Are we questioning "Civil Libertarian" ideas now? [View all]
Last edited Thu Jun 27, 2013, 10:33 PM - Edit history (1)
Folks,
Democrats have *never* just been about social programs and equality. Good government: things like Accountability, transparency, responsiveness, due process, have been part and parcel of liberal/progressive, and yes "Democratic Party" ideology for a long time. MLK was a heavy civil libertarian.
Totalitarian systems have social programs. The Soviet Union housed and employed their people. North Korea has social programs. Without proper safeguards, and oversight, and yes at times restrictions, in what government agencies can do, you will have a totalitarian social welfare state.
Just because "Libertarians", as in Rand Paul, happen to also believe in some ways in Civil Liberties does not mean that Democrats can not have some the same values. In fact they must. It's somewhat ignorant, frankly, to lable Progressives who are concerned civil libertarians, as "Rand Paul" libertarians.
It is good this discussion is occurring. But it is somewhat alarming that there seems to be some trying to make the point that basically the values around "Civil Liberties" only belong to Rand Paul and his ilk.
Without strong protection of Civil Liberties there is no Democratic or Just society.
(Note: All the edits were correcting Paul Ryan. I meant Rand Paul)
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