Opinions/Editorials
See other Opinions/Editorials Articles
Title: The Right’s War On…Freedom
Source:
FDL
URL Source: http://firedoglake.com/2012/03/18/the-rights-war-on-freedom/
Published: Mar 18, 2012
Author: Glenn W. Smith
Post Date: 2012-03-18 13:58:08 by Brian S
Keywords: None
Views: 4105
Comments: 23
When America’s political right wing talks about individual liberty they aren’t talking about autonomous individual freedom. They are talking about their freedom to tell others what to do, their right to curb the freedom of others.
It’s an obvious point, but it’s a point often missing from our public political conversation. Instead, conservatives are framed as the champions of individual liberty and the left defined as advocates of the collective over the individual.
The conservative hunger for authority over others is perfectly visible in their ongoing war on women. Consider the pending legislation in Arizona that would require women to get the permission of their employers before insurance policies would cover birth control pills prescribed for health reasons other than preventing pregnancy. Or consider the wave of so-called “sonogram” bills initiated by conservatives so fanatic they mandate non-medical, trans-vaginal violation of women seeking pregnancy terminations.
The controversy over the Obama Administration contraceptive policy is all about the Catholic Church’s authority over its non-church employees. All their indignant and misleading talk about the loss of religious liberty disguises their real agenda: perpetuation of their “natural” order in which they get a free hand to diminish the liberty of their inferiors.
Not long ago the media referred to these right-wing officeholders and their backers as “value voters.” Their opponents’ struggle for individual liberty was somehow viewed as an immoral pursuit.
You want to see a picture of immorality? The Texas Observer has a poignant, first-person piece by Carolyn Jones in which she tells of her harrowing encounter with Texas’ new sonogram bill.
Doctors discovered the baby she carried suffered from a molecular flaw that meant his brain, spine and legs would not develop correctly. Physicians recommended termination to prevent a life of terrible, inhuman suffering. Ms. Jones and her husband then encountered the consequences of the state’s mandatory sonogram law.
My doctor went on to tell us that, just two weeks prior, a new Texas law had come into effect requiring that women wait an extra 24 hours before having the procedure. Moreover, Austin has only one clinic providing second-trimester terminations, and that clinic might have a long wait. “Time is not on your side,” my doctor emphasized gently. For this reason, she urged us to seek a specialist’s second opinion the moment we left her office. “They’re ready for you,” she said, before ushering us out the back door to shield us from the smiling patients in the waiting room.
Ms. Jones goes on to detail the anguish suffered at the hands of right-wing legislators who think nothing of the harm they do others as long as their own authority is maintained.
…after a moment’s pause, she told me reluctantly about the new Texas sonogram law that had just come into effect. I’d already heard about it. The law passed last spring but had been suppressed by legal injunction until two weeks earlier.
My counselor said that the law required me to have another ultrasound that day, and that I was legally obligated to hear a doctor describe my baby. I’d then have to wait 24 hours before coming back for the procedure. She said that I could either see the sonogram or listen to the baby’s heartbeat, adding weakly that this choice was mine.
“I don’t want to have to do this at all,” I told her. “I’m doing this to prevent my baby’s suffering. I don’t want another sonogram when I’ve already had two today. I don’t want to hear a description of the life I’m about to end. Please,” I said, “I can’t take any more pain.”
I urge you to read the entire story.
Last week my colleague, James Moore (co-author of the book, Bush’s Brain) and I published a piece at Huffington Post urging men to stand up on behalf of women. Men have a moral responsibility to defend the rights of women, especially when it’s women’s bodies and their rights to make their own health care choices. I also think that those us of committed to individual freedom from coercion and oppression must defend our values anywhere and everywhere they are under assault.
I’ve included the ad we made to draw attention to the fight in Texas, but it’s a fight that needs to be fought everywhere. As we make the fight it’s important to frame the terms of the debate accurately: champions of individual freedom versus the advocates of authority, obedience and hierarchy. Subscribe to *Tea Party On Parade*
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
I also think that those us of committed to individual freedom from coercion and oppression must defend our values anywhere and everywhere they are under assault.
