Grover Norquist on the Libertarian Trend | C-Notes | OZY - Grover Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform:
September 23, 2014 - "They’re no longer on the fringes. The libertarians are now officially mainstream.... But it’s much more than a moment. It’s the culmination of a powerful narrative building over the past 30 years in American politics. This is a movement — and it doesn’t live or die on the shoulders of one policy or one individual....
"So forget 'moment.' Think trend. And consider the once-impossible political shifts that have taken place over the past 30 years. The relevant dividing line is not right versus left or Republican versus Democrat but the expansion of individual liberty versus whatever and whosoever stands in the way....
"Thirty years ago home schooling was illegal in all 50 states. Parents were (and occasionally still are) actually hauled off to jail for violating 'compulsory attendance' laws. Today, home schooling is legal and lightly regulated in all 50 states, 2 million students are being home-schooled and 10 million Americans have been home-schooled for some part of their K-12 education....
"Thirty years ago there were laws actually criminalizing gays. Gay Americans often lived in fear of legal and social opprobrium. The closet was real because it was safer. State by state, city by city, “blue laws” were repealed or struck down by courts. The culture and our laws opened up. Once unthinkable, now gay marriage appears inevitable. Attitudes toward gay Americans have shifted dramatically.....
"Thirty years ago, 80 percent of Americans supported stricter gun control laws. Certain guns were banned. Organizations formed and expected they would soon 'ban handguns' in private hands.... Today, 41 states have enacted [concealed carry] laws. In 2007 there were 4.5 million such permits. Today there are more than 11.1 million. Arizona, Vermont, Wyoming and Alaska do not even require permits to carry for their citizens. Five percent of the adult population has a concealed carry permit. One in 20. This drive has been fueled and validated by the fact that violent crime falls faster in states with concealed carry laws....
"Thirty years ago, marijuana was illegal as medicine or even as a 'recreational use' drug in 50 states. Today, 21 states allow the use of medical marijuana, and Colorado and Washington state have legalized its sale for any purpose. Full state legalization will be on the ballot in Oregon and Alaska in 2014 and likely California, Arizona and others in 2016. In Congress, the House of Representatives in 2010 voted to scale back its 100-1 ratio of punishment for crack cocaine versus white-powder cocaine....
"These four radical, unthinkable expansions of individual liberty are not liberal or conservative, Republican or Democrat. All flow from the small 'l' libertarian, live and let live, leave us alone, 'laissez-nous faire' attitude. Four movements calling for increased individual liberty while their opponents explained — with hundreds if not thousands of years of tradition and history to back them up — that society should have the power to control behavior for the public good."
Read more: http://www.ozy.com/c-notes/grover-norquist-on-the-libertarian-trend/34022.article
'via Blog this'
September 23, 2014 - "They’re no longer on the fringes. The libertarians are now officially mainstream.... But it’s much more than a moment. It’s the culmination of a powerful narrative building over the past 30 years in American politics. This is a movement — and it doesn’t live or die on the shoulders of one policy or one individual....
"So forget 'moment.' Think trend. And consider the once-impossible political shifts that have taken place over the past 30 years. The relevant dividing line is not right versus left or Republican versus Democrat but the expansion of individual liberty versus whatever and whosoever stands in the way....
"Thirty years ago home schooling was illegal in all 50 states. Parents were (and occasionally still are) actually hauled off to jail for violating 'compulsory attendance' laws. Today, home schooling is legal and lightly regulated in all 50 states, 2 million students are being home-schooled and 10 million Americans have been home-schooled for some part of their K-12 education....
"Thirty years ago there were laws actually criminalizing gays. Gay Americans often lived in fear of legal and social opprobrium. The closet was real because it was safer. State by state, city by city, “blue laws” were repealed or struck down by courts. The culture and our laws opened up. Once unthinkable, now gay marriage appears inevitable. Attitudes toward gay Americans have shifted dramatically.....
"Thirty years ago, 80 percent of Americans supported stricter gun control laws. Certain guns were banned. Organizations formed and expected they would soon 'ban handguns' in private hands.... Today, 41 states have enacted [concealed carry] laws. In 2007 there were 4.5 million such permits. Today there are more than 11.1 million. Arizona, Vermont, Wyoming and Alaska do not even require permits to carry for their citizens. Five percent of the adult population has a concealed carry permit. One in 20. This drive has been fueled and validated by the fact that violent crime falls faster in states with concealed carry laws....
"Thirty years ago, marijuana was illegal as medicine or even as a 'recreational use' drug in 50 states. Today, 21 states allow the use of medical marijuana, and Colorado and Washington state have legalized its sale for any purpose. Full state legalization will be on the ballot in Oregon and Alaska in 2014 and likely California, Arizona and others in 2016. In Congress, the House of Representatives in 2010 voted to scale back its 100-1 ratio of punishment for crack cocaine versus white-powder cocaine....
"These four radical, unthinkable expansions of individual liberty are not liberal or conservative, Republican or Democrat. All flow from the small 'l' libertarian, live and let live, leave us alone, 'laissez-nous faire' attitude. Four movements calling for increased individual liberty while their opponents explained — with hundreds if not thousands of years of tradition and history to back them up — that society should have the power to control behavior for the public good."
Read more: http://www.ozy.com/c-notes/grover-norquist-on-the-libertarian-trend/34022.article
'via Blog this'
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