Zeno's Paradox: Am I Becoming a Liberal?

Zeno's Paradox

February 25, 2004 - Am I Becoming a Liberal?

I remember a saying from college that went along the lines "if you're not a liberal when you are twenty, you're a heartless bastard, and if you're not a conservative by the time you are forty, you are a stupid idiot". I think that I may be approaching this saying by going from heartless bastard to stupid idiot.

First off, internally, I consider myself a conservative. I'm not a huge fan of the nanny state and many entitlement programs. I have no problems if people who are capable of working are thrown out on the street if they refuse to work. I don't believe in that people are naturally entitled to anything beyond basic human rights by virtue of having been born homo sapiens. I support small limited government, and things like the people's right to own and bear arms. I'm a firm believer that the federal (and state) government should allow people to live and do their own thing without stepping in and imposing its own ideology. I believe that global free trade will be uncomfortable in the short term, but will be a net good thing if allowed to play out relatively unmolested.

So, why do I wonder if I'm becoming a liberal? A couple of things actually... The most immediate source of my confusion is the whole controversy behind allowing gays to marry. Why are conservatives pushing for a federal amendment to the constitution that will ban it? First off, that would be an amendment far more brain dead than even Prohibition. Secondly, it's codifying discrimination into law of the land. Finally, why do conservatives care? What happened to letting each person go through life without undue government meddling? Personally, I don't buy a single argument about how "we need to protect the institution of marriage" or any of the related reasons. Protect the institution of marriage? Where's the constitutional amendment prohibiting adultery? Where is the constitutional amendment banning easy divorces? I see this entire issue as the social conservatives attempting to curtail and discriminate against a group that they don't care for. A mean part of me is hoping that we can elect a very staunch secular government and pass an amendment banning crosses in buildings (or something that the French have done with banning things like burkhas). (This would be a bad idea, but it would get my point across.) I doubt that the religious social conservatives would like being on the other end of the shafting.

I can see the reason why abortion is a contested issue. There are legitimate issues on both sides that a reasonable person could see. I don't see any issues with allowing gay marriage that a reasonable person could say justifies denying them the same rights as their heterosexual counterparts. If someone out there has some good reasons, please post below. I'm currently of the opinion that the people who think we should ban this practice are bigoted idiots. I'm hoping that there are actually some compelling reasons for being against gay marriage, so my low opinion of the socially conservative people pushing for this ban is unjustified.

Posted by br284 at 08:59 AM

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I hate to state the obvious, but you sound more libertarian or classical/european liberal than right- or left-wing. (I gather you're using "liberal" in the U.S. sense above.)

Posted by Mike Linksvayer on February 25, 2004 03:28 PM

Sorry I can't offer any help. I think it's knee-jerk bigotry too.

Saw some numbers today: Opposition to gay marriage (and support for the amendment) increases with age and falls with education. Protestants are more apt to oppose gay marriage than Catholics, religious people more than "no preference" people. Blacks more than Asians.

This is one debate where I haven't been able to muster respect for dissenting views. They involve religious faith and prejudices that I can't comprehend. It makes me angry at what religion can do.

Posted by Sarah on February 26, 2004 08:55 PM

One day...if Bush gets re-elected, we can all feel the warmth of socio-economical control of this government over the american people. I'm from the side of Impeaching the president if he Lied, Lied, and....lied. Bush I believe fits this tag. Chenney on the other hand, should try to improve on his honesty, and step down as our bussines CEO...I mean...VP spot.

Hang in there America, American voters are coming to your rescue.

Posted by Rocky on March 5, 2004 07:46 AM

I hope Rocky's right. I'm stunned- sort of like a clubbed seal- that Americans aren't rioting in the streets and firing up the torches and heading towards Washington. "Lied and lied and lied...," and yet the polls barely budge. What's happened to our country? Where has our self-respect gone?

For br284, the word "liber" is Latin for "free." It is the root of the word "liberty," as well as the word "liberal," meaning "one who advocates great freedom."

Example of usage:

�The citizens of the United States of America have the right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship...happily the Government of the United States...gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance...�

George Washington, 1790

My hope is that you're feeling "liberal" because that little core part of you that listened with disinterested attention to stories of our founding values in grade school, is beginning to realize that something has gone seriously awry, and is starting to softly scream: "WARNING! Liberty is IMPORTANT!"

And BTW, liberalism is a social/political philosophy, not an economic policy, and certainly not remotely similar to Socialism ("the Nanny State"), in spite of Republican claims to the contrary.

You should also know that the most expensive form of government, both state and federal, is a Republican government. It is also, obviously (Homeland Security, PATRIOT Act, Nixon, "Defense of Marriage Act"), the most intrusive upon personal liberty.

Something that old quote doesn't take into account is that it's possible to have both a heart AND a brain. And, yes, that would make you a liberal.

REJOICE! You've rediscovered AMERICA! Now go proclaim Her far and wide, until the GOP is nothing more than a grumbling bunch of bitter old geezers on a farm somewhere in Texas, where they belong!

Posted by Paleoliberal on March 29, 2004 08:14 PM