I suspect that Brad DeLong represents what might be called centristism. I like Brad personally. He's very smart and articulate. But let me get back to my idea about centristism.
Centrists have two choices in life. They can seemingly randomly pick and choose among ideas or policies from the left or the right. Living in this no-man's land, they lack a real identity. Brad represents the second alternative. He self-righteously denounces all deviations to the left and to the right. Only a narrow band of alternatives merits his approval. Like Paul Krugman, when he strikes out on common ground, we can roar with approval. Today, Krugman may be the most effective mainstream voice denouncing the Bushists. Like Brad, he is very effective in inserting his voice in the mainstream media. Reading what he says about the current administration makes it hard to remember some of his ugly behavior relative to the Clinton administration. This sort of centristism calls out for an erratic dogmatism that is intolerant of all deviations. I can understand the dogmatism of the Christian right or even the secular right. They have a logical consistency -- at least in rhetorical terms. The centristists seemed to choose some narrow middle ground almost randomly and then defended with a ferocity that seems irrational. -- Michael Perelman Economics Department California State University [EMAIL PROTECTED] Chico, CA 95929 530-898-5321 fax 530-898-5901
