L. Neil Smith: Time for a Purge? (https://ncc-1776.org/tle2008/tle466-20080504-02.html)
I agree with the point of view overall, and with removing people from party functions democratically, but I don’t agree with the purge approach to political parties. I think the party needs to be able to contain mistaken and misguided attitudes. In a tolerant and diverse political party, the radicals have an opportunity to join and compete effectively.

The way the factions talk about each other in the U.S. LP is very troubling to me and I can’t see how they can come to an understanding, especially if some of it is due to basic fear of not being accepted by society and being considered a crazy person because of so-called radicals you are associated with. “We will never win if we are seen as radical”. Actually you will never appeal to anybody if you compromise your principles or fail to apply them correctly. Besides, the radicals are the ones who are most motivated and zealous.

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