a somewhat similar vein back in January on my humble blog. http://johnxbrown.wordpress.com/2010/01/06/fumbling-the-ball-on-benevolence/

Any thoughts on my suggestions would be appreciated.

John

By: Bill

Bill — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:07:03 +0000

Parents can’t let their toddlers fend for themselves – for instance?

By: Steve Brady

Steve Brady — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:37:38 +0000

Bill, thanks for your thoughtful reply. When it comes to the specific calling of liberalism–the notion of caring for your neighbor–I think we should be more liberal at the local level, but even then only in ways that seek to connect the members of the community.

I am glad you asked this question. Many in my family, myself included, have argued that we should be conservative at the Federal (and in many cases State) level, and increasingly liberal as we get closer to the local level.

I would resist calling for Republicans, or Democrats, at any particular level, because I think this view is something different (I almost wrote “transcends” those names, but I won’t be so bold.) What I am suggesting is that the same people should be both supportive of the liberal/Christian ideal of caring for your neighbor at the local level–where you can see and feel the impact you are having, while simultaneously adopting a more conservative approach at the aggregate.

But wait–there’s more! I have more to say on the flip side of this coin. Liberalism doesn’t scale up, but the Conservative ideal may not scale down very well either.

By: Bill

Bill — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:16:27 +0000

Fantastic points, Steve. Btw, I find Traditional Church much the same – it can go either way. Which leads me to ask:

Does this argument “scale”? Or do these same principles play out differently in local politics? That is, should we let the Republicans run the Federal, and Democrats run the Civic? But what about State? And what about PTAs?

Again, I found myself in complete agreement with your train of thought. But how does this work itself out on the small scale?

By: Liberalism: Biblical but not scalable? – Targuman

Liberalism: Biblical but not scalable? – Targuman — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:30:01 +0000

[...] he had a very interesting post. I will reserve comment and simply suggest that you take a look. His argument: First, the liberal ideal of caring for those around you is not only a good one, it’s Biblical. [...]