So You Think I'm a Right-Winger?
Terry L. Mitchell
May 18, 2009
I take exception to some people´s assumption that I´m a right-winger. I´ve certainly never stated such a thing. And I´m not, as some have accused me, trying to disguise my true sentiments, using the facade of libertarianism. Obviously, because I´m not a left-winger, some automatically assume that I´m a right-winger.
As I´ve discussed before, extremists are all the same. If one is not a left-winger, then he or she must be a right-winger (so say left-wingers). If one is not a right-winger, then he or she must be a left-winger (so say right-wingers).
Let me say this again, hopefully in a way that some people can perhaps understand it this time. I am conservative on most of the social issues (yes, I oppose abortion and gay marriage and I favor some limited government sponsorship of Christianity), but I´m libertarian on just about everything else. That makes me a right-winger? By whose logic?
Would a right winger:
Oppose the Patriot Act?
Oppose FISA?
Oppose the war in Iraq?
Oppose water-boarding?
Oppose laws against any act that does not have a direct, specific, and clearly identifiable victim?
Think the war on illegal drugs is a waste of time and money?
Often side with the accused and oppose law enforcement officials?
Believe censorship should be reserved only for cases in which not censoring would put someone at risk of death or serious injury?
Believe in absolute privacy rights?
Believe free speech should be completely unlimited?
Oppose laws that ban sodomy, bestiality, consensual incest, and other aberrant sexual behavior?
Believe the police should never have the right to search anyone´s home, car, or other private belongs except when that person is suspected of murder, rape, assault, armed robbery, grand theft, or fraud?
Believe it should be illegal for police to lie to or deceive anyone?
Well, I´m here to tell you that all of the above are true of me (and they are just the less controversial aspects of my libertarian beliefs). And some people still want to insist that I´m a right-winger? Wow!
As I´ve discussed before, extremists are all the same. If one is not a left-winger, then he or she must be a right-winger (so say left-wingers). If one is not a right-winger, then he or she must be a left-winger (so say right-wingers).
Let me say this again, hopefully in a way that some people can perhaps understand it this time. I am conservative on most of the social issues (yes, I oppose abortion and gay marriage and I favor some limited government sponsorship of Christianity), but I´m libertarian on just about everything else. That makes me a right-winger? By whose logic?
Would a right winger:
Oppose the Patriot Act?
Oppose FISA?
Oppose the war in Iraq?
Oppose water-boarding?
Oppose laws against any act that does not have a direct, specific, and clearly identifiable victim?
Think the war on illegal drugs is a waste of time and money?
Often side with the accused and oppose law enforcement officials?
Believe censorship should be reserved only for cases in which not censoring would put someone at risk of death or serious injury?
Believe in absolute privacy rights?
Believe free speech should be completely unlimited?
Oppose laws that ban sodomy, bestiality, consensual incest, and other aberrant sexual behavior?
Believe the police should never have the right to search anyone´s home, car, or other private belongs except when that person is suspected of murder, rape, assault, armed robbery, grand theft, or fraud?
Believe it should be illegal for police to lie to or deceive anyone?
Well, I´m here to tell you that all of the above are true of me (and they are just the less controversial aspects of my libertarian beliefs). And some people still want to insist that I´m a right-winger? Wow!
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