Via Smitty, today I learned about another one of those "ers" labels that I have become increasingly uncomfortable with. This one is "Tenther", and it has been coined on the left as an insult to those who actually take the 10th Amendment to the US Constitution seriously. After doing a little research this morning, it appears to have followed an increasingly popular script:
- Find a single word to define your political opponent.
- Attach "er" to the end.
- Narrowly focus on the most extreme examples to define the term.
- Apply the term broadly against all who use related arguments, no matter how moderate or reasonable.
Thus anyone who points out that the 10th Amendment is supposed to constrain the federal government in reasonable ways can be labeled a "Tenther" and lumped in with someone who rants about interstate highways and Social Security being unconstitutional, and so dismissed out of hand.
I think people are getting pretty sick of that, among other, tactics. The frustration and anger that people are feeling is being reinforced and increased as the left and the establishment slap a label on them and dismiss them with an airy wave. And I think that frustration and anger is far broader than most people realize. It's not going to just go away and it's not going to let itself be marginalized by a silly label.
One last thing: I find it interesting that Federalism has regained enough stature that the left feels it must pay attention to it now.
Plus: Waiting for O-Dough: Act I. Get it? Get it? No? Well, check it out.
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