Posted on 10/08/2013 7:05:56 AM PDT by Belteshazzar
A classical liberal was characteristically guided by disinterested logic and reason. He was open to gradual changes in society that were frowned upon by traditionalists in lockstep adherence to custom and protocol. The eight-hour work day, civil rights, and food- and drug-safety laws all grew out of classically liberal views. Government could press for moderate changes in the way society worked, within a conservative framework of revering the past, in order to pave the way for equality of opportunity in a safe and sane environment.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...
Medieval Liberals - 10/08/2013 6:14:46 AM PDT · by reaganaut1 · 5 replies
Already posted! We all do it but it teaches us to check for prior posts!
A lot of us can't be on FR 24/7 and don't catch every post. I'm glad this was posted a second time. I never would have seen it, otherwise.
Rather than being stalwart for liberty, this suggests VDH is ok with a slow government movement to restrict liberty in whatever way the bien pensant think is best for all.
The idea of liberty is not congruent with a government changing the way society works. The later idea is more in tune with Cass Sunstein's Nudge.
Once you accept the idea that government changes society even moderately, then government will be used to address bigger and bigger problems.
Ping to an outstanding essay.
I agree that government has become too intrusive into socio-religious territory. I disagree with a fear of allowing any governmental impact on society. Social changes often spring from technological advances, such as the sea change that happened when the printing press was utilized by Gutenberg, the movement from agriculture-based to industry-based economies, or the computer revolution (for good and for evil).
Government does need to respond to potential abuses that accompany changes arising from radical changes that are inherent in a free market system. That said, those changes should always err on the side of the most good for the most people.
Unfortunately, today’s jurisprudence errs on the side of license for ever-smaller slices of degeneracy, not freedom for the majority (including freedom from government interference).
VDH is always good. Hits the nail on the head every time.
Very good! Thanks for the ping!
This essay would make a very interesting class assignment for ‘reading comprehension.’ Of course that would never happen, because today’s teachers are products of the same indoctrination that started in the 60s.
Calling all teachers!!
To continue the analogy, members of the MSM are members of the new nobility.
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