The freedom "real" conservatives seek is for money, not for people who must always be subservient to the rights of money.
Anyone claiming to be an expert is selling something. I brandish my ignorance like a crucifix at vampires. Aaron Bady
#2. To: Brian S (#0)
When America’s political right wing talks about individual liberty they aren’t talking about autonomous individual freedom. They are talking about their freedom to tell others what to do, their right to curb the freedom of others.
That is a lie the you democrats tell. Killing babies isn't a right. Only sickos like Obama think that. You vote for Obama you vote for mass murder.
#3. To: Brian S (#0)
The controversy over the Obama Administration contraceptive policy is all about the Catholic Church’s authority over its non-church employees.
Another lie. Are you swallowing this shit Brian? The Catholic church could just say screw you no healthcare. There is no requirement for them to provide healthcare. They can provide what they want despite what the shit faced faggot in the White House says. Everyone should just ignore Obama and his fake laws. He isn't really even president.
To bad Obamas slut of a mother didn't have an abortion. Him and his trashy wife are utterly useless to real Americans.
#4. To: mininglucygoldmom (#1)
The freedom "real" conservatives seek is for money, not for people who must always be subservient to the rights of money.
You and your two screen names are loons.
#5. To: A K A Stone (#4)
You and your two screen names are loons.
Really? You defend corporations as persons and money as speech. What more proof do I need to offer?
Anyone claiming to be an expert is selling something. I brandish my ignorance like a crucifix at vampires. Aaron Bady
#6. To: lucysminingmininggoldsmom (#5)
You defend corporations as persons and money as speech. What more proof do I need to offer?
You're a loon ming. I support any person being to speak, if money is exchanged or not. You don't support the first amendment because you are a pinko commie. You're also a man not a woman. The first amendment clearly says NO LAW can be made restricting or abridging free speech. What you would want to do would require a law. DUH! Let me repeat it for you since you are so slow. It would require a law to do what you want. It would require a law limiting speech to do what you want. What part of that doesn't your pea brain comprehend. Let me repeat it again because you are really dense. It would require a law. The constitution says no LAWS PERIOD END OF DISCUSSION LIMITING FREE SPEECH! So quite playing your little retard game of semantics that you leftist retarted traitors to America parrot in unison. Real American dismiss you flakes and your wacked out sicko ideas. Yes they are sicko ideas, you aren't right in the head. You and your split personality dual screen names.
#7. To: A K A Stone (#6)
You're also a man not a woman.
That will come as a shock to my ob/gyn, not to mention my ex-husband.
Anyone claiming to be an expert is selling something. I brandish my ignorance like a crucifix at vampires. Aaron Bady
#8. To: lucysmom (#7)
not to mention my ex-husband.
If you really are a woman it is no surprise that no man would stay with you.
Did he leave you because of your wacked out leftist ideas?
#9. To: lucysmom (#7)
You're also a man not a woman.That will come as a shock to my ob/gyn, not to mention my ex-husband.
I was talking to your other half mininggold anyway. ;)
#10. To: A K A Stone (#8)
Did he leave you because of your wacked out leftist ideas?
Are you still beating your wife?
Anyone claiming to be an expert is selling something. I brandish my ignorance like a crucifix at vampires. Aaron Bady
#11. To: lucysmom (#10)
Are you still beating your wife?
So he beat you. I'm sorry to hear that. That could explain your situation.
#12. To: A K A Stone (#9)
I was talking to your other half mininggold anyway. ;)
Then you will need to address your posts accordingly.
Anyone claiming to be an expert is selling something. I brandish my ignorance like a crucifix at vampires. Aaron Bady
#13. To: lucysmom (#12)
Then you will need to address your posts accordingly.
I thought I did.
lucysminingmininggoldsmom
#14. To: A K A Stone (#11)
Still avoiding answering the question, I see.
Anyone claiming to be an expert is selling something. I brandish my ignorance like a crucifix at vampires. Aaron Bady
#15. To: A K A Stone (#13)
I thought I did.
Ping me when you sober up.
