PJ Media

I also used to think of myself as more libertarian than Republican. Now I’ve decided that libertarians would throw out a lot of my most cherished values, like the duties of citizenship. They want all the liberties, but none of the responsibilities. When we all start thinking we have the right to behave like idiots and not have to bear the consequences, we lose the mortar that holds the bricks of our society together. If we can’t trust other people to behave honestly and competently, not drive on dope, fly on dope, practice medicine on dope, etc. or to take our credit cards without stealing the information on them, or even to ride in the seat across the aisle without trying to blow up the plane. When we lose trust, honor, self-reliance and willingness to carry our own weight and a little of the next guy’s too, we’re done for. Religions, whether you like them overall or not, tend to to teach the values that make society function, such as honesty, work, sacrifice, respect and tolerance. There are plenty of counter examples, but they only prove the rule that the vast majority are faithful, humble people who live good lives and raise good children who grow up to be good citizens. I’m afraid that libertarians have too often turned out to be narcissistic and disrespectful of the core values that built this republic.

That doesn’t mean I don’t agree with them much of the time, only that I don’t want to throw the baby out with the dregs of the pork barrel. I want to live in a country where taking advantage of the naivety of interns is unthinkable and costs you your job every bit as much as if you’re a Republican into sexual harassment or trolling mens’ rooms for gay sex. I want a country that supports me in raising kids with my own values, rather than doing all it can to make it harder.

That’s why I’m a conservative, not a Republican or a libertarian.