David Brooks & some responses
In the Sunday (May 8) New York Times David Brooks tried to make the argument that Bush's recent proposals to "means-test" Social Security so that the benefits went only to the poorest beneficiaries was a "progressive" policy recommendation. As such, it was calling the Democrat's bluff to show that they would not accept anything he offered, even a good, solid progressive suggestion.This is how Brooks characterizes the Democrats because of their somewhat less than enthusiastic response to Bush's proposals: "They're faking it. They don't care about virtue, or you or the common good. They're just taking opportunistic potshots under the guise of sermonizing. They're just a bunch of hypocrites."
Needless to say, I did not accept Bush's proposals as either reasonable policy or being offered in good faith, but that's just me.
Today (May 10) the New York Times letters published some letters they received in response to Brooks' column. Brooks' views didn't go over very well with the letter writers, either.
I can't help wondering if Brooks really believes the stuff he writes. Sometimes I think he does, and sometimes I suspect it is all just a con game to him to write such outrageous stuff. At the moment I am a bit more in the second camp.
posted by Richard @ 6:16 PM
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