This is an unexpected endorsement of The Conscience of a Libertarian: Empowering the citizen revolution with God, guns, gambling & tax cuts by Wayne Allyn Root. Root was the 2008 Vice Presidential nominee for the Libertarian party on the ticket with Bob Barr.
I picked this book up on a trip to Utah last year, and I could not bring myself to read beyond chapter one. I experienced Root, at that time, to be out of touch with the economic reality for many Americans and I did not have faith that I would find myself anywhere in the pages of his book. I like books that help me find pieces of myself, which are undoubtedly scattered throughout a wide range of spiritual, political and fictional works from Austin's Pride and Prejudice to John Adams by McCullough. So Root's work collected dust on my nightstand for a year.
A friend posted something on Facebook about Ayn Rand, Russian writer and philosopher who wrote Atlas Shrugged and other contemporary works with cult followings. Rand was raised in socialism in the early 1900s, defected to America in the 1930's and despite exposure to America during the Great Depression, was a quick convert to capitalism and a champion of individual freedoms. A superficial study of Rand exposed her atheism (which repelled me to due my own struggles linking morality with freedom reclamation and preservation) yet implicated her in championing personal responsibility and the founding Mother of Libertarianism. I was intrigued, so rather than buy Atlas Shrugged, I visited my own nightstand and reopened Root's The Conscience of a Libertarian and began again.
Root is a scholar of Barry Goldwater, whose conservative principles I have yet to read, but if you are reading this, you might study them as well. Root is a self-described Bob Barr on steroids and this is reflected in his simple ideas of dismantling the federal government as we know it and encouraging toleration of state and local regulations.
Root brilliantly compares the American voter to an abusive housewife and is almost as relentless in his attack of the Obama administration as he is on his own former GOP party. He states a compelling case on why the two-party system is a failure in this nation and how the historical executive branch GOPs have expanded the federal government worse than many democrats. Regarding Obama's execution of promises made on the campaign trail, Root describes Obama as doing an adequate job of "rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic".
Root deftly explains how one can be a champion of personal freedom (which I interpret as the ultimate toleration and compassion) such as gays in the military, prostitution, pornography, gambling and STILL locally and personally reject any or all of these if that is local or personal moral obligation and will. We are reminded that these activities, (i.e. Prohibition) are going to occur anyway, and the state governments ought to generate revenue off of these activities rather than pillage the small business owner, middle income earner and property holder. As Thomas Jefferson once said, "A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have".
How religion and morality became interwoven with the GOP deserves further study and another post. I encourage anyone currently or formerly drawn to the GOP but feeling like an abuse victim whose spouse only seems to love them during voting season, to take a closer look at the Libertarian movement and Root's book. I am certain it will earn more accolades from me as I read further.
...It cannot be repeated too often that the Constitution is a limitation on government, not on private individuals-that it does not prescribe the conduct of private individuals, only the conduct of the government-that it is not a charter for government power, but a charter of the citizens' protection against the government. ~ Ayn Rand
Showing posts with label Tea Party. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tea Party. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Immigration and Tough Love
When a system is broken, it leads to lawlessness and weakens our own rule of law. ~John Lukacs.
The hopeful assertion is this: History shows that the most ambitious, self-reliant individuals risk life and limb to immigrate into a new land.
However, we are dealing with millions each year of illegal immigration from a third-world country that threatens the cultural and sovereign aspects of our nation. This is not an “exceptionalism” view, rather a realistic one taken from world history. A nation cannot take in millions of people a year from a different region, holding vastly different political ideals, a different language and a potentially different moral code and hold on to who she is.
Everyone agrees immigration reform is needed, but few will acknowledge that a physical barrier will ensure reform and upholding of the law of the land is meaningful to everyone on both sides of the literal fence. Current immigration rules only allow a certain number of legal immigrants into the U.S. each year. Wait times for VISAs can be up to eight years even with good legitimate sponsors. The reality is, that no fence, virtual or physical, is going to keep ambitious people concerned with bettering themselves from coming to the Land of Promise.
