February 06, 2007

Is Glenn Reynolds Trying to Tell Us Something?

First, Glenn links to this article addressing whether libertarians might ultimately get along better with left-wingers than conservatives. Right after that, he posts an article on traditionally Democrat gun owners who are ready to return to the fold if the Democrats ever abandon their dalliance with the gun controllers.

Is Glenn trying to tell us something?

For my part, I don't really see how the first one's even a question. The conservatives at least pay lip service to individual liberty and free markets. On the chance occasion, they even do something to promote these ideas. Except as regards abortion and gay rights, I see almost no concern for individual liberty on the left. When was the last time you heard a Democrat invoke Milton Friedman? I'm not sure I ever have. The way I see it, conservatives are wary of individual liberty, but left-wingers are pretty much just opposed to it. Sure, the left-wingers are willing to look the other way while you experiment with creative new ways to use your private parts for fun and profit, but every other area of your life is fair game for taxation, regulation, compulsion, prohibition, etc. The gun issue rolls right into these general orientations.

That said, I'd love to see the Democrats start competing for the votes of libertarians (including gun owners) again.


By Ragnar Danneskjold, R.I.N.O. Hunter at February 6, 2007 09:37 AM | | l digg this