I take exception to some people's assumption that I'm a right-winger. I've certainly never stated such a thing. And I'm not, as some have accused me, trying to disguise my true sentiments, using the "facade of libertarianism." Obviously, because I'm not a left-winger, some automatically assume that I'm a right-winger.
As I've discussed before, extremists are all the same. If one is not a left-winger, then he or she must be a right-winger (so say left-wingers). If one is not a right-winger, then he or she must be a left-winger (so say right-wingers).
Let me say this again, hopefully in a way that some people can perhaps understand it this time. I am conservative on most of the social issues (yes, I oppose abortion and gay marriage and I favor some limited government sponsorship of Christianity), but I'm libertarian on just about everything else. That makes me a right-winger? By whose logic?
Would a right winger:
• Oppose the Patriot Act? • Oppose FISA? • Oppose the war in Iraq? • Oppose water-boarding? • Oppose laws against any act that does not have a direct, specific, and clearly identifiable victim? • Think the war on illegal drugs is a waste of time and money? • Often side with the accused and oppose law enforcement officials? • Believe censorship should be reserved only for cases in which not censoring would put someone at risk of death or serious injury? • Believe in absolute privacy rights? • Believe free speech should be completely unlimited? • Oppose laws that ban sodomy, bestiality, consensual incest, and other aberrant sexual behavior? • Believe the police should never have the right to search anyone's home, car, or other private belongs except when that person is suspected of murder, rape, assault, armed robbery, grand theft, or fraud? • Believe it should be illegal for police to lie to or deceive anyone?
Well, I'm here to tell you that all of the above are true of me (and they are just the less controversial aspects of my libertarian beliefs). And some people still want to insist that I'm a right-winger? Wow!
Terry Mitchell is a software engineer, freelance writer, amateur political analyst, and blogger from Virginia, USA. He posts a least one article a day to his blog - http://commenterry.blogs.com - on subjects such as current events, politics, technology, society and culture, religion, health and well-being, self improvement, personal finance, trivia, and sports.
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Good point! Too often in our polarized culture we put labels on people and assume that we know their political positions on all issues based on how people vote or where they stand on one or two issues. I think the reality is that most people have disagreements with the political parties they affiliate with. Some of my friends and family consider me a left-winger because there are a number of issues I happen to agree with the Democrats on when in fact, I'm also a social conservative when it comes to the gay marriage and abortion issue. It's frustrating that we have so few real choices in this country.
Aaron, thanks for commenting. Yeah, there's far too many people out there who would like to put everyone into neat little box. Trouble is, most of us don't fit into any of them. I blame much of the polarization on talk radio hosts (both left and right) who know better themselves, but choose to feed the frenzy of their ignorant listeners because it's good for their ratings. Shame on them.
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