Modern progressives feel a physical fence and laws like the one recently enacted in Arizona are cruel and fly in the face of progressive Kumbaya campfire, One-World-Nation philosophies. To that I assert this: You cannot offer amnesty without simultaneously upholding the law of the land which means respecting the states’ sovereign rights to enforce the existing law. The U.S. or a state cannot freely take in millions of economic refugees each year without her face changing.
At the root of this conflict is the same argument we see over and over. Is the U.S.A. worth protecting or is she inherently broken and need fixing? I support the former ideal. Does that make me a racist? On the contrary, it is a tough love philosophy of recognizing and upholding laws and rights of citizens at all costs. What is a citizen? One who is entitled to be here, is committed to holding our values close to their heart and has made the enormous sacrifice to obey the rules to earn the right of U.S. citizenship. Have you ever heard the phrase “one does not know the worth of something until they have to pay for it”? Ponder that.
President Obama recognized the need for an orderly method for controlling immigration on the campaign trail. Amnesty can never be a one-time deal. It lays the groundwork for a perpetual flow of illegal immigrants without meeting the problem at its source.
I advocate peaceful organized protests and boycotts of businesses that utilize now or have ever utilized illegal immigrant or migrant workers. Such businesses exist everywhere in this nation, not only in the south. It is the grass roots that drive change, and currently, the only signs I see on the news are from amnesty seekers. Voting with your wallet or your feet is often the most powerful.
Switzerland was among the poorest of European nations just over two hundred years ago. Then, ingenuity set in and they emerged as one of the wealthiest, most successful civilizations on the planet. All the while, Switzerland’s humanitarian traditions made them a safe-haven for political refugees. With the emergence of their industrial leadership and pride in craftsmanship in their cultural perspective, they more dramatically curtailed immigration during the 20th century than any other nation in Western Europe.
Japan is another fine example. After WWII, their resources were no longer permitted by the world economy to establish a large military presence. Their redirected industrial energies made them a leading manufacturing and economic world power. The last 40 years has shown marked restriction in their immigration policies. Do the Swiss and Japanese understand something about sociology and the economic and cultural impacts of unbridled immigration that we do not?
Obama on the campaign trail with Larry King said “I think all Americans think that we should be able to regulate who comes in and out of this country in an orderly way. Not only for sake of our sovereignty but also to avoid the hundreds of people who have been dying across the desert.” While turning a blind eye to the physical structure already in progress from the Bush administration along the Mexican border, Obama simultaneously cut the budget almost in half, hindering the effort toward reform, as assuredly, reform cannot be effective without a physical structure deterring the simple means of coming into to the U.S. against U.S. laws.
Although logic and compassion both argue against the rationale of a physical barrier between Mexico and the U.S., the reality is that no reform will slow the human flow without one. An alternative to the physical structure is supporting states’ such as Arizona for enacting legislation to uphold the existing law, when the federal government sits idle. Other examples of such action provide evidence that crime is reduced and other burdens on a state will be reduced with local enforcement of the law.
~H.L. Whitley
The hopeful assertion is this: History shows that the most ambitious, self-reliant individuals risk life and limb to immigrate into a new land.
However, we are dealing with millions each year of illegal immigration from a third-world country that threatens the cultural and sovereign aspects of our nation. This is not an “exceptionalism” view, rather a realistic one taken from world history. A nation cannot take in millions of people a year from a different region, holding vastly different political ideals, a different language and a potentially different moral code and hold on to who she is.
Everyone agrees immigration reform is needed, but few will acknowledge that a physical barrier will ensure reform and upholding of the law of the land is meaningful to everyone on both sides of the literal fence. Current immigration rules only allow a certain number of legal immigrants into the U.S. each year. Wait times for VISAs can be up to eight years even with good legitimate sponsors. The reality is, that no fence, virtual or physical, is going to keep ambitious people concerned with bettering themselves from coming to the Land of Promise.
