Orphaned:Betrayal On The Right

In American politics, we refer to the Right as conservative and the Left as liberal. Now although libertarians like myself are more accurately defined as Classical Liberals, we are considered conservative, due to opposing big government. Just like the American Revolution, the Enlightenment, and other great periods of political shifts, today is no different in the struggle to maintain basic human rights against the tides of authoritarian tyranny. The difference is that today it has become crystal clear that the Right as expressed in the American political landscape has orphaned its own in exchange for populism, social conservatism, and nationalism.

The Right as America understands it today stands for three pillars: Constitutionalism, Laissez-Faire economics and the inherent good of the West, not evil. Now, there are various expressions of this Right, from the paleo-conservative Christian to the anarcho-capitalist atheist; expression is of no importance here; adherence to the three pillars is. The orphan of the Right is one who unapologetically aligns with these pillars, and desires to see them brought to the forefront again.

The orphanage is overseen by the populist, crony capitalist front as expressed in the RNC, Sean Hannity, Bill O’reilly, Sarah Palin, Donald Trump, Lindsey Graham and Ann Coulter. The idea of these populist conservatives is to expand the movement by maintaining a conservative, Apple pie American feel, but staying in step with big government. Say the pledge, love the Founding Fathers, military and American business, but ignore the Founders’ classic liberalism and warning against entangling alliances or wars, step on the Fourth and the Eleventh, and push 1950s social construct.

To heal the many rifts in the Right, we mu st purge populism, nationalism, and big government from our midst, so that they do not control our movement anymore. When those in power in our movement compromise our core values, they can paint us as the extremist fringe, and render us orphans in our own home. That being said, we must embrace these compromised conservatives in a familial manner so as to reform them; if they can be reformed they can be a great advantage. Here’s to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness!