Buchanan is one of the most blind statists I ever encounter- not realizing he is a clone of Pelosi and Obama in the ways that actually matter. As long as Big Government is doing what he likes, he loves it. Only whining when it doesn't go his way. Kinda sickening to me.
Anyway, here goes:
"...by faithfully following the tenets of liberalism, the West would embrace suicidal policies that would bring about the death of her civilization."It figures that he would see anything that he doesn't like as "liberalism". And, when anyone starts speaking of a country as "her"- personifying it- you know you're in for a wacky ride.
"The crisis on our Southern border, where the left, and not only the left, is wailing that we cannot turn away desperate people fleeing wicked regimes and remain true to our liberal values, is a case in point.""Our southern border"? I have borders all around my property, but none of them are shared by Patrick, so there are no borders he can call "ours".
Big Government caused a huge majority of the problem- through the War on Politically Incorrect Drugs, and by propping up the notion of Statism around the world. You helped create those people's desperation through policies you support and advocate.
It has nothing to do with "liberal values", which, just like "conservative values", I think are mostly imaginary anyway. It has to do with being a decent person. With being the "Good Samaritan". No, it doesn't mean give them welfare- it just means don't treat them as inhuman herd animals and drive them... where exactly, I don't know. Most of them probably have nowhere to go "back" to. Not your problem, I guess, but it is a reality you might need to eventually face.
If someone wishes to let them rent or live in a house consensually, accept that it is none of your business. If someone wishes to hire them; same deal. Liberty, not "laws".
"To assert that we cannot take all these people in, that we must send them back and seal out border for our survival, is to be called a variety of names — racist, xenophobe, nativist — all of which translate into 'illiberal.'"No, it's illegal. The Constitution gives government zero "authority" to seal the borders or tell people they can't move here. Zero. That authority ONLY lies with each and every individual who controls his own, personal, private property. Giving "government" the power to violate those property rights is a socialistic power-grab, and is unconstitutional. Once again, he wants to see things as "liberal" or not, and misses reality completely because of his blindness.
Then he goes off about "diversity", which isn't the point, but is something he apparently hates and fears.
"And after the terrible ethnic cleansing of Germans after World War II, most of Europe’s nations were ethnically homogeneous."What? Does he sound nostalgic for ethnic cleansing?
"Several were not. Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, the USSR. At the end of the Cold War, with freedom, all three came apart."Yes, freedom does that- it kills states and breaks them into manageable pieces. That's because states are centralized and inherently anti-freedom. Secession decentralizes, which is what is desperately needed after the MegaState-Building carnival of the 20th Century. The more states die in this way, the better off individual liberties- on the whole- will be.
"Then there are the rising millions of Muslims in Europe who are not assimilating, as Catholic Irish and Catholic Germans did in a Protestant USA..."Which is only a problem when foolish people insist on keeping a State around, which invariably gets used against individual liberty. What do you care what religion the guy across town follows, unless he is able to use the power of the State to impose his beliefs on you? Guess what- it goes both ways, and you don't see that you have been using the state to impose your religious notions on others all along. That should wake people up... but it rarely does. Denial is powerful.
"Thus, we take on the aspect of an empire. And empires fall apart."Pretty sure the fault for having an empire lies with the US government and the way it has been throwing its military around all over the world. But blame others if it makes you feel better.
"The melting pot, rejected by our elites as an instrument of nativist bigots, is history."Why do you listen to "elites"? What are their "elite" credentials?
I see the "melting pot" still in operation among recent immigrants every day. But, if you try to force them to assimilate, you only make them balk. Invite them; don't shove them and make up "laws" to try to force them to assimilate in the ways you'd prefer. You'll just make them dig in their heels and fight your efforts. It's another way you're shooting yourself in the foot.
"Disintegration, separatism and secessionism, for racial, religious, and cultural causes, are a phenomenon common now to Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Are we somehow immune?"Good! And I hope "we" aren't immune!
"Why are we doing this? Why are we inviting the world into the USA?:""We" aren't. Eliminate ALL forms of welfare for everyone, and you may not be "inviting" the ones who would be a problem. Stop criminalizing self defense and the effective weaponry to carry it out- no more "gun free zones" and no more "laws" against possession or anything else- and the rest of the problem- "the criminals"- goes away, too. Admitting that you can't ethically wall-in a "country" or enforce counterfeit "laws" against migrants isn't the same as inviting them in. And, of course, end the stupid and evil War on Politically Incorrect Drugs and you'll solve a lot of the problems that make them want to leave their homes to begin with.
