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Libertarians: Chirping Sectaries
David O. McKay Library, Brigham Young University ^ | 11-09-06 | Russell Kirk

Posted on 11/09/2006 1:18:32 PM PST by Keltik

[Final two pharagraphs]

So in the nature of things conservatives and libertarians can conclude no friendly pact. Conservatives have no intention of compromising with socialists; but even such an alliance, ridiculous though it would be, is more nearly conceivable than the coalition of conservatives and libertarians. The socialists at least declare the existence of some sort of moral order; the libertarians are quite bottomless.

It is of high importance, indeed, that American conservatives dissociate themselves altogether from the little sour remnant called libertarians. In a time requiring long views and self-denial, alliance with a faction founded upon doctrinaire selfishness would be absurd-and practically damaging. It is not merely that cooperation with a tiny chirping sect would be valueless politically; more, such an association would tend to discredit the conservatives, giving aid and comfort to the collective adversaries of ordered freedom. When heaven and earth have passed away, perhaps the conservative mind and the libertarian mind may be joined in synthesis-but not until then. Meanwhile, I venture to predict, the more intelligent and conscientious persons within the libertarian remnant will tend to settle for politics as the art of the possible, so shifting into the conservative camp.

(Excerpt) Read more at emp.byui.edu ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism
KEYWORDS: antilibertarianism; conservatism; libertarianizethegop; principles; sourgrapes
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To: Keltik

BS


21 posted on 11/09/2006 1:37:04 PM PST by Sunsong
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To: Hemingway's Ghost

It's the same logic that says Bush is both a retard and a criminal mastermind.


22 posted on 11/09/2006 1:37:41 PM PST by Xenalyte (Viva Espa?a!)
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To: Xenalyte
If the GOP ever returned to its "conservation of Constitutional principles" stance the Republican party was founded on, the Libertarian party would evaporate over night.

Ain't gonna happen. The GOP loves its control and power over the Rights and liberties of the populace as much as the socialist Dems do. A return to untrammeled liberty would be devastating after they have worked so hard to bloody well trammel it.

23 posted on 11/09/2006 1:37:51 PM PST by Dead Corpse (Anyone who needs to be persuaded to be free, doesn't deserve to be.)
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To: Keltik
In the big tent theory, the libertarians are forced to stand out in the cold by the Republican party. Then on election years, the Republicans come out of the tent, punch the libertarians in the face, and demand a vote.

That's not a very effective way to get someone to vote for you.
24 posted on 11/09/2006 1:38:21 PM PST by mysterio
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To: KarlInOhio
"Ordered Freedom"? The author just sprained my Orwell-to-English dictionary.

LOL... excellent.

25 posted on 11/09/2006 1:39:56 PM PST by Dead Corpse (Anyone who needs to be persuaded to be free, doesn't deserve to be.)
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To: Keltik
The socialists at least declare the existence of some sort of moral order

Yes they do. It is pro-homosexuality, pro-abortion, anti-family, anti-property, and downright anti-American. Who wants to associate with that? Only people who agree on other socialist platforms, like big government and the taking of the powers reserved for the States respectively, or to the people (yes, I chose that last wording purposely).

26 posted on 11/09/2006 1:40:29 PM PST by antiRepublicrat
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To: KarlInOhio
"Ordered Freedom"? The author just sprained my Orwell-to-English dictionary.

(I) thought that I could organise freedom
how scandinavian of me

Bjork, Hunter

27 posted on 11/09/2006 1:40:29 PM PST by Hemingway's Ghost (Spirit of '75)
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To: Keltik

Ridiculous.

There is little difference between conservatives and libertarians at the federal level as both seek the same thing.

We only disagree at the most basic local levels ("No, it is NOT a right to open a porn store down the street from an elementary school!") and THIS we can handle far better than trying to come to ANY agreement with socialists/communists.


28 posted on 11/09/2006 1:44:30 PM PST by 13Sisters76 ("It is amazing how many people mistake a certain hip snideness for sophistication. " Thos. Sowell)
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To: Keltik
Scapegoat much?
29 posted on 11/09/2006 1:48:27 PM PST by Zeroisanumber (Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?)
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To: All

The socialists at least declare the existence of some sort of moral order; the libertarians are quite bottomless.

The author is delusional, or woefully ignorant, or flat out lying, or all three.

The most revered and honored moral principle/code is that no person may initiate force, threat of force or fraud against another person or their property.

Right wing republicans and left wing democrats share a delusional common denominator.

Ninety-plus percent of persons don't initiate force, assault, threat of force or fraud against other individuals or their property. It has nothing to do with politics. It's a matter of individual personal choice. A conscious decision each individual must make for himself and herself.

Voting for the lesser of evils still always begets evil.

Republican supporters and their counterpart on the left work to persuade people to vote for their candidates. Whom are "evil", but not as "evil" as the other side of the aisle. Politicians on both sides of the aisle initiate force, threat of force and fraud against United States citizens and their property. 

Right wing and left wing supporters are delusional when they put politicians above themselves and their own principle of not initiating force against anyone or their property.

The democrat supporter says: "Vote for my candidate. He'll abuse you but not as bad as the republican candidate."

The republican supporter says: "Vote for my candidate. He'll abuse you but not as bad as the democrat candidate."

