I created this blog, with some help from my friend Mac, to write about political theory and the issues in the present Presidential campaign. I find political discussion in the MSM and the internet tends to deal with the horserace, the personal appeal (or lack) of the candidates, slogans ( Change! Experience!) and minor differences in proposals. I am more interested in the assumptions which undergird policy preferences and the consequences, especially to freedom, which follow them.
I come to the discussion with my own assumptions. I believe in freedom. Not just those freedoms enumerated in the Bill of Rights, but the freedom to live my life as I see fit as long as I do not prevent someone else from living theirs as they see fit. I believe the purpose of government is to protect our freedom. I prefer a strict reading of the Constitution of The United States. It is a glorious blueprint for a gov't. Not only does it balance power among the legislative, executive and judicial branches, as we all learned in school, but it balances power between the national gov't and that of the individual states and between gov't and the individual citizen. Long live the 9th and 10th amendments!
That, of course, is on paper. However elegant a constitution is, it has no power itself. People, not The Constitution, govern. In a Republic, the citizens are the only Power. Only they can prevent the gov't from usurping power but it takes vigilance and a concerted effort to resist the seductive plans of politicians. The Federal gov't is no longer limited to it's powers authorized by the Constitution because we, the voters, have elected representatives who do not feel bound by the Constitution, because we, the voters, did not want the gov't to be limited to it's authorized powers. It was to be expected. It is human nature to seek the easier road; to exclaim "there ought to be a law!"; to demand something be done; in effect to trade a little freedom for a perceived public good.
Obviously, coming from this viewpoint, I do not support most of the policies the candidates are proposing. Equally obviously, my views will not prevail in this election ( nothing new there!), so this blog will not be a set of arguments for one set of proposals or a candidate or a party. It will, I hope, provoke a dispassionate discussion on freedom and government.
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12 comments:
"dispassionate discussion"? I hope that does not mean I can't get excited because your idea for this blog has me all tingly.
I am really looking forward to seeing you cut loose here. Your Luitprand series showed how fascinating you are when you are excited about a subject.
You have given us a taste on the wheel, now we feast!
Excellent, Kate!
I'm really looking forward to reading your thoughts. The fact that you write well is just a super bonus.
"I am really looking forward to seeing you cut loose here."
Me too! (Chalk it up to my extremist views wherein personal liberty is concerned.)
"The fact that you write well is just a super bonus."
Yeah; there's that as well.
Way to go, Kate! I look forward to reading along and learning a whole lotta "New."
The whole Gerbil Nation is waiting to be dazzled and amazed! No pressure though.
"No pressure though."
None whatsoever.
Now make with the insightfulness...DO IT NOW!
Sheesh!
I don't know which commenter to say, "Ditto!" to!
Heh.
So I guess my only option is, a round of "Ditto!"s on the house!
thx 4 teh dittos, TeX. This is fun, Cousin, my entire household is excited!
I vote "Yes".
Looking forward to your insights, Kate! (Sulla)
I look forward to reading your comments. It is a topic I have strong feelings on, mostly surprise and disappointment at how willing we are to put freedom aside, an unfortuante casualty in societies effort to attain the greater common good. But we did have an auspicious beginning, and the ideas themselves still soar on their own, whether or not the nation embraces them.
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