Posted on 01/12/2003 9:15:48 PM PST by Sparta
I've been reading posts by people who use the term Conservative and others who use the term Libertarian. I have a question for all FReepers, is there a difference between the two?
I was focusing in on the patent medicine side, because I brought up the PURE FOOD & DRUG ACTS. But, yes, doctors and the general public, who bought heroin, morphine, and opiates over the counter, addicted many poor souls, who thought that they were " curing " something or other.They weren't " cured " ; however, they certainly did become addicts, or killed themselves or others.
.... someone's got a lot of people focusing more on labels and individual interpretation of those labels when we should be focusing on being Americans dedicated to the Constitution.
In that regard, we should follow the advise of those who created this nation and the constitution regarding what those things mean:
"On every question of construction, let us carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invented against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed." Thomas Jefferson, 1823In my estimation, anyone who loves this country and what it stands for will naturally focus on those things, because that is what the individuals who were inspired to form this nation used to make it what it is. We will not succeed unless we use the same formula."We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other." John Adams, Oct. 11, 1798
"A general dissolution of the principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy.... While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but once they lose their virtue, they will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader.... If virtue and knowledge are diffused among the people, they will never be enslaved. This will be their great security." Samuel Adams
"Bad men cannot make good citizens. It is when a people forget God that tyrants forge their chains. A vitiated state of morals, a corrupted public conscience, is incompatible with freedom. No free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue; and by a frequent recurrence to fundamental principles." Patrick Henry
"To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them" George Mason, 1788
"That the said Constitution shall never be construed to authorize Congress to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms..." Samuel Adams, 1788
There has been a whole lot of insane drivel on this thread, but this comment wins the prize.
DITTO
We weren't talking Adam Smith and political economy. Lastly, someone was kind enough to post the actual Pure Food and Drugs Act. Drugs, even Mothers Little Baby Sleeper Dr. Opium wasn't made illegal. The act was just a labeling of ingredients act. It was a consumer information act. Also it was at the time of socialist, anarchists and progressives and pre-Communist. Nice, but unsurprising, that you look to them for arguments.
You talk, walk and act like a socialist, and one is what one does, protestations not withstanding.
The definitions of labels are transient and subjective. Taken to the lowest level there is a fundamental difference between conservatives and libertarians as you will see from the responses on this thread.
The democrat leadership and therefore it's followers the liberals have an objective. That is socialism.
The republican leadership and therefore it's followers the conservatives have an objective. That objective is to be elected.
Libertarians adhere to a philosophy by which they guide their own actions and judge the actions of others. This results in consistency.
Liberals and conservatives do not have a core philosophy and establish opinions on individual topics in a vacuum on a case by case basis. Opinions established this way are often inconsistent with each other.
I consider myself to be a Constitutionist. That document is the standard by which I judge the political policies of liberals and conservatives. Philosophically the Constitution is strongly libertarian with it's emphasis on individual rights.
I have a lot more in common with libertarians than I have with many of the self described conservatives on this forum.
Regards
J.R.
Who'da thunk your actual name was 'Mr. Flakey Ideologue'?! Honestly, it was entirely a coinkidink!
IMHO, libertarians are right in theory but the best form of government that exists in practice are the ones advocated by conservatives.
I believe Drew Carey summed up the libertarian point of view perfectly when he said (and I paraphrase) "Hey buddy, I don't care if you drop dead from smoking crack as long as I don't have to pay for it."
I agree with him in principle. I could not care less what someone else does. It's their business-I only grow concerned when the government reaches their hands into my pockets and takes food off my family's table or if my loved ones are endangered. Most crackheads can barely stand up and pose no risk. The problem is that you can't have streets full of crackheads like we had in NYC before Guiliani took over. One year later 99% of them were gone and NYC truly became a great place to work and play.
But the communist manifesto bears striking resembalance to the philosophy of your party. Read it sometime so you know what your comrades really stand for.
When we allow moral-liberal Hollywood to define our culture, so much for the inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Carey is a loud and proud conservative w/ libertarian leanings.
Brown polyester?
See how silly it sounds?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.