"Why Are Jews Liberals"?

So apparently Norman Podhoretz has a new book out titled "Why Are Jews Liberals?" I haven't read it, but that won't stop me from offering my 5-cent answer.

Why do most Americans oppose raising taxes on the rich? We're told it's because every American pictures themself someday being one of the richest 1%, and doesn't want to be taxed when they succeed.

I submit to you that most Jews, no matter how comfortable, successful, or assimilated, know that at any moment we could be the outsiders once again; it can all be taken away, like it was in England in 1190, in Spain in 1492, in Germany in 1933.... "Remember what it is to be a stranger, for you were a stranger in the land of Egypt."

So we're liberals not only because our religion urges certain forms of social progressivism. Just as many people oppose taxing the rich lest they themselves become rich, we oppose oppressing the downtrodden because we expect to once again, someday, be outcasts.

"Why Are Jews Liberals"?

So apparently Norman Podhoretz has a new book out titled "Why Are Jews Liberals?" I haven't read it, but that won't stop me from offering my 5-cent answer.

Why do most Americans oppose raising taxes on the rich? We're told it's because every American pictures themself someday being one of the richest 1%, and doesn't want to be taxed when they succeed.

I submit to you that most Jews, no matter how comfortable, successful, or assimilated, know that at any moment we could be the outsiders once again; it can all be taken away, like it was in England in 1190, in Spain in 1492, in Germany in 1933.... "Remember what it is to be a stranger, for you were a stranger in the land of Egypt."

So we're liberals not only because our religion urges certain forms of social progressivism. Just as many people oppose taxing the rich lest they themselves become rich, we oppose oppressing the downtrodden because we expect to once again, someday, be outcasts.