I have been on both sides of the paleoconservative vs. libertarian debate. On economics, I've been both a Russell Kirk style paleoconservative and a Ron Paul paleolibertarian. On immigration, I've been both a Pat Buchanan restrictionist and a Gary North libertarian. On war, I have been both a Rush Limbaugh imperialist and a George Washington non-interventionist. All of this to say that in the almost 12 years since I began my journey into the realm of politics and economics, I have been all over the ideological map.
Some say that I have been fickle. I would prefer to see it as an evolution of sorts. I've investigated into various schools of economic and political thought, embraced what I thought was good while tossing to the side what I thought wasn't so good, and tried to apply my views as consistently as humanly possible. While I don't blame onlookers for seeing me as one who is tossed to and fro, I think that it is foolish to demand that one never allow him or herself the possibility for change.
Back to the present. While I have maintained what could be generally referred to as paleolibertarianism, I fear that my beliefs are based more upon a Utopian belief in man and ideas than a realistic understanding of the way things are.
Case in point: free trade. While I claim that unfettered free trade will better America, I've watched the gradual (and predictable) decay of our economy. Worse yet, I live in a city (Battle Creek) and a state (Michigan) that has been hit particularly hard by free trade policies. While I am aware of the other factors involved in our demise -high taxes, regulation, greedy unions, mandatory wage laws- I can no longer look at myself in the mirror and deny that free trade is more of a religious faith than a safe economic policy. Whether it is outsourcing or off-shoring, free trade seems to be killing us.
Then there is immigration. I have advocated freedom of travel and hire (i.e., open borders and employment) for years. While we supposedly have neither, the impact illegal immigration and the illegal employment of undocumented workers has had on our market gives us a sneak peek into what such a policy would do. Truth is, it doesn't look good. Low paying jobs are no longer available, in many regions, to those without degrees. We are having a populace that is being forced into furthering their education in hope of keeping up with the Gonzalezes and the Changs. But when all is said and done, we still haven't done enough. All the degrees in the world won't help in "free trade" America, just ask those with Ph.D's.
These are just a few of the possible complaints one could have against libertarian free trade and immigration. We could include the perils of being a consumer society, the dangers of trade deficits, and the radical change of cultural and political power through mass immigration, but why belabor the point? Bottom line, many of the ideals I have held for years simply aren't passing muster. Not only are they not passing, they are failing miserably.
Thank God I'm not too proud to admit when I may have been wrong... too bad our politicians and economic "gurus" can't do the same. As of right now, I fear that they are shining brass on the sinking ship of a once great nation known as America.
Some say that I have been fickle. I would prefer to see it as an evolution of sorts. I've investigated into various schools of economic and political thought, embraced what I thought was good while tossing to the side what I thought wasn't so good, and tried to apply my views as consistently as humanly possible. While I don't blame onlookers for seeing me as one who is tossed to and fro, I think that it is foolish to demand that one never allow him or herself the possibility for change.
Back to the present. While I have maintained what could be generally referred to as paleolibertarianism, I fear that my beliefs are based more upon a Utopian belief in man and ideas than a realistic understanding of the way things are.
Case in point: free trade. While I claim that unfettered free trade will better America, I've watched the gradual (and predictable) decay of our economy. Worse yet, I live in a city (Battle Creek) and a state (Michigan) that has been hit particularly hard by free trade policies. While I am aware of the other factors involved in our demise -high taxes, regulation, greedy unions, mandatory wage laws- I can no longer look at myself in the mirror and deny that free trade is more of a religious faith than a safe economic policy. Whether it is outsourcing or off-shoring, free trade seems to be killing us.
Then there is immigration. I have advocated freedom of travel and hire (i.e., open borders and employment) for years. While we supposedly have neither, the impact illegal immigration and the illegal employment of undocumented workers has had on our market gives us a sneak peek into what such a policy would do. Truth is, it doesn't look good. Low paying jobs are no longer available, in many regions, to those without degrees. We are having a populace that is being forced into furthering their education in hope of keeping up with the Gonzalezes and the Changs. But when all is said and done, we still haven't done enough. All the degrees in the world won't help in "free trade" America, just ask those with Ph.D's.
These are just a few of the possible complaints one could have against libertarian free trade and immigration. We could include the perils of being a consumer society, the dangers of trade deficits, and the radical change of cultural and political power through mass immigration, but why belabor the point? Bottom line, many of the ideals I have held for years simply aren't passing muster. Not only are they not passing, they are failing miserably.
Thank God I'm not too proud to admit when I may have been wrong... too bad our politicians and economic "gurus" can't do the same. As of right now, I fear that they are shining brass on the sinking ship of a once great nation known as America.
1 comment:
Thank God I'm not too proud to admit when I may have been wrong... too bad our politicians and economic "gurus" can't do the same. As of right now, I fear that they are shining brass on the sinking ship of a once great nation known as America.
Hear, hear.
Some seem to think that the substance of wisdom were to take some position and never to budge from it. You and I both realize how silly that view is.
Thanks for the thoughtful question over at the other blog.
Howard
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