Posted on 10/25/2009 3:32:51 PM PDT by thisisthetime
An increasingly popular movement in this country is that of libertarianism. Ron Paul most recently brought it into the national spotlight with his token run for the White House. However instead of this movement being focused on liberty another concept jumps to the forefront, non-interventionism.This is a foreign policy which holds that political rulers should avoid alliances with other nations and avoid all wars not related to direct territorial self-defense.
However, the belief that there are barriers or certain limits on how liberty must be pursued seems to be the mantra of many libertarians. The whole idea of non-interventionism as well as that freedom cannot come by force, are flawed ideals to hold.
While non-interventionism can be useful and freedom may not in some cases be able to be brought by force, this does not mean that these ideals or principles should be followed in all cases. These as well as all policies should be subordinate to the main principle of liberty. This country was founded on the principle of liberty, and efforts to preserve that liberty should be pursued at all costs.
The great conservative Barry Goldwater said it best, I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.
Furthermore I submit that freedom can and has come by force time and time again. Germany and Japan are two examples of this after World War II, and they have both worked out well. Imagine what it would be like if we did not impose freedom there.
(Excerpt) Read more at thewoodwardreport.com ...
And on that other issue, I continue to believe that Libertarianism is about legalized drugs, with all other issues trailing far, far behind.
All we are saaaying, is give war a chance.
“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is it’s natural manure.” - Thomas Jefferson
I would not call war GOOD - I’d say necessary at times but never good. Until you’ve actually had to fight one it is easy to say that war is good. Take it from someone who was at one time eyebrow deep in war and killing and take it from me war should never be seen as good.
No.
But being that some humans have a propensity to take away other people's lives and liberty and freedom, and will always do that, there are always going to be times when war is unavoidable, in order to stop people like Hitler and Saddam, and bring liberty and freedom.
But war in itself, is not a good thing. Maybe, you should visit some of the veterans in hospitals some time. Nobody likes war for war's sake.
I copied this quote from a web site. Its should not have had an apostrophe. Or was it correct to have one in Jefferson's time? If not, and the quote is correct, one would expect the great man to have known better.
Don’t think Clear_Case was saying war was good for war’s sake.
Apparently not, I say, citing the Obama administration.
I think that war, like violence, is a highly undesirable option, and must be avoided at all costs, but it may be resorted to after all peaceful means have been exhausted. There are times when not resorting to war in order to prevent a greater evil can be disastrous. World War II was definitely a necessary war. During wartime, I think it is extremely important to maintain a system of moral conduct-for example, avoiding civilian casualties. However, I also acknowledge the fact that sometimes, upholding morality (for example, refraining from a crucial attack because it is detrimental to the environment) can draw out the war even longer, result in more casualties, and make the situation more grueling for everyone. All of these consequences must be born in mind before waging a war, which must be recognized as the heavy undertaking that it actually is.
>>> Apparently not, I say, citing the Obama administration.
I agree.... Therefore, war is not necessary to preserve it.
However... when we consider the amount of time that it took to defeat liberty in this country through our education system, we must be realistic about the amount of time it will take to restore it.
The cold war never ended... and we were fools for thinking we had won it.
Armed revolution may be very necessary if we do not have the same patience our enemies had in defeating us... but we better start doing something quickly to combat this bloodless war, or a bloodbath is inevitable.
I agree with most of your post #11 except that avoidance of civilian casualties during total war is nigh impossible. If civilian casualties were minimized during WWII, it’s hard to imagine how much worse they might have been had they not been.
Yes.
How many tyrants have surrendered power when axed nicely?
War is only good in a hierarchy of goods and evils, since war is preferable to slavery. If policy objectives can be achieved by a use of force short of war, so much the better. If those objectives can be achieved by diplomacy (with an implied threat of force), so much the better still.
>>”Is War Necessary to Ensure Liberty?”
>
>How many tyrants have surrendered power when axed nicely?
I think that question would be best asked the ax-man.
>>...It is its natural manure.
>
>I copied this quote from a web site. Its should not have had an apostrophe. Or was it correct to have one in Jefferson’s time? If not, and the quote is correct, one would expect the great man to have known better.
Another possibility is that it was spoken and whomever wrote the quote made the mistake.
The correct question is “WHICH war is necessary to ensure liberty?”
Some military campaigns exist only for the liberty of [some of] those executing them. Just because our boys are at war does not mean the war is necessary for our liberty.
Some wars are, of course, vital to ensuring liberty.
I believe it was General Sherman, during our Civil War, said “War is Hell!”
Many times he has been quoted; “War is Hell!” And we all know is the only good part about war, is winning it, and it coming to an end.”
But war is not Hell! Wars come and go, but hell is for all eternity!”
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