by Erik Dolson
Republicans have abandoned morality, possibly even sanity, in desperate efforts to filch power. Democrats have abandoned more than half the country over social goals that are … not embraced by all.
But I don’t want to talk about all that. Instead, I’d like to indulge a fantasy: It’s time for a new political party, the Liberty, Responsibility, Opportunity party.
The platform of the LRO is pretty simple.
Liberty is a fundamental right. It shall be restricted as seldom as possible. Government can not dispense liberty, it can only limit it. That’s the nature of liberty!
So, a baker can bake a cake for whoever he wants. BUT, if two women want to marry, they can get a license at any city hall in the nation. If two men, married to each other, want to adopt a baby, that child is likely to have a better upbringing than one living in a single wide off the grid with her biological parents shooting crank in the corner.
This concept of “liberty” actually allows government to do less.
Which brings us to the next plank in the LRO platform: Responsibility. Removing consequences for destructive behavior all but guarantees spread of that behavior if it feels good or takes less effort. We all know this, right?
Liberals think that everything bad happening to people is the fault of some external force that can be “fixed.” Republicans think that everything that happens to people is what they deserve. Both are based upon ideology, not reality.
We all know that there are bad choices, right? Even if the consequences are not the “fault” of the person experiencing bad outcomes, it won’t usually work to make the solution someone else’s responsibility.
Liberty requires individual responsibility. That’s the nature of liberty!
LRO says we legalize drugs. Heroin feels good, until it doesn’t. When it doesn’t feel good anymore is when one stops using heroin. Removing consequences is another form of enabling, and might not be fair to anyone. If we allow alcoholics free range to inflict their damage, we have to let junkies do the same. Yes, some will die. It will be tragic and sad for their families.
Finally, there is opportunity. This great nation will fail if every child doesn’t have a chance to dream. For dreams to become real, that child must be as healthy as she can be. So must her parents, because health, good and bad, is shared among us. COVID has taught us this, if nothing else.
Basic, universal healthcare is an investment in our country as well as a basic human right, as it is considered in every other civilized country. The “free market” fails when it comes to healthcare because we all want the best care we can’t afford, and drug makers and equity firms have a choke hold on Congress.
Opportunity also means that each child must have a decent education, free and of the highest quality, or America will falter in what is now tough international competition. The next Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk may be born into poverty.
Quality education for all citizens is an investment. Until what age? Until boys and girls are old enough to sign a contract and take out a low interest government loan. States will administer this program, given that state and community colleges will be the most significant players. The current system has been horribly abused by charlatans and profiteers.
The loan will be forgiven for those who complete two years of national service, preferably in their field of study. Or the military. Don’t want to serve? Pay off the loan. That’s the nature of liberty!
Capitalism is by far the best system for creating opportunity and raising standards of living. It also supports Liberty. But like any organism, society suffers when systems run out of control. Monopolies, duopolies, ownership of politicians, and above all lack of transparency, have allowed our capitalism to grow cancerous. It’s killing the host.
Government’s task is to see that markets function, that playing fields are equal for all players, that “the commons” owned by all, including our air and our water, benefits all. The system we have now is a kleptocracy, where some take more than their share and pollute what’s left for the rest of us. We all know who they are.
Promoting fair competition promotes liberty!
Immigration? There are many successful models around the world. LRO says “yes” to immigrants, who have always provided dynamism to our country as newcomers worked to build their own dreams. There are many models in other countries to choose from, and there may be limitations.
But, immigrants must become citizens and must learn English. One country, one language. We need more things in common, and a common language is the first place to start.
Abortion? Religions shall not constrain Liberty via government. A zygote is not a baby. Sanctioned murder is not civilized. We have work to do on our definitions.
Second amendment? Guns are just fun, too, and need no justification. But like fun cars, guns can be dangerous. We make people get driver’s licenses, and don’t give licenses to people who obviously shouldn’t drive.
Homelessness? Homeless camps along our freeways breed crime, despair, disease and hopelessness. There’s enough work to be done in this country cleaning and fixing things we’ve let slide over the last fifty years to put the homeless to work at a basic wage high enough that safe housing is affordable. But let’s be creative, and not build more soulless ghettos.
We’ll need universal work availability as robots take over low- and medium-skill jobs like driving trucks, logging, excavation, construction, but there’s much infrastructure that needs to be rebuilt and there will probably still be a role for manual labor. The basic wage would also act as a de facto minimum without mandating private employers comply.
Those who don’t want to work will be making a decision that will probably lead to hunger and early death. Trying to prevent these consequences will only make the impact worse for more people in the long run in a world where resources are increasingly limited.
Families and churches have played crucial roles in these matters. Government does so ineptly. It may not need to get better, it may need to do less. That’s the nature of liberty!
So, that’s the platform of the Liberty, Responsibility, Opportunity party. There’s something for everyone to dislike. At the same time, the LRO could carve a constituency right out of the middle of American politics. Since the two parties in our current system would try to strangle the LRO at birth, we should probably first institute ranked voting and get rid of the electoral college.
The two-party system in America has promoted fascism, socialism, and abuses by capitalism. It’s time for a change. Vote LRO!
Being one who has no political home inside the binary, I'm on board with this. I've been pondering what happens when automation renders meaningful work obsolete.