So Long As They Meant Well, Everything’s Fine

Only those who take an indecently dim view of historically marginalized groups would question the desire to promote minority homeownership or democracy in the Middle East. After partisan passions recede, it will become increasingly awkward to challenge what Bush was trying to accomplish. ~Austin Bramwell

Never mind that one contributes to numerous foreclosures, defaults and financial wreckage for many institutions, and the other so far tends to empower sectarian parties and foster ethnic and religious conflict. It cannot be that these desires are misguided and unrealistic and result in bad outcomes. If good intentions pave the road to hell, you have to be some kind of troglodyte to point out where the road is going. Glad to have that cleared up.

It will be so “awkward” to challenge these things that most of Bush’s own supporters have already been condemning the former practice (while conveniently omitting Mr. Bush’s role in the mess), and a solid majority seems united behind the idea that democracy promotion, particularly as it was practiced by Mr. Bush and his administration, was a terrible and destructive thing.