A Libertarian Trapped In a Socialist's Body - Part 1 Continued
The Roots of Liberty
This is my dilemma. I am a Libertarian trapped in a Socialist’s body. It’s interesting that to be a libertarian today is to be considered to be far right. Yet, in my mind the far right is the more authoritarian side of the conservative spectrum. It’s filled with Neo-cons, religious conservatives and, in extreme cases, fascists. Those who espouse a more libertarian political philosophy have a distrust of authority. They want the government to be small and exercise little influence over their lives.
Libertarian ideals were the guiding light of our nation’s founders. These ideals informed the writing of the constitution and the creation of our three branched federal government. As flawed as the U.S. government is, I am still awed by how brilliant it is and how well it works despite its flaws.
The opening line of the Declaration of Independence could not have been formulated except by men that espoused libertarian concepts. The second paragraph where it is stated by the undersigned, “that we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal” (et al) could have only been envisioned by men who were libertarians in every sense of the word and is proof of what our founders wanted to create in a democratic republic. Even though they left out women’s suffrage and the abolition of slavery, but morality is always a progression. First we have the ideal then we struggle to reach it. But the ideal has to exist first.
Liberty is the root of the word Libertarian. Liberty was what the founders of our nation were all about. Despite their association with the far right Libertarians were the original liberals. Unfortunately, Karl Marx irrevocably altered how we view liberal vs. conservative. Since the 19th century we have been struggling with socialist ideals masquerading as liberal.
The fiscally conservative nature of right leaning libertarians such as the Libertarian Party is what lends to this view of libertarians as being far right. But, in truth, to be fiscal conservative is to be liberal. True liberalism embraces a distrust of government authority this includes the collection of taxes and regulation of free enterprise. Our nation’s founders wanted to keep the role of government small - provide for the common defense and keep the wheels of commerce rolling. Everything else becomes problematic.
Every time we ask or expect the government to step in it comes at a great price. It comes with taxes and restrictions. That is what a regulation is. Each time someone on the left cries, “There ought to be a law” they are asking for a restriction to be placed on you and me. That is not necessarily a bad thing. But let’s not call it liberal. It is no more liberal than Rush Limbaugh or Ann Coulter is a liberal. Regulations are authoritarian regardless of what side of the spectrum they come from - left or right.
Sometimes laws do need to be passed. Sometimes we do need regulations and restrictions. The insurance and banking industries are good examples. So is anything related to the securities, investments and the stock exchange as the temptation to abuse and take advantage is almost too overwhelming for so many. The civil liberties act of 1964 is another example. But, generally laws such as these engender liberty. They are about ensuring freedom and equality for all people. They are as important as the bill of rights attached to our constitution.
Laws seeking to ban the rights of same sex couples in marriage or the right of survivorship are the antithesis of liberty. Republicans, who once upon a time led the call to equality for ethnic minorities over their Democratic brethren, should be ashamed of themselves for continuing to support such heinous laws. It was the working class whites of the Democratic Party who saw equality for minorities as a threat. Things have changes in the past 40-50 years as we can all see.