Spartism

Every so often, I'm reminded of why blogrolled Dave's Part. Although he does occasionally lapse into hilarity-inducing Labour tribalism, every so often he comes up with some serious, thought-provoking goods.

Like this:

OK, DO you want to cheerlead the guys that throw acid in schoolgirls’ faces, or the men who killed dozens of Afghan civilians in an airstrike on two stolen fuel tankers last week? Hopefully, by the time you have finished this post, you will agree with me that such a proposition represents a false counterposition for the left.

Among many other points, was this, something I happen to agree with quite firmly:

Given the welter of conflicting principles on offer, in the nature of the case the majority of the left prefers to base morality on weighing up the consequences of major politic choices. The pro-war left has frequently invoked the introduction of liberal democracy to Afghanistan as good grounds for supporting the war.

We might want to call the idea that liberal democracy can be imposed by force of arms the Fukuyama Fallacy. It has been put to the test, and found wanting, in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

With perhaps the sole historical - but nevertheless partial - exception of Japan, democracy has always arisen either organically or not at all. Few of the pro-war left can look upon the putrid and corrupt vote-rigging government in Kabul with any sense of satisfaction.

I urge you to go read the whole thing, especially if you consider yourself "of the left".