Our National Hypocrisy on Rights and Liberty

For those with libertarian leanings, support for liberty goes beyond political partisanship.  There are no “politically correct” or “politically incorrect” basic freedoms.  However, unfortunately, overall the people and politicians of this country lack a broad-based commitment to constitutional rights, natural law rights, etc.  Thus, freedom is always under attack by someone somewhere in America.  It is as true now, as it ever was. "Eternal vigilance is the price of Liberty."

The current trend toward political polarization and knee-jerk reactions only makes this situation worse.  The Right (generally Republicans) favors the Second Amendment, property rights, freedom of religion.  The Left (generally Democrats) hates the Second Amendment, shows little respect for property rights and is atheistic/agnostic and unsympathetic to organized religion.  They favor rights to abortion, LGBT rights, equal protection of the law, and defendant and prisoners’ rights.  The Right is not supportive of any of these.  For many on both the Left and Right, ideology, party loyalty and their view of policy considerations, trump the Constitution, the supreme law of the land.  The threat to the rule of law is patent.

Our current situation highlights our split personality and hypocrisy.  We are undergoing at least 3 rights revolutions in this country at the present time.  They are in different phases, but they mirror the ideological split.

First is the gay marriage, LGBT, movement.  Strongly supported by the Left, opposed by many of the Right.  Second is the movement toward legalizing recreational use of marijuana.  Three states and D.C. have already adopted such laws.  More states are considering it. The Left generally supports it, the Right is opposed.  Finally, is the gun rights movement.  The Left hates and demonizes it.  The Right is very supportive.  One of the best examples of this is D.C.   D.C. is very anti-Second Amendment but has jumped on the Left’s marijuana bandwagon.

I urge everyone who shares these concerns to consider libertarian philosophy.  If you already have, urge others to do so.  Consider the Libertarian Party.  Personally, I believe the National Libertarian Party is, in it’s current posture, too obsessed with Ayn Rand, too ideologically driven,  too  utopian and not appealing to mainstream America.  It needs to start thinking pragmatically and incrementally. Half a loaf is better than none.