Two four letter words that have been in the news lately: "Gaza" and "Kelo"

Dummocrats.com ^ | August 15, 2005

[FortRumbull]

I was thinking today about two four letter words that have been in the news lately: "Gaza" and "Kelo".

The Supreme Court's ruling in Kelo v New London was roundly panned. People on the left and the right were appalled that a person's home could be taken from them for a potential economic benefit.

Today Israeli settlers in Gaza are being forcibly removed from their homes with little such outcry. Rather than dwell on the losses being inflicted on those individuals, we're sold a different story:

While the withdrawal from Gaza has long been demanded by Palestinians, it is in Israel's interest as well. It will free up Israeli soldiers who have been devoted to the defense of far-flung clusters of Jewish housing surrounded by hostile Palestinians. It is a rational response to the demographic challenges that threaten to leave Jews a minority unless Israel loosens its hold on the West Bank.

I wonder why the individual homeowners in New London are treated like tragic heroes, while Gaza settlers are labeled "extremists" and "hard-liners". To me, there are a hell of a lot of similarities going on here (ignoring for a moment that Gaza settlers don't have the US constitution to appeal to). In both cases, government is taking something from the individual for some nebulous greater good.

Of course, it shouldn't be surprising. The same people that wanted to make public policy out of what Terri Schiavo's family said are the same people attacking Cindy Sheehan now. And vice versa. Too many of us are focused on the outcomes we want at the expense of what good government is, so we'll hold up a representative individual to acclaim or scorn, depending on whether we agree with their politics.