committees of the House and Senate.nMoreover, some congressmen and senatorsnspeak at IPS functions, somenpermit the organization to schedulentrips for them to places like Nicaragua,nothers make space available in theirnchambers for conferences, and manynmore solicit budget studies from thenInstitute. And to top it off, presidentialncandidate Jesse Jackson regularly availsnhimself of IPS advisors.nIt is testimony to the moral andnintellectual dissolution of liberalismnthat a body like IPS is tolerated as anmainstream organization. IPS is acceptednbecause liberalism has left itselfncompletely open to penetration fromnthe left, without any standards bynwhich to discriminate between reformersnand revolutionaries. That is whynRobert Borosage thinks he can seizenthe moment and profess to make IPSnan “invisible presence” in the DemocraticnParty. But as Steven Powellnmaintains, the only thing that is invisiblenabout IPS is its real intent: “Operatingnin the open may well provide thenbest cover for pursuing subversive activitiesnin a free society. IPS thrives.nAnd few suspect it of seditious orndisloyal behavior.” Now that Powellnhas successfully unmasked IPS fornwhat it is, there is no room left fornclaiming ignorance.nIPS has more in common with thenKGB than with any conventional liberalnorganization. Moreover, as Powellnnicely documents, KGB agents notnonly speak glowingly of IPS, theyncome and go from IPS seminars on anregular basis, fraternizing with theirnAmerican comrades. The only realndifference between IPS and the KGBnis that IPS activists are not on Moscow’snpayroll and do not spend theirntime exclusively serving the interests ofnthe Soviet Union — in virtually everynother respect they are alike. Both holdnthe US in contempt, both seek tonsmash capitalism and introduce socialismn(IPS associate fellow Derek Shearernadmits to sugarcoating the organization’snpreference for socialism byncalling it “economic democracy”), andnboth support wars of national liberation—warsnwhich are neither nationalnin scope nor liberating in effect.nIt’s ironic: in the Soviet Union,npeople who agitate for freedom andndemocracy are charged by ofiEcial psychiatristsnwith “paranoid delusions ofnreforming society,” and are thennshipped off to the local nuthouse. Innthis country, people who agitate for thendestruction of freedom and democracynare courted by the nation’s culturalnelite, awarded tax-exempt status fornorganizing, and given the opportunitynto become advisors to the President ofnthe United States. And yet with all this,nliberals learn nothing.nIn his excellent introduction to thisnrevealing book, David Horowitz saysnit’s about time we end the taboos thatnstill inhibit honest discussion on thensubject of the left in America. Agreed.nLet us begin by discriminating betweennthose who are unable to thinknclearly about the difference betweennthe US invasion of Grenada and thenSoviet invasion of Afghanistan, andnthose whose profession is to make surenthat the liberal disability remains uncorrected.nThen we’ll be prepared tonunderstand the difference betweennwell-meaning liberals and the gang atnthe Institute for Policy Studies. <^nTHE PRErERENTIAL OPTIONnFOR THE POORnENCOUNTER SERIES, Volume 8nRichard John Neuhaus, General Editorn”The Encounter Series will contribute greatly tonour understanding of the part that faith plays innthe continuing American experiment.”n—GEORGE GALLUP, JR.nENCOUriTERnSERIESnThis volume analyzes a phrase thatnis often used today by religiousnactivists and theologians, “thenpreferential option for the poor.” Itnattempts to uncover, discover, andnassess the various and sometimesncontradictory meanings of thenpreferential option.nEssays in this volume are by Max L.nStackhouse, Dennis P. McCann,nRobert Benne, and GilbertnMeilaender. The story of thenencounter is by David Heim.nAt your bookstore, or call 1-800-633-9326nArising out of conferences sponsored by thenRockford Institute Center on Religion andnSociety in New York City, the EncounternSeries presents the dialogue of a diverse groupnof theologians, ethicists, philosophers, andnpublic policy experts from across the politicalnand religious spectrum.n,WM. B. EERDMANSnllW PUBLISHING Co.n255 JEFFERSON AVE. S.E. / GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. 49503 Paper, $7.95nnnJANUARY 1989/31n