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Tuesday, June 18, 2002 Why I'm not a libertarian Posted: June 18, 2002 1:00 a.m. Eastern Editor's note: WorldNetDaily Editor, Chief Executive Officer and daily columnist Joseph Farah is working on a new book set for release in early 2003 called "Taking America Back," delineating the problems the country faces and their solutions. In the meantime, you may wish to consider purchasing his most recent book, "This Land Is Our Land."
By Joseph
Farah
After I wrote my column last week, "Why I'm not a
conservative," many libertarians wrote in happily proclaiming me one
of their own.
I hate to disappoint them, but that political label doesn't describe
me, either.
Here's why I am not a libertarian – and why, I believe, that political
movement will never resonate with the American people.
Libertarians make a fundamental mistake about the nature of man. Man is
not inherently good. Man can only learn to govern himself when he
understands there is a higher accountability – a higher authority.
Ideally, that higher authority is not the government, but God. Government
can only demand good behavior through force. But when individuals
understand they are accountable to God, and that He requires certain kinds
of behavior as defined in the Ten Commandments and the totality of
scripture, there is a chance for man to maximize his freedom here on
earth.
Freedom can only be experienced and maximized, though, when it is
accompanied by personal responsibility. Personal responsibility cannot be
legislated. It cannot be forced. It cannot be coerced. Libertarians
generally understand this, but too few of them comprehend a laissez
faire society can only be built in a culture of morality,
righteousness and compassion.
Libertarians who expect to build such a society through politics alone
make a fundamental error. In a sense, they are utopian dreamers like the
socialists, ignoring the importance of human nature in shaping communities
and nations.
I don't want to be too hard on the libertarians, because of all the
political activists in America, they may have the best concept of limited
constitutional government. That's a big start, but it's only a start. We
cannot ignore the flaws in their positions. We cannot ignore the fact that
they don't have a complete picture. We cannot ignore that a libertarian
society devoid of God and a biblical worldview would quickly deteriorate
into chaos and violence.
Would this country be better off with more libertarians? Absolutely. Do
they have all the answers? Not even close.
The truth is there's more to life than politics. Much more.
Here's the way the father of our country and, as some have described
him, "the father of freedom," George Washington put it in his inaugural
address:
The foundations of our national policy will be laid in the pure and
immutable principles of private morality, and the preeminence of free
government be exemplified by all the attributes which can win the
affections of its citizens, and command the respect of the world. I
dwell on this prospect with every satisfaction which an ardent love for
my country can inspire: since there is no truth more thoroughly
established, than that there exists in the economy and course of nature,
an indissoluble union between virtue and happiness; between duty and
advantage; between the genuine maxims of an honest and magnanimous
policy, and the solid rewards of public prosperity and felicity: since
we ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven
can never be expected on a nation that disregards the external rules of
order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained: and since the
preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the
republican model of government, are justly considered as deeply, perhaps
as finally, staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the
American People. When the libertarians add such a provision to their national platform,
let me know. I'll be happy to consider the new label.
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