The Sauron-Statist blindness, part 1

I'm most of the way through reading The Lord of the Rings to my 2 year old as a bed time story. The good guys are able to unite and trick Sauron because he is so evil, he cannot understand why the good guys would have a different motivation and strategy than he does. He assumes that they too are operating out of the desire for ultimate power. For one so old, brilliant, and powerful, he was blinded by himself, unable to recognize that others would think differently.

This is a pattern in leftist/statist politics. Assume and accuse your opponent of doing what you do. This was the case recently when Nancy Pelosi accused people who disagree with her position on health care of promoting swastikas, misrepresenting the health care bill, and stopping a civil dialogue.

To agree with Pelosi is to say that anyone who disagrees with her specific brand of state-controlled health care is a Nazi, uncivilized and un-American.

Dissenters are Nazis

What Pelosi says:	Reality:
"They're carrying swastikas and symbols like that to a town meeting on health care."	Pelosi's supporters use swastikas, so she assumes everyone must.

Here's some pictures from protesters in Pelosi's district - yup, the people who voted her into office. [source]

October 26, 2002 and February 16, 2003:

September 24, 2005