Is Reactionary Politics Morally Justifiable?

Understanding Ron DeSantis and the American Right isn't difficult. They're reactionaries—and they're reacting against something in particular.

Since this is a subscriber-only post, I suppose I can say things I would otherwise avoid saying. As I get older (and hopefully but not necessarily more wise), I’m finding the experience of being attacked online to be somewhat irritating—for somewhat counterintuitive reasons. I tend to get energized by Twitter pile-ons, which is a problem, because more energy encourages my happy warrior instincts. To be criticized and even hounded for something I believe reminds me of why I do what I do in the first place. I’m a believer. I don’t always practice what I preach, but in this case I try to. I view intellectual combat and contentiousness as the lifeblood of democracy, and it’s also something that I actually do on a regular basis, for both better and worse.