1/ Boot understands that the way to save democracy from Trump is that “all people of goodwill must come together . . ” He adds that the most “salutary developments of the Trump era is how it has bought Trump’s critics, from the left and the right, together.” 
2/ Boot’s views on this in line with the authors of How Democracies Die, who tell the cautionary tale that Chileans were finally able to get out from under the cruel dictatorship of Pinochet when all sides—left and right—learned to work together and compromise.
3/ Boot also concludes that “America needs a center-right party,” which happens to be exactly what Levitsky & Ziblatt conclude.
In addition, Boot agrees with Levitsky and Ziblatt that center-right party must never compromise support for rule of law or give in to racism.
In addition, Boot agrees with Levitsky and Ziblatt that center-right party must never compromise support for rule of law or give in to racism.
4/ Thus, I think Boot’s ideas for moving forward are spot on.
I saved my criticism of Boot for the end.
It seems to me that Boot projects conservative values onto liberals, and hence misunderstands them.
I saved my criticism of Boot for the end.
It seems to me that Boot projects conservative values onto liberals, and hence misunderstands them.
5/ For example, he talks about the enormous pressure on Republicans to conform.
The right wing values loyalty, respect for authority, and purity, so it makes sense that the right wing forces members to conform.
The right wing values loyalty, respect for authority, and purity, so it makes sense that the right wing forces members to conform.
6/ Then he says, “I assume similar pressures exist on the left that can be just as straightening. . . This is how all . . . movements police their members.”
Actually, as Haidt points out, liberals have a hard time maintaining order among their ranks.
Actually, as Haidt points out, liberals have a hard time maintaining order among their ranks.
7/ Haidt shows the Garden of Earthly Delights as a depiction of how order naturally descends to chaos.
He says with liberals, this happens more quickly. He then jokes that "chaos" is liberals is the 60s.
Recall the cliche: “Republicans fall in line; liberals fall in love.”
He says with liberals, this happens more quickly. He then jokes that "chaos" is liberals is the 60s.
Recall the cliche: “Republicans fall in line; liberals fall in love.”
8/ Cliches tend to contain a grain of truth.
And Will Rogers: “I belong to no organized party. I am a Democrat.”
Remember when the joke was that Dem primaries were circular firing squads?
Boot also projects conservative thinking onto liberals in the speech debate.
And Will Rogers: “I belong to no organized party. I am a Democrat.”
Remember when the joke was that Dem primaries were circular firing squads?
Boot also projects conservative thinking onto liberals in the speech debate.
9/ He seems to assume that the liberal desire to prevent racist or harmful speech is somehow authoritarian in nature and that liberals seek to deny essential liberties (which is how it would look on the right, where the values of control and order are more highly placed.)
9/ In fact, the desire to restrict harmful speech comes from the impulse to protect the vulnerable from harm. Words hurt; Liberals want to protect people from being hurt.
This is, after all, the first pillar of morality: Compassion — and the one most highly valued by liberals.
This is, after all, the first pillar of morality: Compassion — and the one most highly valued by liberals.
10/ Boot also makes the common mistake of conservatives in believing that freedom of speech (in the classical liberal sense) allows a person to say whatever he pleases, even if hurtful.
It doesn't, and never has. I'll explain . . .
It doesn't, and never has. I'll explain . . .
11/ The classical liberal freedom of speech means the freedom to engaged in debate and criticize the government; which is why the First Amendment protects from government control of speech.
Freedom to debate and criticize the government makes democracy possible.
Freedom to debate and criticize the government makes democracy possible.
12/ Classical liberal freedom of speech doesn't give a person the right shout “fire” in a crowded building, make threats, spread deliberate lies, etc.
Saying things that harm fellow citizens does nothing to further the interests of democracy.
Saying things that harm fellow citizens does nothing to further the interests of democracy.
13/ The question is: How we determine which words are harmful or hurtful?
Who decides? Remember, we're talking about words that harm vulnerable people.
The fact is that a privileged white man has no business deciding what a member of a persecuted minority finds offensive.
Who decides? Remember, we're talking about words that harm vulnerable people.
The fact is that a privileged white man has no business deciding what a member of a persecuted minority finds offensive.
14/ Besides, if Boot allows for racist speech under the guise of personal liberty (as per p. 191, Kindle edition) how will he avoid compromising with racists?
From Haight: Moral humility requires understanding that the other side has a reason for what it thinks and does.
From Haight: Moral humility requires understanding that the other side has a reason for what it thinks and does.
