tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6762928.post110696012766645434..comments2024-01-03T05:23:36.046-08:00Comments on The Citizens: Libertarian HeresiesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6762928.post-1106967324949189382005-01-28T18:55:00.000-08:002005-01-28T18:55:00.000-08:00I have to admit a certain soft spot for Libertaria...I have to admit a certain soft spot for Libertarians myself. I'm a Democrat instead of a Libertarian because I don't agree with Libertarians that such a strict line needs to be drawn against government involvement in the economy. I think they "throw the baby out with the bath water" with regards to government regulations and social welfare and public health programs. <br /><br />That said, I really admire the Libertarian position social issues. Why do personal relationships need to be a government concern at all? Why does any aspect of a person's private life need to be any business of the community's at all? <br /><br />In some posts I've made a point of not calling Democrats and progressives "Liberals." The reason I do that is that only in the United States has the word "liberal" be hijacked by the conservatives to be a largely insulting word along the lines of liberal=socialist=communist=end of discussion. In the rest of the democratic world, Liberal describes an ideology very much like that espoused by the Libertarians, namely no government intervention in our personal lives or the economy. <br /><br />In Europe, Liberal parties often take positions on what we would regard as the "right" end of the political spectrum because of their hands off approach to the economy. But several Liberal parties have demonstrated serious internal tensions and ambivolence when it comes to prioritizing the social aspects versus the economic aspects. Until recently in Germany for example, the Liberals cooperated with the Social Democrats on social policy (with the Christian Democrats in opposition) but cooperated with the Christian Democrats on economic policy (with the Social Democrats in opposition). And each time the party shifted partners, it nearly split. The Danish Liberal party did split about 100 years ago with the Liberal party usually cooperating with the Conservatives and the Radical Liberal party (seen as being at the center of the Danish political spectrum) usually cooperating with the Social Democrats.<br /><br />OK, so enough with the academic discussion of Liberal ideology around the world.<br /><br />I've suggested that the Democrats and progressives should seek common ground with Libertarians and people with like ideological view points. Libertarian views used to be very influential within the Republican party - indeed, most Libertarians used to vote Republican for major offices. But most of the Libertarians I know are increasingly frustrated with the role of Christian conservatism within the GOP. They are becoming increasingly detached from the Republicans. They can be compromised with. They have an ideology based on reason and, more importantly, have (as Dr. Strangelove points out) demonstrated a willingness to compromise themselves.<br /><br />However, I'm afraid I don't share Dr. Strangelove's optimism with regard to finding common ground with the Christian conservatives. Sure on some issues compromise might be possible, at least theoretically - like school prayer, or Christian symbols on public property etc. But what I fear with the Christian conservatives is that they have taken political opinion and raised it to the level of commandmants from God (Christian progressives may debate them on that point but I don't expect to see many minds being changed any time soon). Compromising on policy becomes tantamount to compromising their faith. <br /><br />All else equal I'd rather not tell people how to worship or what to believe about God etc. But their political agenda is so tightly bound to their religion that I have a hard time seeing how that Gordian knot can be untied.Raised By Republicanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03461006522141969925noreply@blogger.com