Liberty MavenThe Republican Defeat Is An Opportunity
November 5th, 2008 12:31 pm | by Marc Gallagher | Published in Big Government, campaign for liberty, Election, Free Market, Liberty, Maven Commentary, Politics, Ron Paul | 1
Jeff Flake sees the glass as half full in his editorial regarding the GOP defeat in the Washington Post today. He suggests that Republicans go back to their first principles and reject the bloated spending of the Bush administration. To me that is easier said than done, and certainly easier said than believed.
What the Republicans need to embrace is a platform based on uncompromising liberty. They should all join Ron Paul’s Campaign For Liberty and make it the foundation of their new platform. Drastic? Perhaps. Sometimes desperate times call for drastic measures.
At least by putting Ron Paul up as a conservative future standard bearer of the GOP they immediately gain integrity. That is something not many people, even those who voted for John McCain, believe exists in the Republican Party today.
I applaud Flake for the ideas in his editorial, but it doesn’t quite go far enough.
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November 5th, 2008 at 1:29 pm (#)
Republicans should uphold the Creed of Freedom…
INTRINSIC NATURE OF RIGHTS
I believe that only individuals have rights, not the collective group; that these rights are intrinsic to each individual, not granted by the state; for if the state has the power to grant them, it also has the power to deny them, and that is incompatible with personal liberty.
I believe that a just government derives its power solely from the governed. Therefore, the state must never presume to do anything beyond what individual citizens also have the right to do. Otherwise, the state is a power unto itself and becomes the master instead of the servant of society.
SUPREMACY OF THE INDIVIDUAL
I believe that one of the greatest threats to freedom is to allow any group, no matter its numeric superiority, to deny the rights of the minority; and that one of the primary functions of just government is to protect each individual from the greed and passion of the majority.
FREEDOM OF CHOICE
I believe that desirable social and economic objectives are better achieved by voluntary action than by coercion of law. I believe that social tranquility and brotherhood are better achieved by tolerance, persuasion, and the power of good example than by coercion of law. I believe that those in need are better served by charity, which is the giving of one’s own money, than by welfare, which is the giving of other people’s money through coercion of law.
EQUALITY UNDER LAW
I believe that all citizens should be equal under law, regardless of their national origin, race, religion, gender, education, economic status, life style, or political opinion. Likewise, no class should be given preferential treatment, regardless of the merit or popularity of its cause. To favor one class over another is not equality under law.
PROPER ROLE OF GOVERNMENT
I believe that the proper role of government is negative, not positive; defensive, not aggressive. It is to protect, not to provide; for if the state is granted the power to provide for some, it must also be able to take from others, and once that power is granted, there are those who will seek it for their advantage. It always leads to legalized plunder and loss of freedom. If government is powerful enough to give us everything we want, it is also powerful enough to take from us everything we have. Therefore, the proper function of government is to protect the lives, liberty, and property of its citizens; nothing more. That government is best which governs least.