Saturday, September 10, 2011

Barry Goldwater: A Critique

"I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!"
Acceptance Speech as the 1964 Republican Presidential candidate.

On the contrary, extremism in any form is the very vice that undermines liberty.

Moderation is the essence of justice.

Even Big Government Compassionate Conservative President George W. Bush understood this in his Second Inaugural Address:

"Freedom, by its nature, must be chosen, and defended by citizens, and sustained by the rule of law." All of these dispute extremism as mode of peace and prosperity."

Conservatism is about less government, limited government. Extremism overrides individual liberty, even the individual liberty chooses to yield to state power.

Extremism is not tempered by tradition and deliberation, both essential elements to the stable political culture which protects individual rights and secures the nation's borders. Any means beyond the constitutional procedures outlined in our national charter undermine the very goal which we desire to effect.

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