Demonization and Hysteria as Par for the Course

Facilitating the common good requires the cultivation of a political culture in which people of opposing views can engage each other in good faith and with open minds.  It took a few years for anti-Bush hysteria to work itself up into such a frenzy so as to preclude much of our national capacity to have a reasoned conversation (Theocrat! Facist! Try Him For War Crimes!); it has only taken a few months for anti-Obama hysteria to reach the same level (Un-American! Socialist! Don't Let Him Speak to Our Children!).  Especially for the type of conversation that is key to pursuing the political priorities contemplated by the Church's non-partisan vision of social justice, these are not encouraging developments.