A few words from a principled libertarian

According to the Sun, David Boaz and David Kirby propose when talking to the exit polls to include: "Do you consider yourself to be fiscally conservative and social liberal, also known as libertarian?" Although it may be true, I reject that premise. It is looking it through a "conservative v. liberal" paradigm. It is talking about conservative v. liberal, left v. right, red state v. blue state.

Tell me, what is a "conservative"? What is a "liberal"? Is there any difference between the two?

From looking at the 2008 presidential candidates, it is hard to tell. There is little difference between Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani. There is little difference between John McCain and John Kerry. In fact, the greatest difference between Clinton and Giuliani is the sexes, and between McCain and Kerry is about 4-5 inches.

On May 27, 2004, I wrote an article titled, "Is a Bush-Clinton the key?" In my column, I jokingly said the best way George W. Bush could guarantee re-election is to dump Dick Cheney and select Bill Clinton for his vice-president. Both Bush and Clinton shared the exact same philosophical vision for the role of government in society. While Bush is a bigger spender than Clinton, that's because he had the same party Congress.

We need a new paradigm. We should draw a map with a new directions. We will go "up v. down", "self-government v. government control", "white v. black" (or "yellow v. brown", or whatever). On the government control side, there are Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Fidel Castro, Saddam Hussein, et al). Parties that would fit are the Socialists, Communists, and Fascists. Both liberals and conservatives are at the middle, with personal traits going more towards government control with conservatives, and economic traits going more towards government control with liberals.

But, they both are going towards government control with all traits as time goes by.

As for self-government, that would be our Founders: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, James Madison, et al. In the 21st century, although some would feel different philosophy than others, the people that most wants to live in self-government is libertarians.

Libertarianism is a philosophy that says all people should be free to do anything that they want, in life, so long as they do not forcibly interfere with the equal freedoms of others to do the same. Thus, as long as they do not murder, rape, assault, burglarize, defraud, trespass, steal, or inflict any other acts of violence on another person's life, liberty, or property, libertarians hold that the government should leave them alone. Libertarians believe in individual liberty, personal responsibility, and limited government. In fact, libertarians believe that the only role of government is to protect individuals unalienable rights.

I hope you know a little more about what it means to be a libertarian, especially a principled libertarian. That is the key to living in a free society.