Anti-government conservatives say that government is “collectivism” and immoral. They say any government interferes with individual and business rights. Sarah Palin has said that government caused the Great Depression. Glenn Beck says that government is socialism.
Now Kentucky Tea Party Senate candidate Rand Paul says civil rights legislation is wrong because it is government interference with the right of individuals to “freely associate.” It is wrong because it is the “collective,” or community imposing their will on the individuals and businesses who choose to discriminate based on race, etc…
These libertarian ideas always make me wonder why they don’t also come out against police departments as “government meddling.” After all, laws are just more examples of the community imposing its idiotic morals on individuals. You might say robbery and murder interfere with the rights of people to live, and therefore must be punished, but isn’t that exactly the same as not letting a person do business or eat or sleep in a hotel based on skin color? They’re against those laws, so why not be consistent and be against other laws? Isn’t a law against robbery the same as regulation of business that is designed to protect consumers from being scammed? They’re against that as “government interference” in the rights of the business to scam consumers. Why aren’t they against laws against fraud?
At least Ayn Rand was consistent. She wrote that a serial killer was an “ideal man,” a superior form of human because he didn’t let society impose their morals on him, He didn’t worry about what others thought and just did as he pleased. “Other people do not exist for him, and he does not see why they should,” Rand wrote. Hickman had “no regard whatsoever for all that society holds sacred, and with a consciousness all his own. He has the true, innate psychology of a Superman. He can never realize and feel ‘other people.'” This is the foundation of the modern conservative thinking.
So don’t be surprised when a “Tea Party” candidate comes out and says there should be no civil rights laws, no regulation of business. Just be surprised when they don’t come out and say that it is no one’s business who murders who.
Tag Archives: collectivism
Calling People Communists
Calling people “Communists” is back in style… In this case, people who talk about “The Commons” or “Common Good” are “Socialists.” Others call them “collectivists.” (?!)
Fine with me. I believe we’re all in this together. I believe that people sticking up for each other and watching out for each other is a better approach to life than the conservative “on your own” and “everyone out for themselves” and “get what you can and screw everyone else” approach. Moral values, and all that…
Go read this silly post: GOP Bloggers :: If It Walks Like a Socialist and Quacks Like a Socialist
Just Get Rid Of Government?
Today my local newspaper’ subjects me to this right-wing propaganda comic strip (click to enlarge):
Today the cartoon’s message is: Get rid of public schools, then we don’t have to pay property taxes, and everyone can pick out for themselves what education their kids get. At least today we get to see the pure, honest message of the Right without the usual disguises — today’s cartoon is not even offering the usual pretense of vouchers.
The larger exchange offered is clear: just get rid of government and the taxes it requires, and leave everyone to fend for themselves.