Inside Ronald Reagan A Reason Interview (Conservative Vs Libertarian)

Chuck Muth's News & Views EXTRA ^ | July 1975 | Reason magazine

[Optimist]

RONALD REAGAN(1975--30 years ago!):
"I think that libertarianism and conservatism are travelling the same path."
"Government exists, of course, for the defense of the nation, and for the defense of the rights of the individual."
"one of our sacred rights–to be stupid."
"You can’t tax business. Business doesn’t pay taxes. It collects taxes."
"I think that the United Nations today is virtually impotent"

[Optimist]

Ping list BUMP

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

[TOUGH STOUGH]

Place marked.

[Copernicus]

This certainly helps explain why I have fewer problems with the Reagan Administration's ideas than I do with the Bush Administration's ideas-though it is strange to see Chuck Muth ,of all people, trumpet the history lesson.

Many thanks for the post.

Best regards,

[howard wolf]

Reagan 2004. Even at room temperature, he's the best choice.

[Bob J]

Please go to the FR Reagan Vigil thread and pledge to organize/attend a vigil for Ronald Reagan in your area!

[VaBthang4]

[jerrydavenport]

Every individual is born a libertarian.

In his personal life, he stays a libertarian right till the end, rejecting other's influence in his personal life.

The different ideologies result from man's desire to dominate others and to impose his views on them.

However libertarianism in social life would lead to chaos and anarchy.

First of all human intellectual development isn't uniform even with a given society.

Secondly, even the most intellectual human beings haven't yet reached the state of intellectual development where a utopian libertarian society can be practical.

since this requires respect for others, a responsible behavior by oneself and a belief in the higher authority of god to give you faith and hope.

libertarianism is humanity's loftiest dream, but like all dreams a utopian fantasy.

American conservatism isa libertarian realism, the utopian libertarian state tempered with real world social, intellectual, security, and monetary limitations.

[jerrydavenport]

Both the american conservative and non communist liberal ideologies are built around the

same libertarian core

[SierraWasp]

Yes, Reagan and many of us creative, considerate, non-conflicted movement conservatives have a whole lot of libertarian leanings, BUT... having raised two sons, who in spite of their parents and some of their teachers best efforts, have come so close to screwing up their lives with drugs and alchohol... And yes, my firstborn is an avoud Libertarian and I just can't go there with him...

Yes government should not intrude into individual lives, but we're not to a Libertarian legislature yet and government makes laws about the way things ought to be, right now!!! I left the Repellican party recently in disgusted silent protest, but it's like the religion I was raised in... I haven't been a member in over 40 years, but I'll probably never join another one!

I don't need clerics to lead me to Christ and I don't need either Repubs or Libertarians to lead me to the way things ought to be. I'll rejoin the Republicans when they revive Reagan's 11th Commandment and straighten up their ignorant act. They're so out of control right now that Reagan couldn't win a damn primary in CA, today!!!

[FierceDraka]

Hate to sound cliche, but President Reagan was indeed a great man.

I've always felt that libertarianism and conservatism are travelling the same path. For that reason, I can't really understand the derision and scorn libertarians get from many conservatives.

Sure, we've got our "loony libertarians" who want open borders, an isolationist foreign policy, and the legalization of all drugs and prostitution.

But the vast majority of us who call ourselves libertarians would be more accurately labeled "libertarian-conservatives", since we only want decentralized, fiscally responsible, accountable government, and the ability to exercise our right to pursue happiness as we see fit, free of heavy-handed government regulation for the sake of "social policy".

President Ronald Reagan was in no way the affable buffoon his political enemies in the Democratic Party and their big media allies tried time and time again to portay him as. Indeed, he was a man of great intellect, insight, honesty, and principle, who had the ability to articulate the ideals that made America the great nation we are in a manner that few in our history have been able to match.

[RussianConservative]

state of intellectual development where a utopian libertarian society can be practical.

There has never been nor ever be Utopian anything. When ever anyone begin to talk of Utopian it sends shivers down my spine...it ALWAYS mean deaths of millions of None conformists.

[Know your rights]

come so close to screwing up their lives with drugs and alchohol

So the legality or illegality of the substance made no difference; looks like a pro-libertarian argument to me.

[Know your rights]

Sure, we've got our "loony libertarians" who want [...] the legalization of all drugs and prostitution.

But the vast majority of us who call ourselves libertarians would be more accurately labeled "libertarian-conservatives", since we only want decentralized, fiscally responsible, accountable government, and the ability to exercise our right to pursue happiness as we see fit, free of heavy-handed government regulation for the sake of "social policy".

What are criminalization of drugs and prostitution but government regulation for the sake of "social policy"? Why should adults not be free to pursue happiness through prostitution and drugs (other than alcohol, which is a legal drug that few conservatives want to criminalize)?

[ActionNewsBill]

Yawn. More irrelevant BS from FR's resident liberty-hater.

[VaBthang4]

[ActionNewsBill]

Please show me and the others where and how Ronald Reagan was a "Fifth Columnist."

[jerrydavenport]

There has never been nor ever be Utopian anything. When ever anyone begin to talk of Utopian it sends shivers down my spine...it ALWAYS mean deaths of millions of None conformists
well thats exactly what i said. That it's impractical unless the whole society is at that intellectual plateau.

[Know your rights]

it's impractical unless the whole society is at that intellectual plateau.

Why? Doesn't libertarianism allow for imprisoning those who don't respect the rights of others?