Libertas

“He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.” ~Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine (1737-1809) "These are the times that try men's souls."

Is Libertarianism Liberal or Conservative?

Liberals don’t like libertarianism because it’s “conservative” (whatever that means), and conservatives don’t like it because it’s “liberal” (whatever that means). I’ve long given up trying to understand what modern day American liberalism or conservatism actually means or even stands for. It seems that for most liberals and conservatives it means whatever the Democratic and Republican Party supports at a given moment. If their team is in power (Democrat or Republican), they support an increase in the power of the government, a decrease in civil liberties, and an aggressive interventionist foreign policy, including military action. They’ll even support the same war they once protested once their guy is leading the charge. If they are not in power, they suddenly remember the Constitution and proclaim everything the majority party is doing as illegal and immoral and call for peace.

Henri-Benjamin Constant de Rebecque (1767 – 1830) "Thus arbitrary power will have divided men of superior intelligence into two groups: the former will be seditious, the latter corrupt..."

Personal Liberty or Economic Liberty?

Ron Paul talks about how the philosophical ideas of Liberty split into two factions: personal liberty and economic liberty. The Left for the most part supports personal liberty, and the Right for the most part supports economic liberty. Originally, classical liberals such as Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine in the US and Frédéric Bastiat and Benjamin Constant in France, saw the two as one. They could not comprehend a spit in personal and economic liberty. But today in America, liberals would support civil or personal liberties and favor state interventionism in the economy, and conservatives would support economic freedom and favor state interventionism in personal behaviors and lifestyles. Both sides regard the other as a threat to their own liberties and champion themselves as defenders of freedom and virtue. This is why this country is so divided and full of hate. Each side fears the other because of what one side or the other would force onto the nation as a whole. This is democracy and both the liberals and conservatives pay homage to it.

Claude Frédéric Bastiat (1801-1850) "The plans differ; the planners are all alike..."

Libertarianism or Statism?

I’ve heard that the majority of Americans are libertarians at heart, they just don’t know it yet, but the reality is not that simple. For a long time the majority of Americans, the majority of liberals and conservatives, have not been libertarian, but statists. They believe it is necessary - even desirable – for the State to initiate force to build a society they think is best for ALL. Only when it comes to how the State treats them are they libertarian and resent State interference in their lives.

The left/right paradigm has played a major role in American politics. The lack of a true understanding of libertarian and statist philosophy and history has kept the populous from understanding the true threat. Both sides sense the threat to their liberties in the actions and beliefs of their opponents, but are blind to the threats to liberty they themselves support. Because the choices have only been between “liberalism” and “conservatism” with libertarian and statist principles in both sides, either side can claim to support freedom and be seen by its opponent to threaten freedom. When in the government, as the opposition, both sides follow libertarian principles, as rulers, statist principles.

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) "Force is the vital principle and immediate parent of despotism."

Your Choice

So, you may be conservative or liberal, but to me, the important question is: are you libertarian or statist? Do you reject using the power of the State to force your views, your beliefs, your lifestyle on others against their will or do you support it? As the liberals and conservatives descend towards statism, the stakes become higher, the nation becomes more divisive, and the government becomes more powerful. On the other hand, if the Left and Right can ascend towards liberty then the Left and Right have nothing to fear from each other. Everyone would be protected from the tyranny of the State.

Simply by returning to the founding principles of this country, returning to limited constitutional republican government would ease the fear and hatred.

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