We live in intolerant times. A former Secretary of State is disinvited from speaking on campus. Corporate leaders are forced to resign because of their views on marriage. People are forced by the courts to violate their consciences. A prominent Senate leader calls Tea Party activists “anarchists” and, in a speech reminiscent of McCarthyism, brands the businessmen-philanthropist Koch brothers “un-American.” The Internal Revenue Service””harking back to the Johnson and Nixon eras””is accused of targeting individuals and groups for their political views. And government leaders routinely ignore laws they are sworn to uphold.
This is more than intolerant. It is illiberal. It is a willingness to use coercive methods, from government action to public shaming, to shut down debate and censor those who hold a different opinion as if they have no right to their views at all.
The article betrays the all-to-familiar ideological bias of its author – there is more than enough “intolerance” and “bias” on the other end of the spectrum.
“They do it too!” is not much of a defense, and at the moment, the power in the executive branch and in universities is solidly in the hands of the left, who are using it to attempt to coerce and silence the right. For the record, if or when conservatives take hold of the reins of government I will oppose efforts to use government force and regulation to silence leftist dissent.