Anyone claiming to be an expert is selling something. I brandish my ignorance like a crucifix at vampires. Aaron Bady
#16. To: Brian S, *Jack-Booted Thugs* (#0)
coercion and oppression
Progressives want to force some poor shoe-less preacher in the Ozarks to choose between eating, or going to hell and buying sluts birth control pills and abortions.
Left wing wackos are jack booted thug domestic terrorists!
"We (government) need to do a lot less, a lot sooner" ~Ron Paul
Obama's watch stopped on 24 May 2008, but he's been too busy smoking crack to notice.
#17. To: Brian S (#0) (Edited)
When America’s political right wing talks about individual liberty they aren’t talking about autonomous individual freedom. They are talking about their freedom to tell others what to do, their right to curb the freedom of others.
It depends on the person.
Ron Paul, Rand Paul, Jim Demint, Mike Lee, Tom Colburn, maybe Justin Amish (it's too early to tell), and a few others... these are the true heroes of freedom today.
Other the other hand, every single leftist in the country bitterly opposes the individual liberty that our forefathers fought and died for.
The left is all about power, control (and destruction).
The left has always been about this and they will always be about that.
That's why the left needs to fought, every step of the way.
Iran’s main drive for acquiring atomic weapons is not for use against Israel but as a deterrent against U.S. intervention -- Major General Zeevi Farkash, head of the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate
#18. To: A K A Stone (#4)
You and your two screen names are loons.
+1
Iran’s main drive for acquiring atomic weapons is not for use against Israel but as a deterrent against U.S. intervention -- Major General Zeevi Farkash, head of the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate
#19. To: Brian S (#0)
When America’s political right wing talks about individual liberty they aren’t talking about autonomous individual freedom. They are talking about their freedom to tell others what to do, their right to curb the freedom of others.
When America’s political LEFT wing talks about individual liberty they aren’t talking about autonomous individual freedom. They are talking about their freedom to tell others what to do, their right to curb the freedom of others.
There, FIXED it for you, you filthy piece of libTURD crap.
Which side supports the US CONSTITUTION you filthy commie whore?
Which side HATES the US CONSTITUTION you filthy commie whore?
LOL!
But HEY who we gonna believe?
OUR OWN EYES or the messiah "king" obama ministry of "truth"?
GEE ... THAT'S a real tough one.
You libTURD filth LIE with every breath.
Spoiled, stupid and ignorant, brain dead phuckwads, libTURD fools, tools, and idiots, are the real sickness; the messiah "king" obammy and his regime are only the symptoms.
#20. To: Mad Dog, all, , *Republican War On Women* (#19)
New ping list. Hop aboard...
(((ping>>>
Never swear "allegiance" to anything other than the 'right to change your mind'!
#21. To: Brian S (#20)
.
LOL!
A new minute, a new libTURD LIE.
I mean it's not like you messiah "king" obama whores/tools/fools can run on your master's RECORD is it whore?
You whores don't get to change the subject whore.
The subject whore is YOUR messiah "king" obama's RECORD whore.
It isn't going to spin whore.
Your masters are desperate to change the subject whore.
Ain't gonna happen whore.
Spoiled, stupid and ignorant, brain dead phuckwads, libTURD fools, tools, and idiots, are the real sickness; the messiah "king" obammy and his regime are only the symptoms.
#22. To: Brian S (#20)
btw whore.
You didn't answer my questions whore.
Which "side" prima facie supports the US CONSTITUTION whore?
Which "side' prima facie HATES the US CONSTITUTION whore?
Go ahead whore TRY to spin THAT.
Spoiled, stupid and ignorant, brain dead phuckwads, libTURD fools, tools, and idiots, are the real sickness; the messiah "king" obammy and his regime are only the symptoms.
#23. To: jwpegler (#18) (Edited)
+1
AKA PEGler...... still stupid and clueless and wrong after all these years.
Almost every country in the Middle East is awash in oil, and we have to side with the one that has nothing but joos. Goddamn, that was good thinkin'. Esso posted on 2012-01-13 7:37:56 ET
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]