Politics is not the solution -- politics is the problem

Criminals are the problem. The most destructive, most value-destroying criminals are politicians and bureaucrats. You know who they are -- withdraw your support. 

For goodness sake, stop trying to persuade innocent citizens that stand firmly on the principle that no person may initiate force against anyone or their property to join you in support of your brand of value-destroying, force-initiating, criminal politicians. 

Dump the criminals. Stand firm on the principle which you and 90+% of the populace honor and respect of one another. Evermore persons are abandoning their self-inflicted delusions. They're opting out of the lose-lose, vote-for-the-lesser of evils fraud..

30 posted on 11/09/2006 1:48:35 PM PST by Zon (Honesty outlives the lie, spin and deception -- It always has -- It always will.)
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To: Xenalyte
I see we were on the same thread yesterday. This was my post.

I am tempted to ask the mod to pull this thread. As in previous posts I am sickened that many are blaming the Libertarians for losing. Many did vote the R ticket. One minute the Libertarians are marginalized and the next they were so powerful that the Republicans lost. We can't have it both ways and the name calling serves no purpose.

31 posted on 11/09/2006 1:50:01 PM PST by beltfed308 (Democrats :Tough on Taxpayers, Soft on Terrorism)
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To: T.Smith

I was going to say the same thing. What a blowhard. Loves the sound of his voice, I guess.


32 posted on 11/09/2006 1:51:38 PM PST by Silly (still being silly)
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To: Keltik
Conservatives have no intention of compromising with socialists

What nonsense. The current "conservative" GOP leadership has done nothing BUT compromise with socialists (except insofar as they have simply given the socialists their entire way rather than compromise with them). That's why they just got a spanking.

33 posted on 11/09/2006 1:54:24 PM PST by steve-b (It's hard to be religious when certain people don't get struck by lightning.)
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To: Keltik
"perhaps the conservative mind and the libertarian mind may be joined in synthesis-"

The guy is cluless. What the conservative holds to conserve is liberty. Liberty is the fundamental concept in libertarian theory.

34 posted on 11/09/2006 1:56:36 PM PST by spunkets
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To: microgood
the conservative finds that the state is ordained of God

I'm flattered that the conservatives consider me one of them. I think I will kill them last.

35 posted on 11/09/2006 1:57:07 PM PST by steve-b (It's hard to be religious when certain people don't get struck by lightning.)
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To: Keltik

"Libertarianism is an ideological clique forever splitting into sects still smaller and odder, but rarely conjugating...

A line of division exists between believers in some sort of transcendent moral order and utilitarians admitting no transcendent sanctions for conduct."

-- Russell Kirk


36 posted on 11/09/2006 1:58:44 PM PST by Keltik ("The goal should not be diversity -- the goal must be Quality.")
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To: Keltik

The first paragraph of this gripping op-ed piece:

"Any discussion of the relationships between conservatives (who now, to judge by public-opinion polls, are a majority among American citizens) and libertarians [liberals] (who, as tested by recent elections, remain a tiny though unproscribed minority) naturally commences with an inquiry into what these disparate groups hold in common."

Dear Professor: If conservatives (however you would define the word) are a majority, why did the Dems take over the Congress on Tuesday?

But there are plenty of five syllable words in the article, meaning he must be plenty smart....


37 posted on 11/09/2006 1:58:54 PM PST by dashing doofus (Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber)
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To: Hemingway's Ghost
Every day on FR other than the day after an election: "Ha! Libertarians! You clowns can't muster up more than 2% of any vote! What a joke of a party!"
FR after the 2006 election: "You a-hole Libertarians cost us the election!"
Either we're so few we can be marginalized, or we're so many we can turn the tide of elections nation-wide. Which is it, Libertarian bashers? Because it can't be both. What a bunch of idiots.

They remind me of the joke about the lawyer defending a client who was being sued for damaging a rental car:

First, we will prove that my client never touched this car,
Then, we will prove that this car was already damaged when my client drove it off the lot.
Finally, we will prove that this car was in perfect condition when my client returned it.

38 posted on 11/09/2006 1:59:00 PM PST by steve-b (It's hard to be religious when certain people don't get struck by lightning.)
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To: KarlInOhio
Odd using the term "self-denial". Only the libertarian ideal could delayed gratification be considered self-denial.

Under the libertarian concept of individual responsibility, self-denial is sometimes required to reap a greater reward later, or to meet the obligations one has freely assumed in an agreement with others.

Under the statist view of the world... well, I simply don't know how to explain it better than the grand high queen of that worldview:

"Many of you are well enough off that ... the tax cuts may have helped you... We're saying that for America to get back on track, we're probably going to cut that short and not give it to you.
We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good."
--Hillary Rodham Clinton

39 posted on 11/09/2006 2:02:27 PM PST by steve-b (It's hard to be religious when certain people don't get struck by lightning.)
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To: antiRepublicrat
Yep. The version of "conservatism" described here is in perfect agreement with socialism, in this sense:
My cousin Francis [I of France] and I are in perfect agreement -- he wants Vienna, and so do I.
--Emperor Charles V

40 posted on 11/09/2006 2:04:48 PM PST by steve-b (It's hard to be religious when certain people don't get struck by lightning.)
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