Modern progressives feel a physical fence and laws like the one recently enacted in Arizona are cruel and fly in the face of progressive Kumbaya campfire, One-World-Nation philosophies. To that I assert this: You cannot offer amnesty without simultaneously upholding the law of the land which means respecting the states’ sovereign rights to enforce the existing law. The U.S. or a state cannot freely take in millions of economic refugees each year without her face changing.
At the root of this conflict is the same argument we see over and over. Is the U.S.A. worth protecting or is she inherently broken and need fixing? I support the former ideal. Does that make me a racist? On the contrary, it is a tough love philosophy of recognizing and upholding laws and rights of citizens at all costs. What is a citizen? One who is entitled to be here, is committed to holding our values close to their heart and has made the enormous sacrifice to obey the rules to earn the right of U.S. citizenship. Have you ever heard the phrase “one does not know the worth of something until they have to pay for it”? Ponder that.
President Obama recognized the need for an orderly method for controlling immigration on the campaign trail. Amnesty can never be a one-time deal. It lays the groundwork for a perpetual flow of illegal immigrants without meeting the problem at its source.
I advocate peaceful organized protests and boycotts of businesses that utilize now or have ever utilized illegal immigrant or migrant workers. Such businesses exist everywhere in this nation, not only in the south. It is the grass roots that drive change, and currently, the only signs I see on the news are from amnesty seekers. Voting with your wallet or your feet is often the most powerful.
Switzerland was among the poorest of European nations just over two hundred years ago. Then, ingenuity set in and they emerged as one of the wealthiest, most successful civilizations on the planet. All the while, Switzerland’s humanitarian traditions made them a safe-haven for political refugees. With the emergence of their industrial leadership and pride in craftsmanship in their cultural perspective, they more dramatically curtailed immigration during the 20th century than any other nation in Western Europe.
Japan is another fine example. After WWII, their resources were no longer permitted by the world economy to establish a large military presence. Their redirected industrial energies made them a leading manufacturing and economic world power. The last 40 years has shown marked restriction in their immigration policies. Do the Swiss and Japanese understand something about sociology and the economic and cultural impacts of unbridled immigration that we do not?
Obama on the campaign trail with Larry King said “I think all Americans think that we should be able to regulate who comes in and out of this country in an orderly way. Not only for sake of our sovereignty but also to avoid the hundreds of people who have been dying across the desert.” While turning a blind eye to the physical structure already in progress from the Bush administration along the Mexican border, Obama simultaneously cut the budget almost in half, hindering the effort toward reform, as assuredly, reform cannot be effective without a physical structure deterring the simple means of coming into to the U.S. against U.S. laws.
Although logic and compassion both argue against the rationale of a physical barrier between Mexico and the U.S., the reality is that no reform will slow the human flow without one. An alternative to the physical structure is supporting states’ such as Arizona for enacting legislation to uphold the existing law, when the federal government sits idle. Other examples of such action provide evidence that crime is reduced and other burdens on a state will be reduced with local enforcement of the law.
~H.L. Whitley
Monday, April 12, 2010
What's Still Missing from the Freedom Movement and Palin is Not "The One"
I like Sarah Palin, I do. But after listening to her recent speeches at the McCain rally and the Southern Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans, I am still not convinced that she is "The One" to embody all of our hopes and aspirations. The reason is this: She has proven that she excels at Obama-bashing. Okay, we get it. She has not figured out that she continues to preach to the choir. Really, when I say choir, I'm talking about the kind of beautiful Baptist choir you only hear when you go to Harlem . The authentic one.
I think this repeated messaging is starting to fall on deaf ears and Palin may find herself maintaining her plateau rather than truly uniting the conservative movement. She's not "The One" guys, sorry.
We were convinced for a while with her tales of Applehood and Motherpie. We all felt electricity with her first rallies, but like many politicians, she has continued to run with the same current that at one time provided electricity, but is now grounded.
Somewhere out there, there is someone who can electrify like Palin, probably another woman, I don't know. But whoever she is, will maintain contact with that element of her womanhood that inspires us with talking points to reclaim in our movement the notion that we must care for other members in our communities, privately, organizationally, with non-profits, with social entrepreneurship.
