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We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

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Friday, October 23, 2009

Liberal Fascism Quote #4

The idea that there are no hard choices--that is, choice between competing goods--is religious and totalitarian because it assumes that all good things are fundamentally compatible. The conservative or classical liberal vision understands that life is unfair, that man is flawed, and that the only perfect society, the only real utopia, waits for us in the next life.
I said in my definition of liberalism that it is characterized by the willingness to try enormously and foolishly risky things that fly in the face of human nature, history, etc. You could also--and accurately, in my opinion--say that it is often characterized by the refusal to make hard choices. They are forever insisting that somehow they can have their cake and eat it, too.

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2 comments:

  1. HariboOctober 24, 2009 at 7:30 AM

    "The conservative or classical liberal vision understands that life is unfair, that man is flawed, and that the only perfect society, the only real utopia, waits for us in the next life."

    This suggests, entirely incorrectly, that classcial liberals "understand" that there is a utopian afterlife. I don't recall reading any arguments for the existence of an afterlife in Smith, Mill, Cobden et cetera.

    The quotation also collates conservatism and classical liberalism to such a generalising extent that it's equally misleading and untrue.

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  2. Man of the WestOctober 24, 2009 at 12:40 PM

    I have seen so much debate over whether one person or another is a "conservative," or a "classical liberal," or what-not that I eventually decided that I would just provide my own definitions so people would know what I meant by those terms. You can find my working definition of "conservativism" here, if you're interested.

    As far as the quote itself is concerned, I was less concerned with the author's understanding or definitions of "conservative" or "classically liberal" than I was with the overall point he was making: that it's not possible to make this life perfect, and attempts to do so are not only misguided, but likely to worsen existing conditions.

    Glad the post provided a moment's diversion for you.

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