Re: The author's characterization of unions as always inimical
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03 Feb 2025, 03:48
OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
Immoderate, extreme.
In this sentence, the author has described unions as "always inimical" (meaning harmful or hostile) to economic growth. If even his "adherents," his devoted followers or admirers, could not take this claim seriously, then this claim must be too far-fetched to believe. "Immoderate" (exceeding reasonable limits) and "extreme" both fit this meaning well. "Temperate" and "lax" would both indicate the opposite-a relaxed or balanced position. And though the author's writing might be "impressive" or "splendid," neither of those would make the characterization hard to take seriously.