Walzer and State Power - Reader comments at The New York Sun

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Between Liberalism and Leftism

Submitted by Dan, Dec 14, 2007 17:56

According to Mr. Kirsch, "Mr. Walzer takes for granted that the way to remedy the injustice of exclusion is an expansion of state power." I don't believe this statement, taken alone, presents Walzer's views on state power correctly. Walzer does not believe in an indefinitely expanding state. Though Walzer has confidence in the state, and Mr. Kirsch's portrayal of his idealization of the New Deal is generally accurate, Walzer acknowledges the possibility of political tyranny through communitarian initiatives and their administrations. Walzer is aware that bureaucrats can be tyrants, and his confidence in state power is limited by this ackowledgement.

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Comment	By	Date
A good essay. I like the clear explanations of the terms used in the original. I especially like the use... [MORE]	pat	Jan 28, 2008 01:58
I'm perplexed by the move from "there are no objective standards by which we can judge other cultures" to "the... [MORE]	matt r	Dec 23, 2007 22:49
Liberalism and socialism are incompatible. They are polar opposites. [MORE]	Robert Lynn	Dec 16, 2007 20:26
According to Mr. Kirsch, "Mr. Walzer takes for granted that the way to remedy the injustice of exclusion is an...	Dan	Dec 14, 2007 17:56
mr. waltzer wrote a very interesting, if elliptical, account of the emergence of the parliamentary mentality and its agent, the... [MORE]	dano	Dec 17, 2007 13:54
Mr Kirsch sets up a false dichotomy when he says it is either to sit in peace under one's own... [MORE]	Steve Meikle	Dec 14, 2007 14:17