Moderation seems to be an ugly word

"The best lack all conviction," the poet Yeats wrote in 1919, "while the worst are full of passionate intensity."

That thought was shared almost 100 years ago, but the essential truth, of course, has not changed.

We live in a world today in which the "true believers" are on the march, especially in the area of politics and social discourse.

Time-honored concepts such as moderation and compromise are being pushed aside in favor of partisanship, shrillness and, in some cases, pure ignorance.

Gone seem to be the days of the two political parties working together. We would be remiss if we didn't acknowledge that it is, to some extent, a one-way street.

There are a few Democrats (notably Southern) willing to work with Republicans and actually vote with them on certain key issues.

The reverse is not the case. One would have to look long and hard to find any of the old-style "moderate Republicans" who once played key roles in our government. This was true not only with Congress, but with the Presidency. Dwight D. Eisenhower would not find a place in today's GOP -- if you don't believe that, just look up his numerous quotes and comments concerning government. He would be hooted out of the party today.

The rare exceptions remaining are some of the New England legislators, such as the two senators from Maine, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins. But even they generally "tow the line" out of fear of party reprisals.

The Democratic Party does seem to be rather inclusive in today's world -- there is a wide range of philosophy and style when one considers that Charlie Rangel and Mike Ross both sit on the same side of the aisle in the House of Representatives.

Our own Sen. Blanche Lincoln, regardless of how one feels about her, clearly is charged with being either too liberal or too conservative depending upon one's perspective. Her votes are not predictable.

In the present-day GOP, one must either be a Tea Partier, or at least a sympathizer, to gain any traction. There is very little room for maneuver.

This development has been so strong that even a long-time legislator such as Utah Sen. Bob Bennett was pushed out in the GOP primary. The two candidates now battling for his seat in the primary vow to "wean the country off Social Security." How's that for a good moderate position?

Even Sen. John McCain is facing a tough fight from a Tea Partier. We assume lots of Arizona voters see McCain as "too moderate" for their tastes.

In looking at the current scene, we are not suggesting that either party has a "lock" on truth and sincerity when it comes to governance. But we totally decry the current atmosphere in which one minor step off the "accepted path" is met with derision and unreasonable opposition.

It has led to such situations as Florida Gov. Charlie Crist abandoning the Republican Party and running as an Independent for the U.S. Senate because of severe GOP opposition -- he dared agree with President Obama on one aspect of the stimulus package.

In our own view, the turn away from compromise and conciliation relates to the desire to be "certain" about every issue that comes along -- nuance and "shades of gray" are ridiculed. To be seen talking with the "opposition" results in the kiss of death. It's sad to watch.

"What men really want is not knowledge, but certainty." -- Bertrand Russell.

"The trouble with the world is not that people know too little, but that they know so many things that ain't so." Mark Twain.

It gives one a warm feeling to be so certain about a political or moral position -- perhaps especially when it ain't so.