Do you disagree, lovers of liberty belong more in the Republican Party than the Democratic party?
Yes, I disagree. Unfortunately, neither party is consistent in its support of personal freedom as a principle. You have to choose which freedoms you care more about.
The GOP, at large, makes a lot of noise about personal freedom, but it only supports certain ones. Sure, it supports my right to own a gun, but if I have no interest in owning a gun, which I don't, that's not very valuable to me.
The Dems are supportive of personal freedom in lifestyle. If you're not married with children, the Reps would really cramp your style. For example, fornication is still a felony in my state, thanks to the Reps, as is any sex between married couples other than missionary-position intercourse. And heaven forbid that both halves of the couple are of different races. (Notice I haven't even gotten around to couples of the same sex.)
And then there's religious freedom. The Reps give aid and comfort to those who want to teach our kids, our future scientists and thinkers, that the world was created by the Christian deity in seven days and that they're supposed to follow the Bible rather than learn to think. I think they'd re-close the malls on Sundays if they could.
Oh, yes, then there's life and death. The Reps would force women to bear children they don't want or can't care for and prohibit doctors from helping people die when they're ready to go.
Sure the Reps would stop Uncle Sam's taking my tax money and giving to whatever it considers a worthy cause. I don't like that much, but what's more important, your money or your life? What's more important, the personal freedom to own a gun or to make one's own life and death choices? Duh!
I find few of the libertarian wing "cozing up" to the religious right, but most also don't find them "scary" either - just another extreem faction to be kept in check.
Until the GOP libertarians recognize that personal freedom means all freedoms for all citizens, not just certain freedoms for certain citizens and that the religious right is a serious threat to personal freedom, not just some crazy uncle in the closet, they are either hypocrites or missing the point.
Karen |
