“Sanity is not statistical”

There are few things more fascinating to watch than liberals hyperventilate to the point that they lose the basic ability to construct even a rudimentary argument. It’s not pretty, but like a car wreck, it’s hard to turn oneself away. Consider this letter in the current issue of The Economist:

SIR – Sadly, the Republicans have rediscovered the joys of opposition. Nothing as slight as a national crisis is going to make them shift from ground that seems so politically advantageous. Yet despite its considerable flaws, the stimulus bill does have substantial broad support—among voters. Perhaps, in time, the Republican rump will come around, but I would not count on it any time soon, especially when newspapers such as yours are prepared to treat their claims of high-mindedness with such undeserved respect. [Emphasis added]

The writer is essentially arguing that Congress should pass the stimulus, even though, admittedly, it has “considerable flaws”– because it’s popular. (Notice the lack of any discussion of its effects.)

And that’s not all. In the same letter, the writer accuses Republicans of engaging in “politically advantageous” pandering by opposing that same allegedly popular program.

With President Obama’s approval ratings still at healthy levels, we may yet see more similar defenses of policies he supports to be based on popularity — couched in more diginfied terms, such as “mandate,” of course.

It’s always good to keep in mind Winston Smith‘s greatest discovery: “Sanity is not statistical.”