My Examiner column today takes off from the observation by Arnold Kling in his new book Unchecked and Unbalanced, that “knowledge is becoming more specialized and dispersed, while government power is becoming more concentrated.” Kling argues that this causes government to “become less satisfying to individuals,” from which observation I proceed examine the negative reaction of the American public to Democratic health care and cap-and-trade legislation.

I was pleased to see that in the latest issue of Democracy, newly edited by Michael Tomasky and featuring articles by several thoughtful liberals, my very favorite liberal thinker, William Galston, commenting on E. J. Dionne’s review of Alan Wolfe’s book and describing the current plight of American liberalism, advances arguments that are similar to Kling’s. Here are some illuminating excerpts, but you should really read the whole thing.