Here are some views of the the new Iraq from those who should know best, the Iraqi citizens themselves. Notice the underlying theme: personal freedom unknown under Saddam.

Also notice the biggest complaint: lack of security. Ask yourselves just WHO is causing that fear and you will know just why we can't leave Iraq to her own devices just yet. We took away the protective element, and until the Iraqis can provide for themselves a new protective system, we owe them the best we can do.

The Iraqis are learning something now that all too many of us in the safe environs of a mature democracy seem to have forgotten, freedom entails risk, and eternal vigilence against those that would provide security at the cost of freedom, both from external, and internal factions.

I pray that the Iraqis come to realize that the government that governs least, governs best. I only pray that we remember that lesson too, before it's too late.

In that vein, allow me a mini-rant:

Many of the social programs that the Left have been espousing are great sounding, and come from a compassionate urge to aid those less fortunate, but the law of unintended consequences must always be kept in mind; every one of these programs passed into action gives the government yet another piece of control over our individual freedom and personal autonomy, and in slow, incremental ways, cause government to become an oppressive and restrictive force hemming in every individual.

There has to be a balance between compassion and freedom, even if that freedom might lead to an individual failure. Eternal vigilence, and, sometimes, a seemingly hard-hearted refusal of the public magniminaty, are the only bulwarks against this slow encroachment on personal freedom.

The main problem of the Left is that they have forgotten is that, sometimes, freedom means the freedom to fail. Results are never guarenteed, only the freedom to strive for success is what our system is all about.

There is no such thing as "just a little socialism". Socialism is a festering malignancy on the body politic that will always encroach and kill the body if allowed any growth. A small growth, once established, will always feed itself first in a never-ending attempt to expand it's boundries and scope.

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 10:43 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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