> Politics is an extension of war by other means. Arguments are soldiers. Once you know which side you're on, you must support all arguments of that side, and attack all arguments that appear to favor the enemy side; otherwise it's like stabbing your soldiers in the back—providing aid and comfort to the enemy.
In recent years people seem to be more and more comfortable with this war metaphor, not as a matter for concern and reflection, but as a subject of pride. Well, of course we have to win the battle of ideas; it's a culture war after all!
When you think in this way, the goal of argument isn't to find what's true, but to win. And if you have to advance some shaky ideas on your side or ignore some inconvenient facts on theirs, well, it's all in the service of a greater truth anyway, right?
But how can you fight a war in the service of truth when truth is its first casualty?