A generally libertarian social media poster recently featured this cartoon on an email.
Okay, at first (and later) glances, it is funny.
But is it true?
Obviously, on the Democratic side of things, their platform consists of a lot more: a very long list of actions that they demand be done at the local, State and FedGov level to take away liberty and deny freedom to all but a tiny minority. From crackdowns on “racist” and other forms of speech and expression (attacks on free speech) to constant demands for disarming 99% of Americans, their position is quite clear and patently dangerous to Americans and the world.
But the Republicans are really not any different at heart. Often they sound better, and there are some who wear the label that really do come out with (relatively) high numbers on a Noland Chart (the diamond-shaped grid ranking personal liberty and economic liberty. But overall? The GOP is no better on the eight items listed above than the Dems. And this is NOT a new phenomenon: it easily can be seen for nearly a century (even if we ignore Lincoln and Grant).
Free Enterprise: Yes, generally the GOP talks a good talk on entrepreneurship and the right to do business. Unless, of course, you have someone who wants to do something or sell something that they vote to ban, to make illegal. Then? Too bad, so sad.
Secure Borders: Right now, the Donald is talking and even doing things to secure the borders. Making the visitors at least go in through the door. And not break in through the window, the wall, or whereever. But how many past GOP presidents do we have to thank for the current mess?
Honest Elections: The problem isn’t whether the elections are honest – it is a combination of who counts the votes and how much power the votes give to the politicians. Starting with “Honest Abe” the GOP track record is as bad as the Dems, at least until the last decade or so.
Real Journalism: Haw! Double-hah! Do we really trust Fox more than CNN? Consistantly? And what do politicians have to do with journalism? Or more accurately, what business do politicians have to do with the media? They can’t keep their own noses (and houses) clean – so they going to hold the media to a real honest standard? Or just make them parrot the party line?
Ethical Judiciary: Party labels have little to do with a judge’s views. Who pays their salary has a lot more. And again, the problem is not with honesty or ethics, but with power and control.
Civil Rights: Again, how much of a joke can we take? Both parties have those people – and take actions – that do NOT treat people equally under the law. That claim that some people have “more rights” (privileges, often) than other people. And both subscribe to the immorality of “democracy.” The idea that 51% of any participating electorate can dictate anything to the remaining 49% who vote and the large (often larger) number who did not vote. How much more denial of civil rights – civil liberty – can be shown?
Moral Standards: While we can certainly decry the lack of moral standards among Democrats, we hold many (indeed, perhaps most) Republicans to the same disregard. Yes, Democrats push many, many immoral actions: abortion of the pre-born children, euthanasia of the ailing and elderly, mutilation of children for the sake of “gender identity,” and refusing to hold those who aggress against others (by killing, wounding, injuring, mugging, stealing from, conning, etc) accountable. But both Democrats and Republicans – especially those in power – have many moral failings. Among these? Infidelity, divorce for no good reason, lying, stealing (through taxes if nothing else), supporting and permitting attacks on and killing of those who are engaged in many illegal (not necessarily immoral) acts without trial, failing to keep promises, and failing to care for the poor (personally, not by stealing money from others to do it).
Personal Liberty: The above shows that while Republicans do stand for some types of personal liberty, especially (and usually) 1st and 2nd Amendment rights, they also caveat, restrict, and sometimes prohibit many of those rights. And many others. Democrats, right now at least, are definitely worse overall, but of course, do attack both 1st and 2nd Amendment rights constantly.
The summary? Both, we say again both, old parties’ platforms are NOT as advertised by either themselves or their political enemies. Both support many evil things, and sometimes glorify themselves for doing so.
Follower of Christ Jesus (a christian), Pahasapan (resident of the Black Hills), Westerner, Lover of Liberty, Free-Market Anarchist, Engineer, Army Officer, Husband, Father, Historian, Writer, Evangelist. Successor to Lady Susan (Mama Liberty) at TPOL.