Never before has social entrepreneurship been so pervasive and momentous. I haven't heard Plain or Rush, Laura or Glenn LEVERAGE this to forward the cause. Not only would such talking, planning and convincing unite the fragmented right, but undoubtedly DRAW moderate, equally confused members from the left toward the Greater Cause.
I would like to see popular conservatives come out of the dark ages, get in touch with the enlightened masses and assure us how we are going to transition into a new Libertarian state that cares deeply for others and ACTIVELY seeks out ways to provide privately through sophisticated, private or corporate social structures.
We still have a ways to go. I'm not hearing it. My heart is not twitter-pated.
~h. Whitley
I think this repeated messaging is starting to fall on deaf ears and Palin may find herself maintaining her plateau rather than truly uniting the conservative movement. She's not "The One" guys, sorry.
We were convinced for a while with her tales of Applehood and Motherpie. We all felt electricity with her first rallies, but like many politicians, she has continued to run with the same current that at one time provided electricity, but is now grounded.
Somewhere out there, there is someone who can electrify like Palin, probably another woman, I don't know. But whoever she is, will maintain contact with that element of her womanhood that inspires us with talking points to reclaim in our movement the notion that we must care for other members in our communities, privately, organizationally, with non-profits, with social entrepreneurship.
Never before has social entrepreneurship been so pervasive and momentous. I haven't heard Plain or Rush, Laura or Glenn LEVERAGE this to forward the cause. Not only would such talking, planning and convincing unite the fragmented right, but undoubtedly DRAW moderate, equally confused members from the left toward the Greater Cause.
I would like to see popular conservatives come out of the dark ages, get in touch with the enlightened masses and assure us how we are going to transition into a new Libertarian state that cares deeply for others and ACTIVELY seeks out ways to provide privately through sophisticated, private or corporate social structures.
We still have a ways to go. I'm not hearing it. My heart is not twitter-pated.
~h. Whitley
GOP Could Talk Less, Listen More
While the GOP continues to send guilt-ridden "compliance" messaging to conservatives and Tea Party activists in fear of the party splitting up and failing in November, Tea Party rallies press forward in their beautiful, unstructured ways and will continue to be like children who continue to disobey in the face of inattentive parents.
Conservatives and Tea Party activists are bombarded with more messaging to "go-with-the-flow". Success and progress will come by keeping a course that is steady, one step at a time. One new curious member at a time.
When the left-of-right GOP decides to instate leadership and messaging that listens more and talks less, they might just find that they gain the momentum and ground they so desperately seek from the Tea party and true conservatives who, like children, are going to grow no matter how much their parents inadvertently try to dismiss and suppress them.
Conservatives and Tea Party activists are bombarded with more messaging to "go-with-the-flow". Success and progress will come by keeping a course that is steady, one step at a time. One new curious member at a time.
When the left-of-right GOP decides to instate leadership and messaging that listens more and talks less, they might just find that they gain the momentum and ground they so desperately seek from the Tea party and true conservatives who, like children, are going to grow no matter how much their parents inadvertently try to dismiss and suppress them.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Black and Conservative
Conservative black voters are blogging, marching and joining the Tea Party. They are defying the "expectation" that blacks HAVE to be democrats. They are called insidious names because they dare to criticize the first African American president under their right to exercise the First Amendment.
Many have kept their against-the-grain political views to themselves - until now. Although most voted for Obama, many feel the nation is overburdened with tax, disagree with Obama policies, and believe in fiscal responsibility and conservative action.
I hope we see more become active to squash the unfounded myth that Tea Party activists are racists.
I am not a member of the Tea Party. Simply an observer.
Many have kept their against-the-grain political views to themselves - until now. Although most voted for Obama, many feel the nation is overburdened with tax, disagree with Obama policies, and believe in fiscal responsibility and conservative action.
I hope we see more become active to squash the unfounded myth that Tea Party activists are racists.
I am not a member of the Tea Party. Simply an observer.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Don't Mind My Mug.
