Is it ever right to collaborate with the right wing??

[KamaAina]

I'm in an ethical quandary here. We just had a high-powered disability activist come out here to argue against physician-assisted suicide (as practiced in Oregon and the Netherlands). She feels that PAS puts the lives of people with disabilities at risk. Here's her article on the subject:

http://64.143.22.161/assistedsuicide.html

Trust me. Marilyn is every bit as progressive as I am (and that's saying something!) And yet...

The 1999 California bill went down to defeat, due in part to an opposition coalition spanning the political spectrum from left to right. That coalition represented disability rights organizations, workers, poor people, physicians and other health-care workers, hospice organizations, Catholics, and right-to-life organizations.

The other night she put her theory into practice. There I was, in a hotel room, laughing and talking over pizza -- with anti's!! I was swapping jokes and stories with perfectly well-mannered people who just happen to want to replace our government with a Christian theocracy! A giddy, queasy feeling, indeed...

And so, there it is: is is right to deal with the Devil in order to get what you want? Marilyn says Yes, and she backed it up by pointing to the debate over the Patriot II act, in which good progressives like the Center for Constitutional Rights are working with FReeper/militia types who happen to like civil liberties. But still, I just can't shake the feeling that I'm in a bad sci-fi flick, and the woman handing me a Family Forum pen is one of the Pod People...

What say you?

[stopthegop]

1. FDR partnered with Stalin during WWII

hard to get much worse than Stalin (as bad as Hitler, just didn't export it as much)...so there's precedent...

[KamaAina]

3. That was actually one analogy that I'd thought of!

Nice job, stop!

[pink_poodle]

2. In my opinion, they can spin any topic they want but they are and.........

always will be insane, corrupt, ignorant assholes. But that's just what I think.

[wryter2000]

4. If they're right

If they're right, even if for the wrong reasons, I say do what's right. Another example is recent resistance to FCC rulings about consolidation of media outlets.

[Bucky]

5. Madisonian democracy

Temporary alliances among diverse interest groups is the essence of Madisonian democracy. It's one of the founding principles of our Constitution. If you accomplish a short term goal and don't poison yourself by allying with them, then any support on a single issue is ethically permissible in a democracy.

[rock]

6. Would you deal with a criminal?

This question has the same answer as yours.

[bloom]

7. Yes - Just because you disagree on one subject does not mean you do on all

as you pointed out in your story.

It doesn't mean that you would necessarily agree on a political candidate....

[leftofthedial]

8. Nader conspired with PNAC in 2000

there is precedent

[Nikia]

9. Yes

That is the way to get things done. Refusing to work with someone because they differ with you over other issues only strengthens your common opponent.