Posted on 09/16/2012 6:51:44 PM PDT by billflax
Remember the old saw about speeding: anyone zipping along faster is nuts, but slower drivers are idiots. Ideologues believing in limited government are an obstinate breed, myself included. We find anyone who wants more government as fools, but those desiring even less are crazy. In theory, if everyone went 65 we'd never have a traffic jam. Sadly, state authority is necessary because of man's fallen nature.
Many libertarians approve same-sex marriage. Likewise, some perceive abortion as fundamental to freedom, even questioning Ron Paul for championing life.
Meanwhile, Americans have grown so inured to government intervention that letting people purchase contraceptives privately construes now into waging "War on Women." "Keep politics out of people's bedrooms," the Left insists, except, of course, taxpayers should get involved with their wallets.
If men were just or could all protect themselves, government would be redundant. Political authority became necessary because, to paraphrase James Madison, we aren't angels. Governments' legitimate purpose preserves culture and protects life, liberty and property. To which our Founders rightly incorporated propriety over conscience and the "pursuit of happiness."
No group needs more protection than babies regardless of which side of the womb they presently reside. By the time a mother can even confirm pregnancy, her baby has started sprouting a unique personality, brain waves have begun and her heartbeat resonates. Everyone matures through this essential phase. Unborn babies are undeniably human beings.
Libertarianism rests on the nonaggression principle, "live and let live" they say. But then why allow life to be snatched from helpless children? Lawful abortion mocks government's very legitimacy.
Same-sex marriage also betrays libertarian principles. Unless government intervenes, matrimony remains what it has been for millennia. Why have government alter an institution antecedent to America's very existence?
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...
Well put.
Gary Johnson is an idiot PING
I agree. The abortion license ignores not only the rights of the pre-born human being, but the rights of the father.
The imposition of same-sex marriage is authoritarian, not libertarian: people who want to marry another of the same sex, or a pet or a piece of furniture, can hold all the weddings they want, and nobody will stop them. However, they need government to coerce others to recognize their associations as marriages.
Flirted with Libertarianism when I was young. Learned enough to move on.
There are “Little L” libertarians and there are “Big L” Libertarians. They are not always the same.
And to hell with the rights of his wife.
I’m not sure what your point is. If there are “rights” vis-a-vis a child - which there must be, since there are obligations - such rights must be borne by the child’s father as well as his mother. There is no legitimate right for anyone to kill a child.
You can add support for unending mass immigration as another crazy position held by most (or at least most prominent) libertarians.
The libertarian party is the true expression of libertarianism.
The party is where the ivory tower fantasy meets the road and has to be put into actual positions.
Yes. Very good piece. Important to state this openly as you have - am sick of dancing around libertarians and their fatalism and narrow minds.
To prevent duplication, please do not alter the published headline. Thanks.
Libertarians for Life. Basic premise: if it’s human, killing it is murder.
Period.
This isn’t hard to understand.
Close the welfare spigot and the only immigrants coming here those who want to be Americans. Folks like my Dad and his parents.
“Have a stake”
Well phrased. They want government to get out of everything that would constrain them, except for the things that they do love. Like free condoms, Obamacare and same sex marriage. You’re bigotted if you oppose it because ‘marriage should be open for everyone.’
I know, let’s stick with the GOP... How’s that working out for us?
Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. Falling for the same BS over and over again doesn’t speak well for your judgement either...
Moron. “Free” condoms? Libertarians embody TANSTAAFL.
Religion? Keep the State out of it. No legislation mandating your religious sects marriage customs that way. Don’t want to honor a particular marriage arrangement as a condition of employment? You are free to find employment elsewhere...
Same for Obamacare as your free condoms thing. Utterly moronic to say any libertarian would support any kind of government handouts at all...
But they do. Why am I paying for educating your children?
I tell you what, you libertarians and radical leftists, end welfare first, then we look at your open borders policy.
This is the actual, 2004 text of the Libertarian Party Platform on immigration, it is, and always has been the same (since at least 1990 that I can find).
COMPLETE PLATFORM TEXT
INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND CIVIL ORDER
IMMIGRATION:
The Issue: We welcome all refugees to our country and condemn the efforts of U.S. officials to create a new “Berlin Wall” which would keep them captive. We condemn the U.S. government’s policy of barring those refugees from our country and preventing Americans from assisting their passage to help them escape tyranny or improve their economic prospects.
The Principle: We hold that human rights should not be denied or abridged on the basis of nationality. Undocumented non-citizens should not be denied the fundamental freedom to labor and to move about unmolested. Furthermore, immigration must not be restricted for reasons of race, religion, political creed, age or sexual preference. We oppose government welfare and resettlement payments to non-citizens just as we oppose government welfare payments to all other persons.
Solutions: We condemn massive roundups of Hispanic Americans and others by the federal government in its hunt for individuals not possessing required government documents. We strongly oppose all measures that punish employers who hire undocumented workers. Such measures repress free enterprise, harass workers, and systematically discourage employers from hiring Hispanics.
Transitional Action: We call for the elimination of all restrictions on immigration, the abolition of the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the Border Patrol, and a declaration of full amnesty for all people who have entered the country illegally.
I apologize.
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