The Three Languages of Politics: Talking Across the Political Divides

by Arnold Kling

For example, in his 2012 book Libertarianism: What Everyone Needs to Know, Jason Brennan writes: American politics has two large camps. The first camp advocates an American police state—one that polices the world at large while policing its citizens’ lifestyles. It advocates having government promote traditional Judeo-Christian virtues. It wants to marginalize or expel alternative modes of life. The second camp advocates an American nanny state—one that tries to nudge and control the behavior of its citizens “for their own good.” Both camps support having the government manage, control, and prop up industry and commerce. In rhetoric, a vicious divide separates the two camps. Yet when in power, the two camps act much the same.21

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