Midweek Muse: 2008/10/01

Libertarianism: Just Another Creaky Cult

Libertarianism is just another creaky cult, like fundamentalism or dominionism, that makes no sense at all. (Communism, as being any significant "-ism", died years ago.) This became even more apparent on Monday when the primary defeaters of the the government-backed 'economic stabilization act' were the Limbaugh-Gingrich-Hannity wing of the Republican Party enraged over "a gigantic socialist takeover" of the U.S. financial system. (Using the word "socialist" is critical, as it is with defeating universal health-care, in getting a lot of people to phone or email their representatives in Congress.)

I can't remember right now of having any sympathy for President W. over the past eight years, but I was surprised to find I've had a bit of sympathy (my prediction: short-lived) for him (and Treasury Secretary Paulson) over the past few days. For, in this case (and in contradiction to his party's laissez-faire platform and his own past positions), he's doing the right thing.