Why The Left and Right Hate Freedom and Love The State, but I repeat myself....

"In contrast to all other thinkers, left, right, or in-between, the libertarian refuses to give the State the moral sanction to commit actions that almost everyone agrees would be immoral, illegal, and criminal if committed by any person or group in society. "--Murray N.Rothbard,The Libertarian Manifesto

In a recent blog posting, one Don Crawford took me and others to task labeling us and I am paraphrasing, haters of America and it's ideals.

Below is an exact quote from his blog:

"First of all, many that hate America seem oblivious to the obvious fact that if America's government were miraculously disbanded, this country would not remain with no government. As the founders recognized and therefore held the Constitutional Convention, and as Thomas Sowell so powerfully describes in Conquest . . . , the whole history of civilization is that if a nation is not strong enough to defend itself, it will be taken captive and enslaved by an aggressor nation."

This is the typical tactic of the Statist. Instead of addressing the moral confusion created by ALL State action (as noted in the above Rothbard quote) they seek to tear down those that challenge the bankrupt morality of the State.

Don't misunderstand me, the Left does this too but I am addressing a Right Wing Talk Show Host's comments for the purposes of this piece.

You only have to look at the Soviet Union as an example to see that if the US Govt withered away and died that we would not descend into chaos as Don believes. There most certainly would be a period of adjustment, just like there was in the Soviet Union, but ultimately our country would survive albeit in a less centralized manner which can only be beneficial to individual Liberty.

To address Dons second point in the quote above, the whole of civilization is also replete with examples of bands of people fighting off and keeping at bay aggressive States the latest example of which is in Iraq.

I would like to review one more part of the posting Don made before launching into my main purpose for writing this piece:

"Second, why on earth do so many like Patrick seem so out of touch with reality that they don't grasp that they live in the greatest nation in the history of the world in terms of freedom and the ability to protect their freedom to be so stupid? Therefore, instead of feeling immeasurable gratitude for America, the rational emotion for any citizen of the U.S.A., they incredibly feel hatred toward her."

Reality?

Most historians regard the 20th Century to be the bloodiest on record and it is also when the State came into full fruition.

Coincidence? I think not.

We "live in the greatest nation in the history of the world in terms of freedom" because of the great accomplishments of individuals and because of this we have experienced wealth many people in other countries only dream about.

Not because of the State, BUT IN SPITE OF IT!

I agree with you that our ability to be stupid is protected.
The creation of a State is an admission that you are too stupid to manage your own life and need someone to shepherd you around in the decision making processes of your life.
Creation of the State is acceptance of ones individual weakness and not a strength as asserted by the Statists both Left and Right.

Hateful of America? No. America because of it's 'Free Market' (I put it in quotes because it's much closer to Socialist than most people realize) Economy has given me and other people opportunities that people in other countries only dream about.

It is the State, with it's constant meddling with and destruction of freedom that I truly despise.

That is an inherent feature of the State though.....

Look the world over and you will find always and everywhere people oppressed by their States edicts. Our country is no different, we just refuse to acknowledge it either out of ignorance or by erroneously associating our abundance with the existence of the US Govt.

Which brings me FINALLY! to the title of this piece:

"Why The Left and Right Hate Freedom and Love The State, but I repeat myself...."

Unlike Don, I prefer to avoid name calling which is why I will now say I don't think the Left or the Right hate freedom although one might wrongly conclude this by their love of State power.
The title was about "illustrating absurdity by being absurd" to quote a Talk Show Host I used to listen to.

It's equally absurd to suggest that people who have honest disagreements with Government action are 'America Haters' as it is for me to suggest that those that love the State hate freedom.
I believe what we have here is a matter of understanding.

Both the Left and the Right do not understand freedom nor do they understand the true nature of the State.

Freedom is the simply having full control over your life, liberty, and property.
To the degree that a State exists is the degree to which this is undermined.
What then is the State?

I think Murray N. Rothbard, who has been my main motivation for creating this site, understood full well what the State was.

This question above is the one all Statists (both Left and Right) avoid like the plague, mainly because they benefit from it's banditry.

In essence when you get past all the high minded rhetoric about helping the poor and protecting the weak (Statist-Speak for those you want to control and exploit) the State is an institution of graft, theft, and murder.

I can think of no better words to describe it.

Patrick Sovereign,
Enemy of The State