A Distinct Difference - Conservatives and Libertarians
Article 3
Around the age thirteen/fourteen, I was reading several books for school to introduce me to political theory. They were Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? and Whatever Happened to Justice? by the writer ‘Uncle Eric’.
Decent quality books. Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? was about economics and inflation. A very good introduction to common sense fiscal issues, and something I would suggest everyone read, its not a huge books. Whatever Happened to Justice? was a different story. The book isn’t bad, it’s just chronically libertarian. Let me explain.
Ever since the 90s, the conservatives and the libertarians have found themselves linking arms together on the political battlefield. Often aligned on fiscal issues and matters pertaining to constitutional freedoms, they see themselves as interchangeable. We are now at the point where ‘libertarian’ is just another flavor of conservative. But there is a distinct difference between the the two, and if we take both sides to their reasonable conclusions, conservatives and libertarians would be incompatible.
For example, here are some positions Libertarians and Conservatives disagree on. You will start to see a correlation and a pattern we will discuss later in the article.
Drugs (Meth, Marijuana, Cocaine, Etc.)
Libertarians: Drugs are fine and good to use as long as they do not effect or damage someone’s else’s property, or deny their natural rights.
Conservatives: Drugs are life destroying substances that do effect the lives of others such as the addict’s family, friends, and community. It encourages homelessness and brings poverty and crime rates up. It is bad to waste your life addicted to these substances, as they can be fatal.
Same-Sex Marriage
Libertarians: The government should not prevent same sex couples from marrying as it is not the power of the government to control people’s personal lives.
Conservatives: Marriage is only between a man and a woman, as God intended. The Government should not recognize homosexual ‘marriage’ in the same holy manner that Godly marriage is held to, as our national identity and sanctity relies upon holy matrimony and having children and that God views homosexual actions as an abomination.
Transgenderism:
Libertarians: As long as it does not effect others, it should not be opposed.
Conservatives: Transgenderism and the accompanying surgeries are a mutilation of the body and soul. The people who want to ‘transition’ often have mental illnesses and cannot make such decisions reasonably. In the same way that suicide is wrong, transgenderism is wrong and should be banned by law.
Out of those three issues, the common denominator between the conservatives and libertarians, is that conservatives are focused on what is right for the individual and society, and the libertarians are focused on absolute choice and preventing government action on the individual. Whether you fall into one or the other, I hope you recognize that when it comes to social issues, Ls and Cs will not agree, and it can possibly split the party when it comes time to vote on these issues.
I make the case for conservatism. Because we live in a rational world made by a rational and righteous being, we can use our reason to figure out that some things are better than others. 1 Peter 2 13-16 talks about the role of government and the submission of Christians: “Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”
The last verse is imperative. “Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.” Freedom and choice are not the ultimate good. God is the ultimate good, and having a government and a society that reflects that will help humanity flourish in the things that matter. Virtue, the arts, raising families, and doing hard work and honest business. Western traditions that make life fun and interesting.
Conservatism is about looking forwards on how the individual can help each other, and libertarianism is focused on what the individual can do for himself. And because we aren’t just individuals floating in space separate from each other, but a social being that needs connections to family, church, and friends, we need to build our society based on the needs for the family - not the needs of just the individual. This will take more than the government can do. It will take a society set on trying to make our world a better place, one that is focused on the good, and the good we can do while we are here.
As always, Christ is Lord. God bless,
-Cooper Clements