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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: LindyBill who wrote (91618)	12/20/2004 12:01:25 PM
From: LindyBill	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793824

BOOKER RISING COMMENTARY: Bill Cosby's Libertarian Side By Molotov Seven months later, Bill Cosby's moral values crusade targeting low-income black communities continues to be controversial. However, many people have his back. People of various races and ideologies have clamored for the liberal comic (who has a doctorate in education) to expand his comments to individual and parental responsibility in America, across race and class. He has even influenced an education debate about 'Caribonics' in Britain. Because he supports medium (perhaps high) government intervention, Mr. Cosby isn't a libertarian. However, he does have libertarian elements to his approach. For one, he discusses personal responsibility. Libertarians believe the individual is the smallest unit of society, and should reap the repercussions - good or bad - of one’s life choices. While Mr. Cosby downplays the good statistics showing reduction in teen pregnancy and crime and overplays poverty (76% of blacks aren't poor and the vast, vast majority are law-abiding citizens), his overall point remains that some folks can do even better. Given his own alleged infidelity awhile back - so he is hardly perfect - he shows that folks can learn from their mistakes. He believes that there are certain things that government can't or shouldn't do for people, but we must do for ourselves. Two, Mr. Cosby focuses on how young blacks must prepare for globalization. No longer are Americans just competing against each other, but now the world. He puts his doctorate to good use in talking about language skills and educational achievement as a critical tool to further black progress. Libertarians valorize the free market in generating prosperity, and that people with better skills are better able to capitalize on free markets. The world is wide open, and there are opportunities for blacks to build upon our strengths like never before. Most importantly, Cosby puts his money where his mouth is . Not other people's money, but his own. He isn’t sitting on the sidelines talking theory, but doing nothing. Cosby has donated more than $20 million in scholarships for promising but low-income black students to attend college. He regularly forgoes his usual $150,000+-per-speech fee to raise funds so low-income high schools can acquire better equipment and teachers. He speaks at charter schools. He has a TV show in Philadelphia targeting youth. This links very well with libertarians' promotion of private charity instead of government as the most effective means for social change in America, as it increases responsibility of both the giver and givee and wastes less money on bureaucracy. What is great is that strange is that not only are the usual black conservatives praising Mr. Cosby, but some high-profile black liberals have come to his defense. Libertarians (and those of us with a libertarian streak) of all races and political parties should praise Mr. Cosby.