RE: How can the paramount good for liberals and conservatives be reconciled?
May 25, 2013 at 11:00 pm
(May 25, 2013 at 10:51 pm)Stue Denim Wrote: If I may, as a libertarian, I would disagree with a few of your points. As you say, they are your perspective, but as you say you are interested in understanding my position, they need to be addressed.
Quote: From my perspective, the essence of conservatism/libertarianism has always seemed to revolve around a respect for tradition, "faith of our fathers", patriotism .. an emphasis on institutions over individuals.
This part in particular, I feel safe in saying that most libertarians would disagree, that most would say the individual and their liberty is the most important thing (we're all rugged individualists dontcha know). Individuals are pretty much the focus.
Yes, I've heard that. But where do you stand on inheritance? Do the children of successful individuals deserve greater resources than those of less successful individuals? If the institutions within which one competes stymy upward mobility, is it really about the individual? Or is it about the past, and whose parents enabled what options for you?
It seems to me that this is a challenge for the libertarian position. If it is the ruggedness of the individual which is to justify the disparity in the fruits of ones efforts, how do we make sure that subsequent generations are not insulated from the requirement of developing their ruggedness?
