On Libertarians

Contrary to what the media would have one believe, the right is not a monolith. Thanks to the media, when people refer to the right, they generally refer to conservatives. They reference those of us who are both fiscally and socially conservative. Indeed, it is the segment of the conservative movement most often caricatured, if only because traditional values lack an effective messenger.

Then there are the libertarians.

That probably sounded really general and vaguely offensive...and you would be right.  Too many conservatives too easily throw around the term "libertarian" in a vaguely pejorative way without trying to understand what libertarians believe.  Indeed, many would find there is little difference between the two groups at their core.

Now, when I refer to libertarians, I obviously refer to the modern political ideology and philosophy.  This is the philosophy that believes in minimal possible government and maximum possible personal liberties without descending into anarchy.  Libertarians and conservatives alike are grounded on this belief when it comes to governance and living our lives. Thus, on basic philosophy, we agree.  Yet, for some reason, it is smaller issues and ideas, ranging from marriage to pot, that causes rifts on the right.

The question is, what are the precise causes of these rifts? I do not speak of the details of each issue, however. Rather, it is the mindset, the way each issue is approached, that must be understood.

Like any ideological group, there are many different kinds of libertarians.  Of all the political "camps," libertarians are the hardest to pin down (in my personal opinion).  Libertarians can hold positions that can be considered right and left.  Personally, I believe the real problem lies with those who personally adhere to a socially liberal belief system.

What many left-leaning libertarians do not seem to understand is freedom is not an end unto itself.  Liberty requires wisdom and self-governance to be used effectively.  Right-leaning libertarians understand this.  Let's take pot for an easy example.  "Conservatarians" (as some call themselves) may favor its decriminalization.  Even I kind of do, as someone who identifies as "conservative."  However, they still recognize its potential to be destructive to those who use it.  So while they believe it is not within the [federal] government's power to make it illegal, they simultaneously espouse not using it, recognizing the realities of its use.

Leftist libertarians, on the other hand, believe, like progressives, that society does not need a moral code to function.  At least, not a Biblical-based one.  They believe that liberty means being able to do whatever you want, regardless of the consequences.  As a result, there is no morally sound society to hold people back from their excesses.  Sadly, many libertarians who believe in the goodness of a Judeo-Christian based society still seem reluctant to directly advocate for well-balanced living.

That is the primary problem with libertarianism today and often what puts off conservatives from joining forces with them (and vice versa).  Without a morally grounded society, liberty can be just as dangerous as tyranny.  Indeed, without a well-regulated heart, one often becomes a slave to his or her own desires.  Those who despise tyranny place themselves under the tyranny of that which is unhealthy and evil.

This should not be taken as an indictment of all libertarians.  There are many fine ones out there, wonderful people who are merely advocates for liberty.  The problem lies in those who view liberty as an end as opposed to the means to an end.

For the point of liberty is to use it to live a prosperous and happy life, free of external constraints.

(Obviously, this particular piece is somewhat touchy and based entirely on my personal experience and observations. If you feel I've misunderstood or just disagree, feel free to leave a comment).