Jordan Kushner writes, "I beg to differ with Mr. Brauer apparently
characterizing the phrase 'hardcore DFL hacks' as an 'inflammatory label.'
For reasons to now be explained, this is a substantive label which was
supported by the content of my previous post. My definition of a 'political
hack' is someone who actively participates in the political process but is
not significantly motivated by any genuine commitment to principles,
ideology, or other substantive philosophy or issues. Political hack
motivations might include blind social group or party loyalty, desire for
personal economic or political gain, a mere enjoyment of the game-playing
aspects of campaigns, or any combination thereof."
That Jordan can define his terms does not mean that they are not
inflammatory. The problem with Jordan's definition is that Jordan evidently
gets to decide who is a "hack" and who is "motivated by . . . genuine
commitment." I cannot imagine that anyone will voluntarily embrace and wear
the label "hack" as Jordan defines it. Since Jordan's definition depends on
the subjective state of mind of the person being labeled, and since neither
Jordan nor anyone else can know with certainty what another person is
motivated by, I suggest that we ought to give each other the benefit of the
doubt.
It is fair to ask what "principles, ideology, or other substantive
philosophy or issues" are driving a particular viewpoint. It is fair to ask
whether someone is consistently advancing the same "principles, ideology, or
other substantive philosophy or issues"--which is, as I understand it, what
Dean Kallenbach has been questioning about Dean Zimmerman's stand on saunas.
But it is not fair to assume that anyone who disagrees with you is
necessarily uncommitted, unprincipled, or motivated by "blind social group
or party loyalty, desire for personal economic or political gain, a mere
enjoyment of the game-playing aspects of campaigns." The label "hack," as
Jordan defines it, implies such an assumption.
BRM
Brian Melendez
St. Anthony West (Ward 3)
_______________________________________
Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy
Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more:
http://e-democracy.org/mpls
