Principles vs Details - How Not to Lose the Argument

We Conservatives/Libertarians/Constitutionalists often fall into a trap because we are only human, and find it difficult to resist engaging the Progressives/Marxist/Statists when they say something stupid, false, cruel, ugly, mistaken, threatening or evil.

That's the trap, you see.

If you offer money to a woman for sex and she doesn't slap your face, but starts arguing about the details of the transaction, she's pretty much ceded the underlying concept that she's a whore.

If you offer a citizen Socialized Medicine, and she doesn't slap your face, but starts arguing about the details of the bill, she's pretty much ceded the underlying concept of the possibility if not the legitimacy of Government-Run Health Care.

The citizen's reaction should be as sharp and instantaneous as the virtuous woman's: Outrage at the mere suggestion of such a concept, and its utter rejection on Principle.

The only correct response is to avoid debate on the details, and denounce the concept itself—on PRINCIPLE—and never let the baiting of the Left suck you into a false argument.

It is our principles of Individual Liberty, Limited Government and the Free Market that the very idea of Socialized Medicine offends. And that must be our argument. And we should make it clear to all that we will not dignify with debate or discussion, the details of a concept we find un-American, unconstitutional, immoral, reprehensible, repugnant and entirely unacceptable - on Principle!
There should be no discussion of any supposed "good" points in the monstrosity called ObamaCare. The entire thing must be rejected —on Principle!— from the beginning. Any suggestion of compromise will only impugn our characters as willing participants in the despicable Progressive house of ill repute.

wtp