'We Need More People in Politics Who Are Divisive'

Jacob Sullum | March 22, 2007

Although I've admired his criticism of the DARE program and other aspects of U.S. drug policy, I probably do not agree with much else that Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson has to say. But as a left-liberal Democrat surrounded by a sea of conservative Republicans, he has a perspective with which libertarians (or conservatives in Manhattan) can empathize:

"There's a real resistance to change and an almost pathological devotion to leaders simply because they're leaders," he said, in describing fellow Utahans who do not share his views and who in large numbers support the president (and gave him 72 percent of their vote in 2004). "There's a dangerous culture of obedience throughout much of this country that's worse in Utah than anywhere."...

"If you take a principled point of view and people fall down on one side or the other, you can either be characterized as being principled or being tough," he said. "Or you can be dismissed as being divisive, and I think if that's the definition of divisive, we need more people in politics who are divisive."