Conservatives are fond of preaching the importance ...

The Future of Freedom Foundation ^ | September 27, 2001 | Jacob G. Hornberger

[sendtoscott]

Conservatives are fond of preaching the importance of taking "individual responsibility" for one's actions and beliefs. But when you ask them whether they're willing to take responsibility for the robberies and muggings that their beloved decades-long war on drugs have produced, they always and inevitably respond with, "Oh, no. We don't intend our policies to result in those things and therefore we're not responsible for them. Only robbers and muggers, with their lack of respect for liberty and private property, are responsible for their actions and beliefs."

Today, when you ask conservatives whether they're willing to take responsibility for their beloved decades-long foreign-aid program and interventionist foreign policy that have produced so much enmity, hatred, and perverse consequences for our country, their response is, not surprisingly, the same: "Oh, no. We don't intend our policies to result in those things and therefore we're not responsible for them. Only terrorists, with their lack of respect for liberty and private property, are responsible for their actions."

Question for conservatives: With respect to welfare programs, do you still feel that good intentions don't matter and that advocates of the decades-long war on poverty should take responsibility for its destructive consequences, or do you now feel that only the food-stamp mother in the grocery-store line is responsible for her actions and beliefs?

[Wolfie]

Perhaps the largest cash crop in the state of California is Cannabis sativa, also known as hemp, also known as marijuana.

And harvest season is upon us. Although I think the CA bud is a little over-hyped. Kentucky growers are at least as equally skilled in producing the good stuff. Must be the moonshine heritage.

[sendtoscott]

You guys are winning as many converts to your stupid legalize drugs mantra as Osama is winning to his kill all Americans vomit.

My God, you are right. I had never thought about it in these terms before. How brilliant of you to force an analogy between something you hate and something everybody hates, based on nothing more than the fact you hate both.

I will now humbly submit freepmail to JR to ask I be removed from this forum for life in my deep, never ending shame for ever doubting your beliefs.

[FreeTally]

Oh, I don't know. If the drug users stopped using drugs, that would do it.

Yeh, stop being black and the KKK will stop burning crosses in your yard.

Stop dating men and they will stop raping you.

Stop owning possessions amd no one will rob you.

Stop being alive and no one will murder you.

Stop owning guns and gun laws wont mean anything to you.

And finally, stop ingesting substances into your body on your private property, and the federal government will stop trying to take your property, incarcerate/kill you.

Yep, I like your logic.

[gjenkins]

"One supposes by listening to their whiney drivel that people have no right to decide what kind of a society they are to live in."

One who listens to our side and your side would likely suppose that you simply don't listen to our side ... or you don't get it. Whatever the case, you continued mischaracterizations certainly don't hit the mark. However, they seem to make you feel better. I would hate to see what you are capable of when you are upset.

[GenXFreedomFighter]

Libertarians are only able to see up to their fingertips, whereas conservatives see the "big picture."

I was just explaining this to a libertarian friend of mine the other day. Libertarians seem to have tunnel vision, taking a view and following it strictly to its logical conclusion. I wish this world were that simple. They remove moral considerations and societal consequences from the equation in order to create a simple, non-intrusive, inexpensive, smooth-running public policy. Sounds good on paper, but the Libertarian philosophy would be disastrous for America. Sorry, but the world is not black-and-white. Flame away, guys.

[Texaggie79]

DANG if'n ain't this article the worst thing mine eyes have seen today. Were do you get this ABSOLUTE CRAP from?

[sinkspur]

"Today, when you ask conservatives whether they're willing to take responsibility for their beloved decades-long foreign-aid program and interventionist foreign policy that have produced so much enmity, hatred, and perverse consequences for our country,"

Another "blame America first" voice, to join Raimondo, Scott McConnell (that's you, isn't it), and Buchanan, although Buchanan has carefully kept his head down when being interviewed.

Much of this "hatred" is fabricated because these pathetic Arabs have nothing else to occupy their time.