The Price of Liberty 
Myths and misconceptions
A generally libertarian social media poster recently featured this cartoon on an email.
Okay, at first (and later) glances, it is funny.
But is it true?
Obviously, on the Democratic side of things, their platform consists of a lot more: a very long list of actions that they demand be done at the local, State and FedGov level to take away liberty and deny freedom to all but a tiny minority. From crackdowns on “racist” and other forms of speech and expression (attacks on free speech) to constant demands for disarming 99% of Americans, their position is quite clear and patently dangerous to Americans and the world.
But the Republicans are really not any different at heart. Often they sound better, and there are some who wear the label that really do come out with (relatively) high numbers on a Noland Chart (the diamond-shaped grid ranking personal liberty and economic liberty. But overall? The GOP is no better on the eight items listed above than the Dems. And this is NOT a new phenomenon: it easily can be seen for nearly a century (even if we ignore Lincoln and Grant).
Free Enterprise: Yes, generally the GOP talks a good talk on entrepreneurship and the right to do business. Unless, of course, you have someone who wants to do something or sell something that they vote to ban, to make illegal. Then? Too bad, so sad.
Secure Borders: Right now, the Donald is talking and even doing things to secure the borders. Making the visitors at least go in through the door. And not break in through the window, the wall, or whereever. But how many past GOP presidents do we have to thank for the current mess?
Honest Elections: The problem isn’t whether the elections are honest – it is a combination of who counts the votes and how much power the votes give to the politicians. Starting with “Honest Abe” the GOP track record is as bad as the Dems, at least until the last decade or so.
Real Journalism: Haw! Double-hah! Do we really trust Fox more than CNN? Consistantly? And what do politicians have to do with journalism? Or more accurately, what business do politicians have to do with the media? They can’t keep their own noses (and houses) clean – so they going to hold the media to a real honest standard? Or just make them parrot the party line?
Ethical Judiciary: Party labels have little to do with a judge’s views. Who pays their salary has a lot more. And again, the problem is not with honesty or ethics, but with power and control.
Civil Rights: Again, how much of a joke can we take? Both parties have those people – and take actions – that do NOT treat people equally under the law. That claim that some people have “more rights” (privileges, often) than other people. And both subscribe to the immorality of “democracy.” The idea that 51% of any participating electorate can dictate anything to the remaining 49% who vote and the large (often larger) number who did not vote. How much more denial of civil rights – civil liberty – can be shown?
Moral Standards: While we can certainly decry the lack of moral standards among Democrats, we hold many (indeed, perhaps most) Republicans to the same disregard. Yes, Democrats push many, many immoral actions: abortion of the pre-born children, euthanasia of the ailing and elderly, mutilation of children for the sake of “gender identity,” and refusing to hold those who aggress against others (by killing, wounding, injuring, mugging, stealing from, conning, etc) accountable. But both Democrats and Republicans – especially those in power – have many moral failings. Among these? Infidelity, divorce for no good reason, lying, stealing (through taxes if nothing else), supporting and permitting attacks on and killing of those who are engaged in many illegal (not necessarily immoral) acts without trial, failing to keep promises, and failing to care for the poor (personally, not by stealing money from others to do it).
Personal Liberty: The above shows that while Republicans do stand for some types of personal liberty, especially (and usually) 1st and 2nd Amendment rights, they also caveat, restrict, and sometimes prohibit many of those rights. And many others. Democrats, right now at least, are definitely worse overall, but of course, do attack both 1st and 2nd Amendment rights constantly.
The summary? Both, we say again both, old parties’ platforms are NOT as advertised by either themselves or their political enemies. Both support many evil things, and sometimes glorify themselves for doing so.
A pox on both their houses!
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About TPOL Nathan
Follower of Christ Jesus (a christian), Pahasapan (resident of the Black Hills), Westerner, Lover of Liberty, Free-Market Anarchist, Engineer, Army Officer, Husband, Father, Historian, Writer, Evangelist. Successor to Lady Susan (Mama Liberty) at TPOL.