As I've said before, I've been here a while. In all that time, I have learned some things about people. You called me a fake libertarian. How dare I?
Yet here on this board, some on this very topic are supposed Libertarians who believe:
1. Everyone should be forced to serve time in the military
2. Liberals should be shot for expressing their views
3. The government should tell rape victims less than two months pregnant that they have to wait for the clump of cells in their bodies to turn into babies, then carry those babies to term
4. Police checkpoints are just dandy
5. Driving is a priveledge granted by the state
6. The government should be able to toss us in jail for choosing to use drugs or for selling them to consenting adults
7. The government should tell people that they cannot have sex with each other for money
These are just the beginning. I bet everyone who has labelled me an elitist commie agrees with at least one of the 7.
There are not very many true libertarians out there. Most people just want to protect their way of life without giving a damn about anyone else's.
The truth is, give the power to write law and a fresh pen to most people here and a lot of our lives would indeed be very miserable.
Gun owners are against gun control, boaters are against anti-boating legislation, fishermen are against jet skiers, nature lovers are against varmint shooters, varmint shooters are against nature lovers, motorcyclists are against helmet laws, paramedics are against motorcyclists, the list goes on and on and on.
What is all boils down to is that most people are looking after their own asses.
I strongly believe in personal freedom, but with personal freedom must come some level of responsibility.
If ranchers in one part of the country decided to eradicate all prarie dogs, do they have the right to take a part of nature, a part of some people's heritage, away from the entire world?
There are some serious lines that have to be drawn. The hard questions are where and how.
I don't have the answers, but at least I know to ask the questions. That, to me, is a pretty good start.
Bill Wallace