<> On 2012-03-07, at 9:33 PM, Carrol Cox wrote: <> <> But why should any leftist be concerned with arguing against <> libertarians. It's a waste of time...It's harmless, but it is a <> fucking <> waste of their time and the time of other leftists I certainly (even <> if I <> had eyes) would not choose to read a book by someone who wastes his <> time <> arguing with libertarians. <> <> ========================= <> <> There's this young fellow at Yale, admirer of William Buckley, name of <> Henwood, I think it's worth engaging with him, serious guy even if a <> bit <> confused about how to realize his ideals, but could be a real asset <> for our <> side if we could win him over
I was thinking about that this morning, about why Robin's stuff ends up coming off as if he's trying to help his fellows understand why the hell the intelligent brother-in-law at thanksgiving dinner is a Liberatarian or Conservative (or whatever).
In other words, although he may not want anyone to think he's interested in explaining what's the matter with Kansas, it's still there - which he why he fessed up to it in that exchange he had with the NYRB exchange. Whether he intended it or not, people still read him to see why the hell it is that smart people who seem like they should know better don't at all.
I can see the appeal. But I think it goes to something Carrol said about how people equate being smart with being of the correct politics. There's something wrong with that sort of view and I think Robin is, precisely, all about undermining that claim. In fact, IIRC, he says it outright in his book. Which is curious why people want to read his book to help them understand what makes a lib tick and then seem to be excited about using such knowledge to win them over.