The Moderate Voice, “None of the Above”
March 5, 2008 by Pete Abel
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“As I grow older, I regret to say that a detestable habit of thinking seems to be getting a hold of me.” – H. Rider Haggard
“A great many people think they are thinking when they are really rearranging their prejudices.” – William James
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So which is it? Am I an aging addict of the detestable habit of thinking, or am I merely rearranging my prejudices? Honestly, I’m not sure, but I do know this much: The libertarian impulses of my youth and the stoic conservatism of my early adult years are gradually giving way to the doubts of middle-age – doubts that are centered on two questions:
(1) Do I really believe smaller government and lower taxes are the cures to what ails us?
(2) When people are hurting and in need, is it appropriate for their government to turn away, claiming, “That’s not our issue; it should be resolved by individuals and the free market”?
Libertarian conservatives don’t doubt the answers to these questions. They respond “yes,” to both, without hesitation, without equivocation.
Twenty years ago, I would have been similarly clear-headed. I’m no longer so sure and, apparently, neither is 13-year Republican Congressman Steve Chabot of Ohio. According to a Feb. 19 article at Politico:
… Chabot has earned a 97.5 percent lifetime rating from The American Conservative Union and has largely stuck to the Republican ranks, except to oppose some pork-laden spending bills.
But when foreclosures in his hometown of Cincinnati skyrocketed, Chabot found himself aligned with Democrats — and against his party’s leaders, his conservative colleagues and the White House.
Chabot’s bipartisan dalliance illustrates how tough economic times could erode the Republican conference that House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) is counting on to blunt Democratic victories running up to the November elections.
So, let me get this straight: When rock-solid conservatives learn that their constituents are suffering, they suddenly decide government should do something about it?
Read the rest of this thought-provoking post by Pete Abel on The Moderate Voice.
I can understand why people are tempted to try to get help from government when faced with problems that have no solutions. (Yes, I do think that some problems have no solutions.) I realize that you simply put off one problem for a little while, and you invite another problem into your life when you do that, though. I have yet to encounter government on any level without it causing harm to me. Even if it is just the harm of handing a little part of my “soul” over to them. Your mileage may vary.
I do not like big government and want as little government involvement in my life as possible. Ideally, it is not the government’s responsibility to provide social services but rather the responsibility of the church. However, since the church is unable, unwilling or ill-equipped to fulfill its responsibility the government has out of necessity has stepped into this role.