Every few years a political phrase comes along that is so over used that you want to just puke every time you hear it. In the 2008 elections there were several of the thrown around. The obvious "Faith, Hope, and Change" springs to mind first for me. The unbearable use of the word "Maverick" to describe both John McCain and his running mate is the next one that sends me running to pray to the porcelain god. Then of course the almost religious chanting of "Yes We Can" is one that still makes me twitch every time I even think about it! Yet these catch phrases are also used as attacks against the political opposition, such as the ever tiresome "Eight More Years of the Same..."
But lately, one that was widely used several years ago has popped into my head, and I think it may be time to revive it! If you remember the 80's and Jerry Falwell's "moral majority," then you probably also remember the attack slogan of the left saying the conservatives are "legislating morality." This was always one area where I tended to lean more libertarian, before any of us even knew what a libertarian was. I always believed it was the governments job to protect the rights of the individual and not to deny rights. Of course these rights end where they begin to infringe on the rights of others.
As of late I have come to realize that the liberal movement in this country, is doing exactly what the conservatives were being accused of for years. They are legislating their own Marxist version of morality. Just look at the string of legislation that has been pushed since President Obama took office. The most prominent example of this is the Health Care Reform package, which was just forced down our throats. The justification the left gave for this package, was that every American deserves health insurance and that it is a basic human right. This is a very common moral belief among liberals in this country. Next is Cap and Trade, which is much more about redistributing wealth and taxing business than capping carbon dioxide emissions. This is a "moral" issue to the left as well. Keep going down the list and you will find more of the same. Comprehensive immigration reform, (aka National I'd cards and amnesty,) Financial System Reform, and the FDA limiting our salt intake... These are all pieces of legislation that are meant to address moral issues.
The problem with this, is that they really don't care if their solutions conform with our Constitution and the values our great nation was founded upon. Liberals view the Constitution and Bill of Rights as barriers to their moral agenda. They believe they serve a purpose so high that some dusty old piece of paper shouldn't stand in their way. The job of our government is not to legislate morality, nor is it to impose the will of the elite on the people. Our government was set up to protect the rights of the individual and not to infringe upon them in any way. Our government has forgotten that over the past 100 years and it is pretty easy to see their morals do not match with the idea of a free democratic republic.
But lately, one that was widely used several years ago has popped into my head, and I think it may be time to revive it! If you remember the 80's and Jerry Falwell's "moral majority," then you probably also remember the attack slogan of the left saying the conservatives are "legislating morality." This was always one area where I tended to lean more libertarian, before any of us even knew what a libertarian was. I always believed it was the governments job to protect the rights of the individual and not to deny rights. Of course these rights end where they begin to infringe on the rights of others.
As of late I have come to realize that the liberal movement in this country, is doing exactly what the conservatives were being accused of for years. They are legislating their own Marxist version of morality. Just look at the string of legislation that has been pushed since President Obama took office. The most prominent example of this is the Health Care Reform package, which was just forced down our throats. The justification the left gave for this package, was that every American deserves health insurance and that it is a basic human right. This is a very common moral belief among liberals in this country. Next is Cap and Trade, which is much more about redistributing wealth and taxing business than capping carbon dioxide emissions. This is a "moral" issue to the left as well. Keep going down the list and you will find more of the same. Comprehensive immigration reform, (aka National I'd cards and amnesty,) Financial System Reform, and the FDA limiting our salt intake... These are all pieces of legislation that are meant to address moral issues.
The problem with this, is that they really don't care if their solutions conform with our Constitution and the values our great nation was founded upon. Liberals view the Constitution and Bill of Rights as barriers to their moral agenda. They believe they serve a purpose so high that some dusty old piece of paper shouldn't stand in their way. The job of our government is not to legislate morality, nor is it to impose the will of the elite on the people. Our government was set up to protect the rights of the individual and not to infringe upon them in any way. Our government has forgotten that over the past 100 years and it is pretty easy to see their morals do not match with the idea of a free democratic republic.
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