Rick Lowe
A couple of my friends and acquaintances consider themselves "Progressives" and a couple others say they are not driven by an ideology at all.
Of course, if I'm going to labeled with an ideology I would prefer to be called a Libertarian.
Meaning fiscally conservative, socially liberal with a big dose of personal responsibility to solve today's problems as outlined by David Boaz of the Cato Institute in the video found at this link…
Other people refer to it as the freedom philosophy.
I'm told though, that if something doesn't fit with my ideology, it's just no good and must be thrown out, and that was what the Marxists did.
Certainly the former USSR and Marxism are not great examples of freedom. In addition to that, most of the ideas expressed by Libertarian writers have not been tried. After all, in the world of ideas it's no longer left and right, it's what's right and what's wrong.
Certainly the mixed economy we have today has far too many consequences that are detrimental and I just don't see government fixing itself when more and more people clamour to get government to do their bidding.
Another thing I'm told is society cannot trust the free market because men are greedy, immoral and fallible so we need government to keep them in check.
Well to paraphrase Ludwig von Mises, if we must reject the free market, because of this, we must also reject government action.
When it comes to government I come down closer to H.L. Mencken who said on page 146 of his, A Mencken CHRESTOMATHY, "The ideal government of all reflective men, from Aristotle onward is one which lets the individual alone – one which barely escapes being no government at all. This ideal, I believe, will be realized in the world twenty or thirty centuries after I have passed from these scenes and taken up my public duties in hell."
Of course using government power to achieve our ends is the opposite of freedom.
The predominant ideologies leading us down the drink are the ideas of progressivism, socialism and even fascism, and I'm not comfortable future generations will have much to thank us for, so I'm happy to be an ideologue for freedom.
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This
recent commentary entitled Freedom for What?, for The
Independent Institute, by Carlos Alberto Montaner is a great read. Hope you have the time to read it.
When freedom is lost it is always wanted.. When freedom is obtained it is just taken for granted.. Least we forget that Freedom is a Natural Right given to mankind by his creator and not by government granted to its people.. With our this belief, individual freedom is lost and collective ideology (progressivism) gradually emerges over time.. Individualism becomes lost to socialism and basic freedoms are lost to collective rights.. The constitution of the former Soviet Union is a classic example of collective rights that failed the national rights of its individual citizens..
Be careful of so-called progressives for they are the zealous supporters of expanding government and the so-called nanny state.. To rely more and more on government will only compromise our natural rights to freedom and liberty.. The function and power of government is vested from its people, NOT from the government to the people..
Today, in the United States individual rights are being tested as never before as the natural freedoms as set forth in the Bill of Rights are continuously being debased by progressive thought and policies.. Concepts such as collective rights, social justice and organic change sound to be well in meaning, but in practice only will destroy the foundation and values of individual freedoms.. Now America appears to be at the cross roads of its political future.. Will it go down the path of individual freedom and liberty or will it move further in the transformation to democratic socialism.. One can only hope that “the shining light on the hill” will continue to be the beacon of freedom,”liberty and justice for all”.. Only time will tell which path it will elect to follow..