@ConservativeGal on twitter has been making some very insightful posts. I am in slight disagreement with her, though I think the general principle behind our thoughts is quite similar. Here are some of her tweets (I’ve taken out the abbreviations that twitter makes necessary):
If a conservative decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it. A liberal demands that his neighbors pay for his.
If a conservative is a non-believer, he doesn’t go to church. A liberal wants any mention of God or religion silenced.
If a conservative doesn’t like a talk show host, he switches channels. Liberals demand that those they don’t like be shut down
If a conservative is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation. A liberal wonders who is going to take care of him.
If a conservative is homosexual, they quietly enjoy their life. If a liberal is homosexual, they loudly demand legislated respect.
If a conservative is a vegetarian, they don’t eat meat. If a liberal is a vegetarian, they want to ban all meat products for everyone.
If a conservative doesn’t like guns, they don’t buy one. If a liberal doesn’t like guns, then no one should have one.
I am in 100% agreement with all of these statements, and I”m quite pleased with @ConservativeGal’s libertarian sentiments. However, I’d like to add some issues that might find conservatives looking a lot like liberals:
If a libertarian disapproves of prostitution, he doesn’t hire prostitutes. If a conservative disapproves of prostitution, he tries to throw prostitutes and their clients in jail.
If a libertarian doesn’t like marijuana, he doesn’t smoke it. If a conservative doesn’t like marijuana, he starts a drug war.
If a libertarian doesn’t like gay marriage, he doesn’t get one. If a conservative doesn’t like gay marriage, he fights to keep them illegal.
If a libertarian disapproves of buying Cuban cigars, he doesn’t buy Cuban cigars. If a conservative disapproves of buying Cuban cigars, he outlaws them and enacts a trade embargo. (yes, I know JFK started it, but conservatives tend to like it.)
If a libertarian doesn’t like methodone maintenence clinics, he doesn’t go to one or open one. If a conservative doesn’t like methodone maintenence clinics, he tries to shut them down.
If a libertarian doesn’t like porn, he doesn’t visit porn sites or porn shops. If a conservative doesn’t like porn, he tries to shut down such websites and close such stores.
If a libertarian doesn’t like gambling, he doesn’t gamble. If a conservative doesn’t like gambling, he tries to outlaw it.
Let me be very clear: conservatives are the closest allies libertarians have these days, but they aren’t libertarians. Id’ be very interested to hear the opinions of conservatives on this matter…
