Where libertarian and Pagan meet


They are more alike than you might think
I'm going to bring together posts from two separate bloggers who never expected to be quoted together.

First is Warren Meyer from Coyote Blog with this entry. He is actually quoting a couple of earlier entries he made.

I am reminded of all this because the technocrats that built our regulatory state are starting to see the danger of what they created. A public school system was great as long as it was teaching the right things and its indoctrinational excesses were in a leftish direction. Now, however, we can see the panic.  The left is freaked that some red state school districts may start teaching creationism or intelligent design.  And you can hear the lament - how did we let Bush and these conservative idiots take control of the beautiful machine we built?  My answer is that you shouldn't have built the machine in the first place - it always falls into the wrong hands.... 

Today, via Instapundit, comes this story about the GAO audit of the decision by the FDA to not allow the plan B morning after pill to be sold over the counter. And, knock me over with a feather, it appears that the decision was political, based on a conservative administration's opposition to abortion.  And again the technocrats on the left are freaked.  Well, what did you expect?  You applauded the Clinton FDA's politically motivated ban on breast implants as a sop to NOW and the trial lawyers.  In establishing the FDA, it was you on the left that established the principal, contradictory to the left's own stand on abortion, that the government does indeed trump the individual on decision making for their own body  (other thoughts here). Again we hear the lament that the game was great until these conservative yahoos took over.  No, it wasn't.  It was unjust to scheme to control other people's lives, and just plain stupid to expect that the machinery of control you created would never fall into your political enemy's hands.

Warren is making the case for school choice, specifically a liberal/libertarian alliance because the public schools (and particularly the local school boards) have fallen under the sway of the Christian Right.

Now let's look at one of my favorite Pagan bloggers, Jason Pitzl-Waters at the Wild Hunt Blog with this entry. This one is in a different color to differentiate it, emphasis in original.

The Family Policy Network, a conservative Christian advocacy group, has released a position paper regarding its support for "parental rights" bills being proposed in Virginia and Tennessee. The main issue regards after-school clubs at public schools, recent court rulings have allowed for the existence of gay-straight alliances and non-Christian religious fellowships alongside more traditional clubs (SADD, 4-H, Fellowship of Christian Atheletes).

"...scores of public school children have learned important values and engaged in meaningful community service as a result of their participation in school-based clubs. The number and scope of school clubs has increased dramatically in recent years. Currently, clubs promoting astrology, atheism, feminism, homosexuality and even witchcraft are common in public schools, and have often alarmed parents, teachers and administrators in school districts throughout the nation."

Since "traditional" values (read: Christian and conservative) are no longer the sole voice in after-school clubs, the FPN wants a comprehensive notification and "opt-out" policy for all students.

"Working with parents, educators and legislators; Family Policy Network has drafted a legislative proposal to require school officials to inform parents of school-based clubs, and ultimately to guarantee a parent's ability to determine whether their own child may participate... FPN's model legislation requires school districts to give parents information about all non-academic activities in which their child may participate. Parents must be notified of the name of each available club, its mission statement, and cost of participation (if any). Additionally, schools must provide a list of any and all faculty or other adult sponsors involved with each club; as well as any local, regional, state or national organizations with which the club is affiliated and/or associated."

It might seem fair until your learn that FPN is quick to state that this is "opt-out" only, and they do not advocate "permission slips" or "opt-in" legislation since that could hurt participation in clubs run by their supporters. Under legislation such as this, each parent could tick off a list of groups that the child isn't allowed to participate in (enforced I would assume by the school). So a Democratic-leaning child of Republicans could be barred from attending a Democrat club, and a Christian child could be allowed to only attend Christian clubs.

It's a point I have made before. Inflict government on someone today and don't be surprised if someone else inflicts it on you tomorrow.

Even though you may agree with the choices today, that doesn't mean that "your guys" are going to stay in charge.

If you want real individual freedom, your only real hope is to avoid the groupthink institutions, especially the ones backed by government force.

— NeoWayland

Posted: Thu - April 5, 2007 at 02:31 PM  Tag


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