Totalitarian "Progressives"?

Carol Platt Liebau | September 24, 2009 4:29 PM

David Broder has a very interesting column up. He sets out the argument that Obama's big picture liberalism -- which relies on supposedly "rational" analysis to remake large chunks of a society -- is poorly suited to democracy and representative government.

Set aside the fact that "rational" analysis isn't really enough when formulating policy -- it also requires not only number-crunching but a realistic understanding of history and the human character and human condition. What's more arresting is the apparent implication of the argument that Broder presents: Wouldn't it follow that big picture liberals like Obama would be more comfortable with a more authoritarian (maybe even totalitarian) form of government?