I heard an interesting story from a FOXNEWS reporter in Pakistan. She was covering a pro-Taliban demonstration, complete with demonstrators shouting "death to America."

When one of the demonstrators stepped on her foot, he apologized profusely.

Most Muslims are ambivalent about America, but can be whipped into a frenzy for entertainment purposes.

[A2J]

"Was Reagan wrong to blame government instead of individual citizens for the state of the country in 1980? Do lock-em-up conservatives not blame soft-on-crime liberals whenever crime goes up?"

While I am certainly not qualified to speak for the great Ronaldus Magnus, I believe he referred to the state of the liberal government (you know, the one that wants open borders, abortion or demand and other libertarian ventures), particularly zeroing in on the bloated budget of unnecessary expenditures that choked the free market spirit of America.

There's no question that Reagan supported the eradication of drugs in America and to misuse a quote in order to advance something the quote had nothing to do with, smacks with dishonesty and further erodes your already dismal reputation.

[walden]

Go to your room. The adults here are busy.

[alpowolf]

One supposes by listening to their whiney drivel that people have no right to decide what kind of a society they are to live in

I have as much right to decide what kind of a society I am to live in as you do.

What's "whiney" about suggesting that perhaps adults should take responsibility for their own lives, rather than surrending to Nanny State?

[gjenkins]

"if the drug-crazed libertarians ever gain power"

The drug crazed libertarians will probably be home destroying themselves with drugs. The rest, however, will be living happy and productive lives and promoting the same for others.

[A2J]

"Your ignorance is beyond spectacular. What's worse is that you actually boast your ignorance."

Why thank you. Coming from one so prominent among the liberaltarians is a great complement to me.

You've made my day!

[Texaggie79]

do you still feel that good intentions don't matter and that advocates of the decades-long war on poverty should take responsibility for its destructive consequences, or do you now feel that only the food-stamp mother in the grocery-store line is responsible for her actions and beliefs?

Hey @$$hole, poverty is not illegal, and endangering to other individuals of society.

[sendtoscott]

There's no question that Reagan supported the eradication of drugs in America and to misuse a quote in order to advance something the quote had nothing to do with, smacks with dishonesty and further erodes your already dismal reputation.

I wasn't claiming the Ronster as a legalizer. My point is that conservatives, who (rightly) hold individual criminals responsible for individual crimes, do blame government when crime goes up. They may blame liberals for being soft on crime, instead of blaming the WOD, but the very idea of blaming the government is not prohibited.

[FreeTally]

And harvest season is upon us.

Is it just me, or do you notice and increase in "low level air traffic" around this time? ;)

[gjenkins]

"The adults here are busy."

You should close the bathroom door while you do that.

[Texaggie79]

Hey guess what, if we legalized everything, no crime would exist period!!!!

[sendtoscott]

Hey @$$hole, poverty is not illegal, and endangering to other individuals of society.

Do you, as a "good conservative", believe that liberal social programs lead to family breakup, then to fatherless children, and then to more crime and other social problems?

[woofie]

Too much time spent in liberal institutions there boy ...first we would need to agree on the terms: "Our" war on drugs and "our" inteventionist foreign policy were carried out under some decicedly non conservative administrations(the last one for instance} And I just finished an article saying there was a hands off policy in Afghanistan by the CIA (They didnt want to repeat the mistakes of the past)which led to the problems there...Hmmm. so many problems ,not enough blame to go around..and who to believe? Also spend awhile with an alcoholic or drug addict and ask yourself this question...Did the person start to drink (or do drugs) because they have personal problems or did the drinking and drug taking cause the problems? As a good liberal you can throw up your hands and answer C: Its society's fault. Cause and effect ,cause and effect....which comes first ? the chicken or the egg? You figure some of this out and then lets talk about taking responsibility

[Texaggie79]

Do you, as a "good conservative", believe that liberal social programs lead to family breakup, then to fatherless children, and then to more crime and other social problems?

Not directly no. They lead to laziness and dependency on the government. Family breakup, fatherless homes, ect are a result of poor upbringing.