In old Western movies, the climax often took place in a “box canyon.” Some gang was lured into a trap where the high stone walls left no good exit or place to hide. Rifles (with unlimited ammunition) and the ability to gain the high ground dictated how the movie ended.

In the public policy arena, I’ve watched liberals succeed by similarly boxing in their conservative adversaries. Currently we see liberals wanting higher guaranteed salaries (a $30,000 dollar minimum wage) and taxpayer subsidized housing for families with six-figure incomes. These are sold as moral “high ground” ideas and designed to box in conservatives by having them looking cheap or insensitive.