I’m not a conservative, as the phrase is currently understood, as not even conservatives agree on what it means. If it means, as it certainly seems to me, giving lip service to Christians and small-government advocates while simultaneously treading upon the constitution with muddy golf shoes, then count me out. I’m certainly dead set against aligning myself with the Republican Party, which is a joke – almost a parody of itself.
I’m not a liberal, as the phrase is currently understood, because it seems to me that modern American liberalism stands for nothing beyond a philosophy of postmodern materialism and a policy of accumulation of power. The Democratic Party? Please. The Democratic Party died with President Kennedy in Dallas and Dr. King in Memphis.
What is the label for someone who believes in the following things:
- The federal government should be limited to doing those things specifically authorized to it in the Constitution.
- The idea of the Sanctity of Life applies not just to you and me, but equally to prisoners, the terminally ill, the physically and mentally handicapped, and babies in utero.
- The War on Drugs is as big a scourge on society as drug abuse and addiction.
- Free markets are a prerequisite to a free society (you know, the real kind of capitalism, the kind that doesn’t have any room for corporate welfare, federal micromanagement, protectionism, turning a blind eye to fraud, making it nearly impossible for small businesses to survive, and tax-driven social engineering).
- All Ten Amendments in the Bill of Rights should be taken seriously by all three branches of government (including the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 9th, and 10th, all of which seem to be in trouble, if not functionally dead).
- Traditional notions of sexual morality make the most sense, and the sexual revolution has not made society better. But, really, we should all get back to the days of minding our own business on these things.
- Assuming evil motives and making ad hominem arguments is not the same thing as intelligent public discourse on serious issues affecting society. In fact what passes for public discourse these days does far more harm than good. It generates hatred and contempt; it is incapable of leading to thoughtful consideration.
- Some things are way too important to be run by politicians. Health Care and Education spring immediately to mind.
I reject the label libertarian, though I once embraced it. Lots of good libertarians out there, but too many kooks as well. Classical Liberal is probably more accurate, but hardly anyone knows what the phrase refers to.
I suppose I could just accept that I don’t have a label for what I believe, and align myself with all the other people who don’t have a label, and then when there are enough of us, we can label ourselves Nolabeltariancratapublicans.
Yeah, I’m going with that.
