United Liberty

Way back in July of 2003 Ron Paul wrote an article entitled “We’ve Been Neo-Conned” in which he laid out facts showing that the “Neo-Con” philosophy had taken over the foreign policy of the USA (For a quick primer on the Neo-Conservative movement please click the link above). As I was reading this article one question kept repeating in my head:

“How did it come to this?”

The only place to start I believe is with the American person (notice I didn’t use the plural “people”). I will use myself as an example since I believe my story is common to many modern-day libertarians and members of the Liberty movement.

In short, I was raised a Reagan Republican, became a Neo-Con after 9/11, converted to a Goldwater conservative after the invasion of Iraq and became a full-fledged libertarian after finding the writings of Murray Rothbard(OK, maybe every libertarian didn’t become one because of Murray but I think many have a similar story).

But here is what I believe is key in my story and the reason why there aren’t more capital “L” Libertarians: I didn’t get their foreign policy. Like many I actually referred to myself as libertarian on social and monetary issues, but not when it came to our “enemies”. I hear the same from freedom loving people over and over again, especially in the wake of 9/11.

The reason the Neo-Cons were able to seize power is FEAR. I am not putting anybody down because of it. I can certainly relate, but we still have to figure out why the American person is allowing our government todrop bombs and declare war on anybody they want to while we cheer them on. When does fear translate to lunacy?

Christopher Hitchens -

Alot of people see you as just a contrarian spoiling for a fight, but I see you as a political prophet (forgive the religious phraseology) and a clear-thinking mind in a world of confusion. Even if it was executed in a way that made the effort self-destructive, you were always correct about the need to fight the war against radical Islam. You have been brave and forthright in criticizing the insanity of religion. Your relentlessness in taking on terrorist-apologizing leftists (even when it cost you friendship at the Nation) and psychotic religionists (even when it likely boiled the blood of conservative allies like Dennis Prager and Hugh Hewitt) is inspiring. In an environment full of commentators who have barely traveled, you have been to the places you write about. Sure, you aren’t my role model, as you smoke and drink as if someone was paying you to do it (Vanity Fair?) but we don’t live in a world of heroes.

Thanks for all you do.

More news in the continuing trial for Johannes Mehserle, a Bay Area Rapid Transit District officer who shot and killed a suspect:

OAKLAND, Calif.—The trial of a white former transit officer accused of fatally shooting an unarmed black man will be moved out of Alameda County, a judge ruled Friday.

Superior Court Judge Morris Jacobson said in his 28-page ruling the circumstances of the New Year’s Day slaying, the violent protests that erupted in Oakland afterwards, intense media scrutiny and fears of shielding jurors and witnesses from any possible civil unrest, justified granting a change of venue.

Former Bay Area Rapid Transit District officer, Johannes Mehserle, 27, has been charged with killing Oscar Grant, 22, who had been pulled off a train for allegedly fighting when he was shot on an Oakland station platform. Mehserle has pleaded not guilty.

“The nature of this crime has an implied racial aspect to it in that the defendant is Caucasian and the victim was African American,” Jacobson wrote.

 

“This case may well be a close one and difficult for some or all of the jurors to decide. Under these circumstances, there is a reasonable probability that (Mehserle) cannot get a fair trial,” he said.

I hope that Mehserle gets to experience a fair trial and the due process that Oscar Grant didn’t recieve. I’ve heard alot of apologists for Mehserle’s actions point to Grant’s extensive rap sheet and criminal history, as if that is a justification for shooting and killing an unarmed man in handcuffs.

Economist Ludwig von Mises, a man who witnessed the rise of totalitarian systems of fascism and communism, noted that totalitarian governments thrive in the soil of etatism, or “the trend toward government control of business”. On Mises’ view, etatism went hand-in-hand with economic nationalism and the glorification of war. There is no better example than Nazi Germany, the home of national socialism. Before Hitler could mobilize resources and support for his Lebensraum-oriented war machine, he first nationalized businesses, turning them from entrepreneurial market ventures to servants of the state. But what does that have to do with us?

While reading this article at the Washington Times, I couldn’t help rolling my eyes.  If you don’t feel like clicking over to read the article, the jist is that the RNC has put together a squad of heavies, wearing black hats, for the purpose of keeping the Ron Paulies in order on the convention floor.

Now, in all fairness, there have been online rumors of plans to disrupt the proceedings, but so far, nothing has come of it, and probably, nothing will.  Ron has asked his supporters to work within the party to make changes; disruptive demonstrations accomplish little to nothing, but garner lots of bad press.