"By 2042, Americans of European ancestry will be a minority in a country built by Europeans."So? Nothing ever stays the same. Adapt. Or find a new place to make how you want it. It's past time for a new frontier anyway. Ignore the "laws" that keep you on earth- and emigrate. Or build (or buy) a new country where you own the whole area and can screen out those whom you don't want there. If "everyone" is coming here, go where they left and buy up the land and start over from scratch and do it "better" this time- learning from past mistakes. You could even make up a constitution which allows you to close your "borders" if you want- just use the US Constitution with that added to it somewhere.
"...that would mean the end of the United States as we know it."Good. Since the war between the states there hasn't been much worth saving- ethically- anyway.
"Americans are already deep in a culture war over morality — marijuana, abortion, same-sex marriage."That's just a war over who gets to control your life- you or everyone else (disguised as "government")? And Patrick is on the Evil side of that one, too.
"We are already racially polarized over affirmative action and income inequality."Only because people pretend those are legitimate areas to meddle in and make up "laws" concerning. They aren't, but once you embrace statism for some things, this is what comes along for the ride.
"And when we have ceased to be an English-speaking, Christian country and become instead an Asian-Hispanic-African-American-white nation, with large Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, agnostic and atheist minorities, and no defined borders, or common faith and culture, what holds us together?"Who knows? Something might, or might not. And it doesn't matter. Forcing people "together" who don't want to be together is a bad idea. I have nothing in common with the Rulers of places like Chicago or New York, or those who want to impose Christian Sharia Law around here, and yet I'm told I am part of the same culture because "we are all Americans". Bull Pucky. Voluntary association works, pretending that I have anything in common with anti-liberty bigot voters in Big Cities or in this area doesn't. And it never will. There is no "America", there are individuals- some of whom don't appreciate having anti-liberty rules imposed on them just because "One Size Fits All" as long as "we're all America!"
"And when did we vote for this future?"When? LOL! Every single time you voted, that's when. That's where statism inevitably leads.
That article was just one gigantic celebration of Statism, wallowing in denial about where it always leads, and what the solution is. He is so afraid of liberty he can't see the solution is some of the very things he was decrying.
-
Rattle, rattle...
.
Good one Kent. Buchanan is one of the writers I ignore at lewrockwell.com. Reeks of statism.
ReplyDeleteMe too. His economic nationalism has always bothered me. However, he is quite eloquent when writing against the US Empire and its interventionist foreign aggressions.
DeleteYet, this time, look who he's trying to blame for America becoming an empire.
DeleteThe non-aggression that you advocate is a great idea and it works very well when the people around you share that principal. I wish it were the norm everywhere. The ideas of individual autonomy that form its core come from the Anglo-Saxons before they were overrun by the Normans (do you have Anglo-Saxon ancestry?)But what happens when the the vast majority of people around don't you support it? You would have to have a military grade arsenal to protect yourself, which tends to be very expensive. Most of the illegal aliens coming in don't believe in those principals at all (admittedly, many native-born Americans leave much to be desired with that principal, but most partially support it to one degree or another). In order for it to work at all, there needs to be some level of cohesiveness, a concensus that people shouldn't coerce one another and most of these immigrants come from places where that belief is not held at all. If you pack together a bunch of people of dramatically different beliefes while emphasizing their differences at the same time (multiculturalism) assures that a consensus for non-aggression cannot be achieved.
ReplyDeleteThe ZAP really doesn't need "consensus" to work, because it doesn't dictate how others will act toward you; only how you will act toward others. Don't initiate force- if someone does, defend yourself (if you want to).
DeleteSure, the "laws" of PoliceState USA are set up against that, but that's a problem with statism anywhere.
The second nice thing is that you (most likely) already have a "military grade arsenal" all around you, in the hands of your friends, family, and neighbors. Or, are you saying you won't come to the aid of anyone, nor would the come to yours? If I saw a neighbor being attacked, as long as that neighbor hadn't habitually violated me or others I knew of, I would come to his defense without second thought. Who it is attacking him would not figure into it- except if the thug wore a badge, in which case I might hesitate, knowing the size and brutality and cohesiveness of that particular gang.
Humans are humans, most are decent; some are thieves and aggressors. Where they are from doesn't determine that- and neither does their willingness to ignore counterfeit "laws".