I've moved all over the political spectrum. I've been apolitical. When I went to Cal, I moved to the far left and even helped progressives in local elections. I've never been partisan, but I've definitely been ideoligical. Over this time I've had girlfriends from all over the political and ideological spectrum too. Going from a Seattle protestor to now a girlfriend that is a strong Republican supporter.
People that refuse to, or cannot, have relationships with others because of their politics I find distrurbingly arrogent. "I could never live with her; she's a Republican" is one of the few statements that makes me cringe. It actually makes me lose a little respect for the person that said it. It shows a unfounded arrogence that you are absolutely right and you will never find your worldview radically different. It's like the person that only reads publicans that enforce their biases instead of reading material that channelges them to rethink what they believe. These people have already found all the answers in their own mind. But in reality, their growth form the life process is over. They build walls around their mind so they never had to face up to their own intellectual mistakes.
It also places intellect higher than emotion. Sowhat if somebody is from a different intellectual camp. They might still have the same emotional attachment to help the little guy or freeing people from oppression, just find different methods more convincing. They might still be an excellent and caring person. Maybe I'm somewhat more of a romantic than many. I still have a strong believe that love and emotion rules over all intellect. It doesn't matter if she thinks that GWB might not actually be hawkish enough (or at least not hawkish in the right way) or that Michael Ledeen is a brilliant foreign policy advisor.
The whole point of this is that I found an interview with blogger Brad DeLong. He being a Cal professor, I've long been reluctant to criticize him, but after reading the interview, I cannot help but come to the conclusion that DeLong is no longer to be trusted without first researching what he is saying. Here are the two questions that really made me change my mind around him:
If you could effect one major policy change in the governing of your country, what would it be? > Stop electing Republicans.
Do you think you could ever be married to, or in a long-term relationship with, someone with radically different political views from your own? > No.
(entire interview)
The first question shows a clear partisan attack. I don't feel that I can any longer trust what DeLong writes, because he has already drawn his line. He will always attack Republicans (and probably always defend Democrats, especially if the attacks come from Republicans).
The second question shows an undying belief that he will always be right and that he has contempt for those that disagree with him. Neither are good qualities for somebody supposedly interested in truth over party loyalty. I cannot trust DeLong to review his own biases and admit when he was wrong, only to reinforce them and cling to dead ideas long past their expiration.