Jeffrey Dunster

I am reading Ron Paul's book, "The Revolution; A Manifesto". I can see why it generates a great deal of controversy, though I personally agree with every major point he has made. It is refreshing to see someone else stating my long-held beliefs, with historical evidence and personal experiences.

There are a few minor weaknesses in the book. But the biggest one I've found so far is his use of "Liberal" and "Conservative" labels for people and ideologies. I believe that these labels are more destructive than useful today. They polarize people by requiring a conflict to exist and then demanding that you be one or the other and fight. Compromise is abhorrent. Cooperation and understanding are anathema because they obviate the entire LiberCon construct and render as fools those who have adopted it and taken sides.

People miss-use these socially charged, ambiguous labels more often than they are useful. They are so old, and have shifted meanings so often, that people misconceive them more often than not. In fact, I claim that no one is strictly one or the other because their definitions are hazy enough to be contradicting from person to person and country to country. That is why most people say Liberal and Conservative are on a continuum, because very few people, if any, are entirely one or the other.

The LiberCon conflict is damaging to society. It promotes conflict above understanding and it inhibits the discovery of unity and commonality, the foundations of a peaceful society. Other people may see this conflict as healthy and engaging. I see it as dangerously distracting. I believe that Congressman Paul agrees with me. Early in the book, he makes the point that Liberals and Conservatives of today are really two sides of the same coin. They are both stealing away freedom in the name of security or justice. They are both flagrantly ignoring our constitutional foundations that made our country great. They are both, whether ignorantly or consciously, changing the sacred into the profane and enslaving us to the will of a few and the lusts of everyone.

Whether you want to claim Liberal or Conservative, Republican or Democrat, Socialist, Communist, Capitalist, or Imperialist, you and I must remember that this country was purposely founded on simple government, minimalist government, that required self-governance of a moral, considerate people who were compassionate and respectful. All these labels, these waring ideologies, are irrelevant to the fundamental purpose of the Constitution, which is to provide simple, overarching rules for cooperating and living harmoniously with everyone, despite our differences. Those ideologies and theories do have a place in society, but at a local level—be it state, county, city or home—the more localized, the better.

The Constitution was never meant to be a homogenizing or pasteurizing force. The only common requirement for its citizens is respect for freedom, responsibility for actions, and the vigilant safeguarding of certain inalienable rights (each of which warrants their own blog posts). This is simple. This is not Liberal or Conservative, or any other theoretical "ism". In fact, our original government was so simple that we have lost it in the midst of these polarizing wars of opinion, theory, greed, rhetoric, and power. The LiberCon war has distracted us while our government has fallen from grace and become "other", something to fight, to avoid, to hate, or to lust after.

There is a way out. Congressman Paul's book has some great ideas, if only because they are simplifying, empowering, and "radically" different from all mainstream discussions. The way out of this confusing morass is clear; we need open discussion of issues, fears, worries, and their possible solutions, based on common beliefs. We need the patience to listen first, the humility to see our own faults, to praise and learn from others', a willingness to love beyond all else, to suffer with and for others, and a trust that they will do the same. All that must take place outside of government. We need unity without requiring homogeneity. Unity of purpose in our extremely diverse country (and the world as a whole) is only possible through simplification and honoring a few fundamental truths we all can hold dear. This has nothing to do with Liberal or Conservative philosophies, or the many conflicts that we foolishly engage in.

In summary, using labels to define war camps, which will in turn fight for dominance in our political system, is dangerous and morally wrong. Such actions destroy us all, in the end. Those who choose to live in the United States of America choose to live by its Constitution and the constitutions of its States. These documents define how we are actually "united states" and anchors us in simple governmental structures that leave us free to live as we choose, for good or evil within certain bounds we mostly set in our communities. This order has been lost in the great strife of ideological camps, power struggles, greed, and fear. Ironically, this strife has cost us the very freedom, security, and prosperity we are fighting to achieve! We can only overcome this great calamity through personal efforts, one on one, by refusing to participate in the gross labels and major politicking so common today, and by rolling back the complex and unconstitutional governance we mistakenly created.

Discarding LiberCon strife and returning to simple government is not a regression, this is a progression from mistakes to wisdom—a maturation that will make us stronger, safer, and freer than ever before.