Stronger Than We Feel‪.‬

During last fall's American election campaign, television viewers on both sides of the Canada-us border were treated to increasingly vicious partisan commercial spots. And, following a pattern that has grown more pronounced over the past two decades, the most effective accusation is not "crook" or "liar" but "liberal!" (For most American politicians, "socialist" is simply off the insult scale.) Not surprisingly, liberals and social democrats are feeling rather battered as the new millennium draws near, But Michael Ignatieff suggests that the most persuasive argument for the progressive agenda is being written more and more clearly by none other than the "invisible hand" of the global marketplace. There are three key mistakes that progressive-minded people tend to make as we confront the challenges of our times. We know what problems we are facing, but we keep hobbling ourselves, and this has to change. First, we have to stop talking like victims. Second: we have to stop assuming we all agree. And the third mistake is connected to the first: we must stop underestimating our strength.