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Saturday, July 9, 2005 - 1:34pmSanction this postReply
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Hey Jamie-
Nice description of conservatives and liberals. However, being a libertarian, I take issue with one of the qualities you ascribe to being a libertarian. Though said party in jest, you stated that "Libertarians get all the good stuff with none of the skull fires . . . a good fun war or two" One of the most basic tenants of being a libertarian is being an advocate of peace.

Almost all of the wars America (I'm assuming you're American here, I could be wrong) has been the instigator or involved in were not constitutional since we were not defending ourselves against an attack. This most recent war, authorized by the present administration under the guise of removing a tyrannical regime, rather than defending America from WMD's, is trying to force democracy at the barrel of a gun. As we have seen, it is easy to remove despot rulers with our military, but it is another thing entirely to believe we can effectively place incorruptable, tolerant leaders into the new government.

Unfortunately, with over 22,000 Iraqi civilians having died thus far (http://www.iraqbodycount.net/) and over 1,700 Americans, it is unlikely that our elected officials will actually abide by the document they were sworn to uphold.

Our elected officials and the American public need to take a look historically, and recognize that the demise of almost all world powers has been due to an over-extension of military resources. America has the potential to remain strong, yet this should be accomplished through free trade rather than the use of our military on a whim, an unconstitutional whim at that. This is especially true in recently as President after President take our nation to war without congressional approval.

Rather than end on a sour note, let me share something I learned of yesterday that is related to your claim that more and more libertarian movies and shows are being produced. I had the opportunity to meet Judge James P. Gray, the author of my favorite book, 'Why Our Drug Laws Have Failed and What We Can Do About It', last night. Judge Gray informed me that right now he's collabrating with some people in Hollywood to make a feature length film that deals with medical marijuana. Score another one for the good guys!

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Saturday, July 9, 2005 - 5:23pmSanction this postReply
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Jamie, what an entertaining article!

You have a great skill -- and you pegged most of the Republicrats down onto the clipboard, in a manner that allows us all to laugh at their contradictory ethics and politics.

However, like Peter, I disagree with much of the contemporary, conventional warfare and military expansion (note the subtle parody in Team America, for example), in the name of a "new" Ideal, which some now call globalism. I'm assuming your contextually-casual take on war stems from a confidence that the wars help the "cause" of globalism.

"If only we take care of the lives of others ... " -- is how these globalism arguments, such as those of Thomas Barnett, must start. Keep your eye on the Ideal. It is for that glorious future that you must sacrifice yourself today.

But Globalism is merely the latest Sacred Cow, the newest alter on which we are to be sacrificed. By which we, as individuals, are all relative. Globalism doesn't justify wars (only injustices justify war -- and only against the violators of justice).

Ed

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Saturday, July 9, 2005 - 6:59pmSanction this postReply
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Yes - globalism is NOT globalization...

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Saturday, July 9, 2005 - 10:48pmSanction this postReply
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It appears that the words "Hillary Clinton and her gaping shrill-hole" are setting off the Union College internet filters. Way to go Jamie.

Seriously, though, I laughed my ass off. Another great column and a pleasure to read.


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Sunday, July 10, 2005 - 2:12pmSanction this postReply
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Jamie,

What a fun rant to read!

(btw - You gotta real cool last name.)

Michael


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Sunday, July 10, 2005 - 2:13pmSanction this postReply
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One of the key issues that divides libertarians, it seems to me, is foreign policy, most recently of course the twin wars in Afghanistan and Iraq (which the editor of this site, Andrew Bissell, has defended in print -- and which I happen to agree with.) Almost all libertarians would agree the war on drugs is an abysmal failure; almost all would agree in the efficacy of free markets; almost all would agree that fair trade IS free trade; almost all would agree that government's chief role is the protection of life and property and the settlement of disputes. My statement that libertarians get "a good fun war or two" was perhaps a bit of a misstatement. I was merely trying to point out that libertarians (unlike drum-beating pacifists) do believe that there is a time to go to war. That there is a time to unleash the bombs on the enemies of liberty. Whether that's the case in Iraq (and what it means globally) is certainly in dispute among freedom-loving libertarians of good "faith." Andrew: Thanks, my man. You're doing a kick-ass job of editing this site. And hell, you even cleaned up my copy. Want a job at a newspaper? :-)

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Sunday, July 10, 2005 - 9:51pmSanction this postReply
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Hmmmm... will it pay more than I get to vacuum cars all day long?

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Monday, July 11, 2005 - 6:00pmSanction this postReply
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Great article, if a little uh... hyper. But great none-the-less.

---Landon


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