This is 8 minutes well spent if you have any question about what constitutes a right and why rights are more than simply good things that deserve legal protection or assistance. (Hat tip: The Anti-PC Infidel)
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Rights and Liberty
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Thanks for the nod!
Our nation would be far different (far better) if people actually understood these simple concepts. I think a lot of people are resistant to it because it’s not as immediately emotionally gratifying as blaming others for our decisions, claiming the right to the property of others, and generally avoiding standing on our own two feet.
Call me cynical, but I suspect that those who want to use the force of government to enforce compassion do not hold a high view of humanity. Many of them may fear that they will find themselves needing the forced generosity of their fellow citizens (so this may be a self-interested social insurance policy for them).
I agree. I have never seen any evidence that totalitarian collectivists (whether they’re called liberals, fascists, Democrats, socialists, or communists) believe in the ability of the individual to take responsibility for himself, overcome obstacles, learn and grow, and prosper without Big Mother getting involved. There is a distinct disdain and animosity toward people that makes their so-called compassion a thoroughly hypocritical lie.
One of the biggest lies in politics is that American conservatism is selfish and materialistic. How could anything be less selfish than the belief that we don’t have the right to the property of others? Or that we have an individual responsibility to take care or ourselves and to help others of our own volition? If we want to see selfishness and materialism, we need look no farther than modern liberalism in the U.S. Everything is based on forcing people to meet the material needs of others, regardless of the moral or spiritual consequences. Marxism at its core is purely materialistic and self-centered, and its various incarnations (see the aforementioned list of collectivists) never stray very far from that focus on the carnal.
Essentially, totalitarian collectivists view humanity as brute animals. Thus the focus on the physical and temporal rather than the spiritual and the eternal.
One of the problems we face in debunking the myth that conservatism is selfish and materialistic is that conservatism is identified with the Republican party and unfortunately the Republican party has its share of selfish and materialistic operatives. Just look at all the pork we saw as the Republicans went unchecked in controlling the legislative and executive branches from 2000 to 2006.
Separating true conservatives from the tarnished Republican Party brand will not be a simple or quick task.
Very true. I get some of my biggest chuckles when I hear somebody refer to President Bush as “ultra-conservative.” Even without the “ultra” on there, we’ve got a bit of inaccurate labeling. For the most part, the Republican Party has moved into the position held by the Democrat Party have a century ago, with the Democrat Party moving into the position formerly held by the more hardcore socialists.
Me, I’m just standing here wondering where everybody went!
We’ve all been tucked into small corners and labeled as “Ron Paul/Libertarian wackos.”
As Paul Mero says, be careful equating Republicans with conservatives. Doing so has damaged the conservative brand as the GOP has damaged its brand.
Exactly right Reach.
I must add that I liked the video… I remember like it was yesterday trying to explain the concept that you don’t have the right to infringe on another person’s rights to an 8 year old, when I was also 8. He kept saying “it’s a free country.” I wish I’d had this video to show him. And although I’m not sure if I’m a “Ron Paul/Libertarian wacko” I know I lean that way if only because I was raised by one.
“Free country” is one of those terms like “free agency” – widely used, easy to say, but incorrectly understood by many people.
Rights without accountability is tyranny.
Accountability without rights is slavery.
Only when rights and accountability come together do we have true liberty.