Crazy.

• Author: Rundles, Jeff
• Position: RUNDLES wrap up

I THINK I MIGHT BE CRAZY. OR INSANE. Off my rocker. Looney tunes. Nuts. Barmy. Mental. Tetched. Psycho. Daft. Schizo. Unhinged. Cuckoo.

Why? Because the zealots on either Side of so many of the nation's debates these clays--pick one: gun control vs. the Second Amendment, billionaire tax cuts vs. entitlement spending cuts, defense of marriage vs. gay rights, "illegal" immigrants vs. undocumented workers, ad infinitum - are so convinced that they alone speak the truth, that they alone are the voice of sanity, that it must he that anyone Who sees at least some merit in each position and would seek compromise must be the crazy one.

I should seek political asylum, but I'm afraid that as a moderate that's just where they'd put me--in an asylum. I just want to talk, but oh no, that won't do; pick a pigeonhole so we know whether you're with us or agin us.

They'd all tell me to shut up but they don't have to since moderation can't be heard above all the yelling in any case. Besides, who would listen? Listening is crazy.

See? That proves it. I listen, I seek out the logic of any and all arguments before forming an opinion, and the older I get the less sure I am about anything. God, I must be crazy.

As I write this, it is the 50th anniversary of the plane-crash death of Patsy Cline, who was, of course, famous for a song called "Crazy." I have a friend who absolutely hates Patsy Cline and she thinks I'm crazy for liking Cline's music, so I guess that is more proof positive. I woke up hearing that song on the radio and it has further solidified for me all day that crazy is my condition.

I got to thinking about all of this because of the gun control debate in the Colorado legislature, not to mention around the country, and all of the people packing the state house in absolute support or absolute opposition to the gun control bills wending their way through the house and senate.

Everyone seems to understand that we need to do something to combat the senseless slaughter of innocent people, and innocent children, but there is absolutely no consensus on what approach to take. Or rather, there are two absolute consensuses, and never the twain...