Pragmatic Liberalism: Budarin

In democratic political philosophy the government is perceived to be responsible for recognizing social equality and ensuring equal rights to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness among the governed. Bitter experience has proven that, to meet this obligation, a democratic government must involve itself actively in matters affecting the national economy, the civil rights of citizens, the environment, health standards, etc. If a government does not involve itself and intervene to meet its democratic responsibility, it is not democratic.

This does not mean that democratic political philosophy requires the government to directly operate every institution and enterprise to meet its responsibility. Nor does it mean that a democratic government must be unconcerned about matters of budgets and costs. A government which fails to live within its means creates insecurity for all. The most effective way for a democratic government to meet its responsibilities is through "pragmatic liberalism".

"Pragmatism" asserts among other things that questions of social, economic and political policy should be approached in the same way that we approach questions of physics, i.e., by use of the scientific method, not blind reference to dogma, ideology or doctrine.

"Pragmatic liberalism" proposes that a democratic government act to meet its responsibilities through social, economic and political policies which have stood the test of experience, reflect the current insights of scientific inquiry, and take current realities into account. This is hardly a radical suggestion. But it is certainly not the way policies are being developed now. Our current government disregards experience, derides science, and ignores social, economic and political realities. Dogma, passion and prejudice rule. That approach cannot meet the obligations of democracy, and may well lead us to ruin. It must therefore be opposed.