I think Art's application of the label "extremist" to Uncle Jacque is a symptom of the syndrome. If someone opposes your very reasonable position they must be an extremist. After all, you wouldn't hold such a position if it wasn't reasonable. ;^)

I'm not flaming Art. He's handy to illustrate the problem. Abortion is one of many questions where you can argue both sides very morally, intelligently, and emotionally. Both sides are right. The thorny problem is finding a middle ground when both sides draw lines in the sand, and both are right.

This is where I rant about the lack of unslanted data to use in finding the middle ground. Slogans abound, but information doesn't. How do you use the power to tax, when both sides throw "Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics" at you. ;^)

Jeff Smith