Being an extreme libertarian now for almost two years running, it might not come as a surprise that two of the three main individuals that initially pushed me in the direction of libertarian thought was Ron Paul and Ayn Rand. But would you be set-back if I told you that the guy that actually made me go out there and REGISTER libertarian is a freakin' magician/comedian/television host? It would certainly catch me off- guard.
Penn Jillette, famous for the Penn & Teller comedian/magician duo and current host of the excellent Showtime television series titled "Penn & Teller's Bullshit," is the one man that really pushed me over the edge. Sure, Ron Paul was more significant in that he introduced me to libertarian thought, and maybe Ayn Rand played a bigger role than Jillette because of her literature and non-fiction, but it was Penn Jillette and his red fingernail that encouraged me to actually go out and BE a libertarian, not just an appreciator of it's principles.
One thing that Mr. Jillette has said--and i have to agree with him here-- is that the Democratic Party usually shows itself to be "the party of hate." Although Jillette sees the Republicans as "the party of fear," Jillette has asserted that, with the recent out lash against many in the democratic movement, the Democrats have adopted many aspects of "fear mongering."
How are the Democrats the party of hate?
Well, for one, look at the way they treated Sarah Palin. Sure, I agree that she is not even suited to be the governor of a small and somewhat insignificant state, but the flat-out hate spewed from the mouths of numerous pundits on MSNBC and CNN is simply unforgivable: the unneeded criticism and negativity thrown at her daughter, the gossip surrounding her mentally challenged son, the probes and investigations into her husband and his affairs, are all examples of attempted character destruction the democratic party is so used to dishing out. This is just one example. What about the title they give citizens belonging to the tea party movement? TEA BAGGERS. What a joke.
But how are they ALSO becoming the party of fear?
Bailouts. Bailouts, bailouts, bailouts.
"If we don't do something, our economy may never recover."
"The consequences of these businesses failing are unimaginable."
"There are certain elements working within our capitalistic system that need to be filtered out."
Etc, etc, etc.
Hate. Fear. I guess it's a winning combo.
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oh amazing writing as always =)
ReplyDeleteDidn't the tea baggers give themselves that name?
ReplyDeleteAnd as a liberal progressive who has mostly given up on the Democrats, (yeah, I volunteered for Obama's campaign during the California primary; then I was utterly revolted by his voting for George W. Bush's wiretapping law and amnesty for the law breakers.) I don't agree that MSNBC and CNN are Democrats. They are what (unfortunately) passes for journalists in America; they're scandal and gossip mongers, and I feel no sympathy for Palin. If she was okay with her supporters screaming "Kill Him" about Barack Obama, if she was going to push for abstinence education despite the massive statisical proof that it doesn't work, (and her own family being proof) if she was willing to engage in the politics of personal destruction and lie about "death panels" and "Obama killing your grandmother" then she deserves the same bullshit she heaped on others.
If you want to take about "the party of hate" look at how Penn Jillete treats people who disagree with him on his own show "Bullshit!" On that show, if you disagree with him on anything, you aren't merely wrong, you don't have different sources or a disagreement of opinion, you are a lying motherfucker. That's how he treated people who said that evidence supports the view that secondhand smoke was harmful, that they were lying, evil freedom-haters. Then it turned out that they were right. That's hate mongering in action.
If you want to see another kind of libertarian, one who doesn't just preach to the converted and insult everyone else, check out David Brin's blog at davidbrin.com (also found by googling "cntrary brin.)Hewas actually invited to give a speech at the libertarian convetion, and had spent time on "reform the lp" essay because he wanted to see them succeed. When they chose dogma over everything else, he pretty much gave up on them.
The thing as, with you being a libertarian and with me being a liberal progressive (who usually votes Green when I can, Lbertarian when I can't), we probably agree upon what constitutes personal freedom and vote accordingly on the death penalty, the drug war, the Iraq war, censorship, right to die, etc. etc. We probably mostly disagree on what constitutes economic freedom (laissez-faire vs. environmetal safeguards, osha, minimum wage laws, etc.) I don't attempt to call the people I dsagree with "The Party of hate" because it does no good, and pretty much ends conversations.
Jonathan Roth
Read State of Fear. Michael Crighton's final contribution to us. It shows the "Fear" process, and how it works.
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