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Hugh Segal and the
Cult of Compromise
Dear Editor,
Re: "Leaders may want to unite the right, but voters don't" -- by Hugh
Segal -- April 18-20, 1998 -- Financial Post
According to Hugh Segal, the Conservative party could never unite with the Reform
party because Reform (allegedly) approaches issues in terms of "yes and no,
bad and good" whereas Conservatives pursue "compromise."
Hence, for a Conservative there are no objective standards by which a principle can
be assessed as true-good-practical. Whenever confronted by opposing principles, the
Conservative must not evaluate which is on the side of reality and justice (that's
"ideological," Segal would say), or worry about such annoyances as individual
rights. Rather, the Conservative should seek compromise.
The logical outcome? A pressure ("special interest") group runs to Ottawa
to seek special favours and handouts at the expense of others. The smiling Conservatives
-- in the spirit of compromise -- give them, say, half of what they want. Other groups
catch on and scream bigger demands, getting half. And so on.
Soon, many people realize that honesty, hard work and productive ability are liabilities,
whereas barking out demands, lying and lobbying are the keys to "success."
Soon, the economy deteriorates under the weight of punitive taxes, suffocating red
tape and massive debts, while "national unity" dissolves into pressure
group warfare.
But, no worries. Hugh Segal will be there blaming the crisis on "extremists"
who see things in terms of "yes and no, bad and good," and he'll go on
urging everyone to compromise harder.
Sincerely,
Glenn Woiceshyn
© 1998 Glenn Woiceshyn.
All rights reserved. This article can be found on-line at at http://www.capitalism.org/glennw. |
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