I think it is fair to conclude that American Liberals are reluctant to co-exist with anyone on their Right.... I wonder when else, in the history of controversy, there has been such consistent intemperance, insularity and irascibility as the custodians of the Liberal orthodoxy have shown toward conservatives....

William F. Buckley Jr.

in "Up From Liberalism"

Last week Eric Mathison took exception to my previous column that pointed to the fallacies of political correctness and multiculturalism.

His response reflected typical liberal musings that leave those on the left feeling good even as they drift farther from the political and cultural roots of American order.

Eric's use of "tolerance" in his headline was especially interesting, since many liberals display an increasing intolerance for ideas and causes with which they disagree.

Many more conservatives than liberals are shouted down or barred outright from speaking on college campuses-just one example of the left's intolerance for anyone who dares to challenge their views.

Likewise, many liberals consistently vilify public officials and candidates on the right. When has an American president been compared to Hitler as often as George Bush? (This verbal assault betrays a profound ignorance of history on the part of these "critics."

Eric also extols multiculturalism in America as a virtue that sets us apart from rule by tyrants. Yet the aberration of multiculturalism, which is grounded in cultural and moral equivalency, rejects American exceptionalism that springs from liberty.

If we lose this understanding of our unique identity as a people, then we are lost as a nation.

Eric's rebuttal, which purports candor, is instead dismissive (as in his reference to "simplistic red-meat slogans"), as Mr. Buckley noted liberals instinctively do instead of engaging conservatives in open, two-way dialogue.

There is more to say about this but it must wait, for a local controversy continues to rear its ugly head ...

A TUNE from the 1950s musical Damn Yankees begins with the enticing line, "Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets."

By replacing her name with that of Ron Sims, one of the most determined political strongmen in Washington history, we gain insight into the autocratic nature of King County's executive.

As the saga of Lora Lake continues, it becomes increasingly clear that Mr. Sims has little regard for Burien's constitutional autonomy-not if the city doesn't do what he wants.

This is a lesson that every city in King County-apart from the obvious exception of Seattle and possibly Bellevue-should heed.

What Mr. Sims wants in the present instance is to saturate Burien and, quite possibly, every other city in south King County with affordable and low-income housing.

Both he and Democrats who control the county Politburo display a blatant disregard for property rights (except for their homes, of course).

Apparently it matters not that over 80 percent of rental housing in Burien is affordable or low-income, compared with 46 percent in the rest of King County.

Or that Burien has converted no existing apartments to higher priced condominiums since 2000, compared to 5,500 such conversions in Seattle and over 1,000 just in Federal Way.

Or that Burien needs more land for commercial development to generate both jobs for city residents and revenue for city services-and that it has planned to do this in the Northeast Redevelopment Area, which includes the Lora Lake Apartments at a prime location.

If low-income housing advocates were as concerned about the shortage of affordable apartments as they say, they would be working to develop them elsewhere instead of trying to limit Burien's growth.

Land for affordable housing is available in Seattle's Sandpoint and Magnolia communities. Or do would-be neighbors there not want those developments in their back yards?

And, having told airport cities a decade ago to absorb the financial and environmental impacts of the third runway, it's time for the region to reciprocate.

Other King County cities need to shoulder greater responsibility for building low-income housing-not just pricey condos-instead of dumping on Burien yet again.

Port of Seattle commissioners will reconsider the Lora Lake issue on Aug. 9. Interlopers with no interest in Burien will be there to speak out. Advocates for the city must do the same.

The views of Ralph Nichols are his own, and do not necessarily reflect those of Robinson Newspapers. He can be reached at ralphn@robinsonnews.com or 206-388-1857.