I have a new piece up at Discourse addressing again the question of the “supply-side progressives” who want to go back to a pro-growth version of a leftist big-government approach.
I think the number that are open to seeing some problems with progressivism will be dwarfed by the number of new adherents. I mean, if people actually cared about reality they would have abandoned socialism and progressivism long ago. Heck, even those open to seeing the problems don't really change their ways. The handful who do don't amount to a hill of beans. Rinse and repeat.
But seriously, I'm not that pessimistic. I think the backlash against overly big government is inevitable, since its failures are inevitable. But dogmas die hard, and some people are going to have to be dragged along kicking and screaming.
I'm normally very much an optimist. I just think the backlash is slow, the realization takes time, and new adherents for socialism/progressivism accumulate more quickly than than those who realize the problems. At least, that's my current thinking until I see otherwise. Will reality and actual advancement on the ground overwhelm people's thinking? I hope so but have my doubts on that.
I think the number that are open to seeing some problems with progressivism will be dwarfed by the number of new adherents. I mean, if people actually cared about reality they would have abandoned socialism and progressivism long ago. Heck, even those open to seeing the problems don't really change their ways. The handful who do don't amount to a hill of beans. Rinse and repeat.
Your optimism is infectious.
But seriously, I'm not that pessimistic. I think the backlash against overly big government is inevitable, since its failures are inevitable. But dogmas die hard, and some people are going to have to be dragged along kicking and screaming.
I'm normally very much an optimist. I just think the backlash is slow, the realization takes time, and new adherents for socialism/progressivism accumulate more quickly than than those who realize the problems. At least, that's my current thinking until I see otherwise. Will reality and actual advancement on the ground overwhelm people's thinking? I hope so but have my doubts on that.