Radley Balko is joining the ACLU after being convinced that the greater threat to liberty comes from the right in the form of civil liberties violations rather than from the left in the form of economic regulation. After rightfully pointing…

Radley Balko is joining the ACLU after being convinced that the greater threat to liberty comes from the right in the form of civil liberties violations rather than from the left in the form of economic regulation. After rightfully pointing…

The democratic candidates are challenging Bush’s economic position from a variety of stances but at least one of them might do better to get some more education before continuing. It is clear that, as both David and Brian at Catalarchy imply, Kerry doe…

I agree that the Bush administration has expanded the government way beyond what was necessary. I disagree that Democrats would have expanded it less than Bush has. The Democrats came up with Homeland Security. If Gore was president, we still would have this enormous agency, with a much bigger budget and greater ineffencies (more union involvement, etc.).

Doing some random digging around,I found this on “Lesbian and Gay Rights” (Whatever those are). ” No federal law prevents a person from being fired or refused a job on the basis of sexual orientation.” This disturbs me profoundly, as I am of the mind that anyone can discriminate against anyone else for any reason. Since an offer/contract for employment is a private function, the government has no business meddling, except to enforce it.

This on “racial equality” – “and a backlash against affirmative action in employment and education threatens to slam the door of opportunity in the faces of those who are most deserving.” and this gem: “The ACLU actively supports affirmative action as a remedy for discrimination in employment and education.” See my comment above on discrimination. (however, on the issue of government supported functions, like education, I believe that there should be absolutely *NO* discrimination or preferences based on race/sex/etc. The beneficiaries of these should be based on merit, like the most qualified student/contractor/etc).

The ACLU is hardly a logically consistent organization, asking for the force of a gun (the government) to meddle in some private relationships but wants it out of others.

Please, Radley, tell me you’re smarter than this.

Nearly all of the “contrarian” acts of the Bush Administration you describe are motivated by one simple fact — more than half this nation still sees government as:

> The great equalizer between the evil rich and the rest of us (and “we” insist on getting “ours” through this construct).

> The problem-solver of first resort (“If our government could win WWII and put men on the moon, it can and should do ANYTHING that needs to be done.”)

> The outward expression of our compassion (“If you don’t back this program, you are greedy and mean!”).

I don’t think that Bush, Ashcroft et. al. subscribe to these views (let alone are evil people who are out to dominate us). However, they know that they need the support of at least some of that majority of America to stay in power — and they haven’t yet brought enough of these people to the point that they abandon the above in favor of the sound principles you and I ascribe to.

They also know that, were they to lose power, the leadership of this nation would be in the hands of those who truly believe that the concepts above are sound, and/or see their promotion as stepping stones to greater power. That same opposition also differs from the Administration in one important aspect — they embrace moral relativism to a very high degree,which means they have no qualms about bending the rules to suit them.

The choice that the Administration faces (and us, as well) is to either forsake all compromise — and lose control to people who will vigorously perpetuate these fallacies — or to give a little, and keep their power so they can have more time to change more minds (and that way, even when they lose power, we the people can limit the damage done by the Left).

Until “we the people” stop demanding that government fill these roles, we will keep getting the same kind of leadership, regardless of party affiliation.

Now, I do not believe that the ACLU is the devil incarnate — but their views on civil liberties can be just as extreme as either NARAL or Operation Rescue when it comes to abortion.

Be careful, for you may win the battle of consistency, but lose the war of results you seek to win.

To swell the ACLU ranks now, because the “Right” is in power, will only allow them to be bolder, more absurd, and more dangerous to liberty when the “Right” loses power. And believe me the Republicans will eventually be out of power, it’s all cyclical.

You have to take the long view. Americans as a whole are notorious for being short sighted.

Well, good luck with your new “peeps”.

Most surreal moment of the afternoon. Ronnie Woo-Woo comes over, slaps her on the back and introduces himself….. absolutely priceless.

I disagree with her on politics, but she was incredibly cool. She even signed my ticket stub.