Sunday, August 8, 2010

Should We Join with Today's Conservatives?

The FaceBook group "Being Conservative' reminds us that “The Constitution remains under constant attack! We must be prepared to make a difference! ‘Like’ if you will be standing with us!!!”

Just remember, while you are standing there thinking that you are standing with patriots who love our Constitution, you are also standing with men and woman who would empower the state to bring "men with guns" to enforce prohibition (anti-drug laws, etc.), to force pregnancies (anti-choice laws), and to dictate which groups of consenting adults can call themselves married (so-called "defense of marriage" laws).

Are you sure that you are so callous about the rights of individuals that you can bear to support today's conservatives? Do you think that their definition of "limited government" is worth the devil's bargain they have made with the Religious Right which invites these intrusions by the state upon individual rights? Do you think that an entity that acts to shred the Declaration of Independence, and the understanding of Individual Rights and Liberty therein, is worthy of your support?

I don't!

How can we reconcile these differences, between true Libertarians and the new conservatives? You can start by recognizing the difference between convictions and policies.

You may have the conviction that drugs are evil, but making that a policy infringes on the rights of other individuals.

You may have the conviction that abortion is morally wrong, but making it a policy subjugates a woman's body to the State and infringes on the rights of other individuals.

You may have the conviction that homosexual marriage will destroy the institution of marriage and should be banned, but making it a policy violates the "equal protection" clause and infringes on the rights of other individuals.

Notice that nowhere am I telling you that your convictions are wrong! But I am telling you that if you advocate these policies, you are acting in a way that is un-American, in that you are supporting the right of the state to infringe on the rights of individuals!

Do you hear me Didier? Do you hear me Rossi? Do you hear me Dr Paul?