I decided it was time to come out of my shell and put my own face onto these audacious posts I'm creating, so people who wish to criticize the heck out of me, can do it right to my face. So there... I apologize for those of you who would prefer not to stare at my face while reading.
It should be noted that this is a passport photo - the only thing remotely professional I have. AND, I was nine months pregnant with my third child. So if you want to bark at me, know that you are doing it to a poor pregnant lady who can't afford a decent professional headshot. All kidding aside, I welcome all posts in any form.
I can't tell exactly who dislikes my posts more, liberals who can't stand anything conservative and think we're all cold-hearted mean people, or conservatives who think I can't possibly be conservative because I love everyone. WHATEVER. I know there's more of us out there. We are the new "heightened-awareness" element of the right-wing.
I am about to teach my children more about the life of Thomas Jefferson today as well as colonial South Carolina interspersed with decimals, long division, fractions and renaming - oh - and we bought caterpillars this week - soon to be hatched into Butterflies! This sort of spirit-filled school day at home is just the thing that usually inspires the kinds of posts from me that make people either really inspired or really irritated. Stay tuned!
~h. whitley
It should be noted that this is a passport photo - the only thing remotely professional I have. AND, I was nine months pregnant with my third child. So if you want to bark at me, know that you are doing it to a poor pregnant lady who can't afford a decent professional headshot. All kidding aside, I welcome all posts in any form.
I can't tell exactly who dislikes my posts more, liberals who can't stand anything conservative and think we're all cold-hearted mean people, or conservatives who think I can't possibly be conservative because I love everyone. WHATEVER. I know there's more of us out there. We are the new "heightened-awareness" element of the right-wing.
I am about to teach my children more about the life of Thomas Jefferson today as well as colonial South Carolina interspersed with decimals, long division, fractions and renaming - oh - and we bought caterpillars this week - soon to be hatched into Butterflies! This sort of spirit-filled school day at home is just the thing that usually inspires the kinds of posts from me that make people either really inspired or really irritated. Stay tuned!
~h. whitley
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Podcast Episode 3 is Up!
Today's Podcast Episode: Mess in Massachusetts' Universal Healthcare, Medicare paying 19 cents on the dollar in Vermont, Utah's intent to sue the U.S. Government for reclamation of lands, and Is Conservation really Conservative? - Yes! Hear why.
Friday, April 2, 2010
More on the Massachusetts Health Insurance Mess
As the race for the Massachusetts governor's office ensues, incumbent Gov. Deval L. Patrick wields his power to deny insurance company rate hikes. Although well-intended, three out of the four largest insurers in Massachusetts reported operating losses last year.
It appears this mess is turning into a circular firing squad, as all stakeholders were once united in the effort to provide universal healthcare. Although the insurers are requesting rate hikes of 7-34%, the state insurance commission believes this is way out of line relative to the regional medical inflation rate of 5%. The insurance lobby states that the real culprit is the Massachusetts medical system. The New York Times reports that a Boston University study recently found that hospital costs per Massachusetts resident were 55 percent higher than the national average. An investigation this year by the state attorney general concluded that the pricing leverage exerted by academic medical centers played a major role.
Lora M. Pellegrini, the president of the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, called the denials “a very reckless act” and warned that insurers on thin margins might have trouble paying claims.
What to do?
It appears this mess is turning into a circular firing squad, as all stakeholders were once united in the effort to provide universal healthcare. Although the insurers are requesting rate hikes of 7-34%, the state insurance commission believes this is way out of line relative to the regional medical inflation rate of 5%. The insurance lobby states that the real culprit is the Massachusetts medical system. The New York Times reports that a Boston University study recently found that hospital costs per Massachusetts resident were 55 percent higher than the national average. An investigation this year by the state attorney general concluded that the pricing leverage exerted by academic medical centers played a major role.
Lora M. Pellegrini, the president of the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, called the denials “a very reckless act” and warned that insurers on thin margins might have trouble paying claims.
What to do?
Monday, March 15, 2010
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