Is This Really the Position of the Left?

squashed:

CNN.com has posted this headline:

Poll: Majority say Obama mortgage plan is unfair

I think they should have used this headline:

We were dumb enough to run a poll asking people whether Obama’s mortgage plan was fair!

Seriously, is this even a relevant question? It might be relevant to ask if people approve of the plan (57% do) or suspect it will suceed instabalizing home prices (55% do). But is the plan’s fairness even relevant? Does it even make sense to ask if a government policy meant in large part to promote stability and social wellbeing is fair? Are food stamps “fair”? Are zoning laws “fair”? Is it “fair” when one soldier gets shipped to a war zone and another gets stationed somewhere stable? Of course not. But maybe it’s necessary or better than the alternative.

Reporting on the perceived fairness or unfairness of a program as if that should be the determining factor essentially assumes the talking points of the right. In truth, the unfairness of the plan is a relatively minor negative. Does anybody who can pay their mortgage actually want to trade places with somebody who can’t?

Apparently, it is now unfair to talk about fairness.

This leaves me speechless.  Well, okay, one speech:  Those of you who don’t care about fairness can continue to support this administration.  Those of you who do care about fairness can join me in opposition to it.  I suspect I’ll be happy with the split.

Source: squashed

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