Because of
an exchange that's taking place now between one of my Facebook friends and I
over Margaret Thatcher...
I've dropped
back from political commentary for several reasons, the most important being
the tenants of the faith I pursue. But
when I do enter that fray my position is still the one I posted in my profile
when I joined, right-leaning Libertarian.
That makes me pretty much the enemy of both the right and left as far as
they are concerned. However, because of
my position I tend to support most of the positions of the right with the
caveat that I don't like their relatively big government solutions any more
than the left's. Both grow government,
just in different directions.
However, I
am realistic about things, unlike many of my fellow libertarians. Some government is necessary just to keep us
from descending into national AND local chaos.
Some regulation is necessary, as history has shown, for our collective
safety, both militarily and domestic.
Where I come down in the matter is on those solutions which both work,
and invoke the least amount of governmental use of its coercive power, just as
our founders envisioned when they wrote the Constitution and ratified it. They
learned a hard lesson under the Articles of Confederation that libertarians,
just like progressivism, doesn't work when taken too far. Because of that experience they accepted that
a certain amount of strength in the Federal government was necessary, though
they did their best to structure that government in a way which constrained and
limited that exercise of power.
The result
was a country which was a "shining beacon" based on Judea/Christian
principles which was a shining beacon to the rest of the world and the only
country where God's Truth could arise and shine forth as well. It was not a perfect country, no creation of
man is, but it worked, and better than it does today for the most part. The U.S. almost single-handedly raised the
standard of living for people the world over through the inventiveness and
industriousness of its citizenry, something historians are trying to erase
knowledge of by incessantly harping on its flaws in books and college
courses. I, for one, am grateful for it.
Right now
the great political struggle is between those who believe we, the people,
wherever we live, own the government and those who hold to the age-old tyranny
that the government owns us. Because I'm
not a statist I tend to favor those who pursue policies of smaller government
with lower taxes for all, rich and poor alike, and the maximum of opportunity
for all. So I think well of politicians
who honestly pursue both, like the tea-party politicians and the late Margaret
Thatcher. She came to power at a
critical time in world history and was one of the trifecta, along with Reagan
and Pope John Paul II, who were responsible for the fall of communism in
Eastern Europe and The Soviet Union. At
home her policies worked, for all the left both here and there try to deny
it. She restored some modicum of national
pride when she repulsed a foreign invasion on national soil in the Falklands.
Was she
perfect? By no means, she was
heavy-handed at times at home and some argue too heavy handed and I'm sure
those who didn't like her can probably think of many more. But you know what? I don't think she was as evil as the left
over there and here allege. And I think
it gauche that both are celebrating her death in the uncouth was they are right
now. I would ask the left over there to
ponder what it says about them that they not only party in the streets, but
wreak havoc with their destruction of property and looting as part of the
celebrations? Those
"celebrations" of the death of a leader which belie the supposed
noble motives and intentions of the movement they belong to don't speak well of
them at all.
People are
free to disagree with me on her, just don’t take offense if I choose to refute
you.
That being
expressed, my firm belief, once again, is that in this imperfect world the
least government power invoked for safety and good order the better. I have no problem with such things as
government helping the unfortunate, like myself, even if it is constitutionally
suspect, as long as we the People agree on it and it is done in as responsible
a manner as possible. But that might be
a topic for another time. George
Washington is credited with the observation that government is the power of
fire and a fearful master. I would
rather that power be limited as far as possible.
Since my
faith basically calls for little or no involvement in politics; and I write about that here. I am trying to limit my
political posting and commentary to that which shows how the political world is
heading to its inevitable conclusion towards destruction as decisions by
political leaders only make the situation worse as they seek more and more
power for themselves. God is letting man
stew in the juices of his own making to the point where mankind’s greed, and
it’s not just capitalist greed, the other side is greedy as well, to the point
where he must end it for the sake of the holy ones.
I reserve
the right to enter the fray where a few subjects are concerned, such as our
natural right to defend ourselves and our loved ones. But they will be few. I may also comment based on my own analysis
as to the effect certain policies may be.
I’ve seldom been wrong when I have in the past because I try to be
thorough with my research before I bang away at my keyboard. But do note where I deem appropriate my faith
will inform opinions expressed and the right-leaning libertarian view really
flows out from that fact since I believe that only God, Christ and Christ’s
Bride, should have the kind of power men currently seek over their fellows. That will happen in Christ’s Kingdom and
folks now can’t begin to envision the blessings that will bring, even in
earthly terms.
