Shared Cognitive Dissonance

Right and left share a little cognitive dissonance with regards to their view on the role of government especially when comparing domestic and foreign relations. On the left, government is seen as the "last best hope for mankind" (apologies to B5) with regards to a plethora of social programs but at the same time the scourge of the planet with regards to its presence overseas. On the right, social programs are viewed as a necessary evil to be minimized wherever possible because of their corruption, inefficiency, and waste but at the same time seen as a ray of hope and bastion of democracy in a corrupt wicked world. The truth, as it so often does, most likely lies in neither of these two extreme positions. (That's all to this post).
Really!