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When a liberal friend recently called me a libertarian, I bristled. If I thought she was a libertarian, I would have taken it as a compliment.
But yeah, she’s right. I reject Big Daddy’s subversions of our inalienable rights. I’ve written plenty of anti-tax columns in newspapers of record, and I’m a budget hawk when it comes to government spending.
Thing is, I firmly agree with liberal friends in many ways. It’s impossible for me to separate homeland security from a strong social safety net, for example. America has lost her way when we see abrupt cuts to human services alongside costly expansions of gestapo-like government agencies.
One political label I’ve worn over the years is “plowshare conservative.” I’ve never met anyone else who uses it. That makes it kind of worthless unless folks want to talk about what it means.
The label links with a prophesy from the Book of Isaiah: “He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”
This plowshare conservative wants to save tax dollars so we have enough money for priority needs. That includes responsible law enforcement, emergency preparedness, affordable housing, and food security.
Residents of Minneapolis are proving that everyday people, not government agents, are the foundation for secure communities. An internet search with the words “swords into plowshares” directed me to a relevant quote by Ron Paul, one of America’s foremost libertarians.
“A majority that yields to the promises of security instead of seeking liberty and self-reliance is giving up something real and valuable in return for false promises. The fact that strong leaders are willing to demagogue, spin, deceive, and lie proves their goal is neither to care for the people nor to advance liberty. Instead, it’s their perverted desire to rule over others that drives them. But, even authoritarian regimes don’t last if there isn’t general acceptance of their governance by the people.” ― from Ron Paul’s book “Swords into Plowshares: A Life in Wartime and a Future of Peace and Prosperity”
And here’s a timely quote from Ron Paul’s son, Senator Rand Paul, who chairs the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Senator Paul has summoned Trump immigration officials to testify before his committee.
“As you know, the Department of Homeland Security has been provided an exceptional amount of funding to secure our borders and enforce our immigration laws,” Paul said in letters to the officials. “Congress has an obligation to conduct oversight of those tax dollars and ensure the funding is used to accomplish the mission, provide proper support for our law enforcement, and, most importantly, protect the American people.”
I’m offering up a plowshare conservative prayer for lawmakers to come together, re-prioritize our federal budget for real security rather than tyranny.
PS: This painting by Kelly Lattimore is the best image I could find to illustrate Isaiah’s prophesy.