Which is exactly the kind of rigid ideological test that makes the Libertarians a permanent fringe party.
What I think we need to do is find the lowest common denominator that can build a majority coalition of people who will certainly not agree on everything on your cafeteria list.
My own view is that lowest common denominator is personal liberty combined with personal responsibility. I think the four items in your list are products of that common denominator rather than prior requirements to join the coalition.
As long as you’re voting against Democrats and for electable people who advocate more freedom and personal responsibility, I don’t care too much about why you’re doing it.
No, the four principles are in no way requirements to join a coalition. They are my own opinion of requirements to call one’s self a conservative.
Reagan’s coalition had libertarians in it who didn’t ascribe to the traditional values principle and Democrats who weren’t that worried about the size of government. But they were all weary of the Carter presidency and suffering from a misery index that was way too high.
- JP