To the Editor:
Joey Borson '07 says that we should drop unwieldy political labels like "liberal" and "conservative" because they don't allow us to accurately represent our politics ("The death of political nuance," Nov. 2). Instead, he urges us to have long conversations with each other about our positions on specific issues. While this proposal is noble, it shows a lack of faith in the descriptive efficiency of the English language. Political labels are essentially tools for coalition building - they allow us to quickly identify specific clusters of associated beliefs and categorize them as necessary.
Sure, "liberal" and "conservative" are blunt instruments, but if we are looking for more precise descriptors, I urge the use of "libertarian," "New Democrat," "neoconservative," "log cabin Republican," "NASCAR Dad" and other, more colorful terms before resorting to a lengthy heart-to-heart.
Barron Youngsmith '06
Nov. 2
