Here is a review of an intriguing new book by University of Virginia professor Jonathan Haidt. Haidt’s argument is that conservatives know liberal arguments far better than liberals understand conservative arguments. Liberals (as Haidt refers to statists, authoritarians, collectivists…) are really not much interested in the battle of ideas. They’re mostly content to impugn the motives or belittle the intelligence of those who have the temerity to argue against their plans for remaking society.
A bit of evidence I would add is the way John Stossel is treated. He has often said that conservatives are at least willing to listen to his libertarian case even though it conflicts with such conservative articles of faith as the war on drugs, but that the left simply demonizes him for dissenting from their articles of faith such as economic planning by the state.
