Cog at The Abstract Factory:
The fact is, Goldberg doesn't care in the least whether what he says is true and well-reasoned, and neither do his backers and readers. Goldberg's function is not to say things that are true, nor is his function to present a reasoned argument. Goldberg's function is to spew forth some roughly grammatical stream of words that appear to reinforce conservatarian ideology, so that his readers can listen, nod, and feel vindicated in their beliefs.
And --- this is what's really maddening, all the outrages I've brought up wouldn't matter in the least except for this point --- virtually all right-leaning commentators, running the gamut from David Brooks to Rush Limbaugh to Glenn Reynolds, whether consciously or not, perform roughly the same function, and they're wildly effective. The entire right-wing movement is like a hovercraft floating on the perpetually roaring whirlwind of sub-rational, self-reinforcing nonsense that gusts through the minds of its adherents. It goes on and on and on, and nobody stops the people who feed it; most of the time, nobody with a prominent voice even stands up to them and calls them on their nonsense. For writing this column, and numerous other pieces of garbage like it, for filling people's minds with offal, Jonah Goldberg will never face judgment; he'll die peacefully, with a fat bank account and a kid gloves obituary.
Right. "The Mighty Wurlitzer" exists to produce sounds pleasing to the conservatarians, and to drown out words and music that might make them think. Right-wing argument is the epitome of rationalization; they start with the desired result, and never leave there. It puts me in mind of a toddler with a favorite toy. No matter what arguments or facts are presented, they want what they want and they should have it because they want it. It is somewhat admirable in its single-mindedness. Other than that, it's a complete disaster for our country and for the world generally.
(Via Julie Saltman.)
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