Individual liberty and the common good

A society built to man’s measure will not be just one that serves him but one that gives him the opportunity to serve . . . the opportunity to do something for himself and others . . . the fulfillment that comes with the exercise of his talents.

We all breathe the same air and drink from the same aquifer. We don’t have to search for common ground; we live on it.

A few days ago I returned from Tullahoma, Tennessee, where my wife and I spent Thanksgiving with my mom. It was an exceptional visit. We went to my sister’s home for a sumptuous Thanksgiving dinner, toured the Jack Daniels Distillery and the quaint little village of Lynchburg, and taught Mom how to use the MailStation (a small device used only to send and receive e-mail) that we’d bought for her. We also watched a lot of CNN. And as we did, I was reminded of my liberal roots as Mom pulled for Al Gore and was dismayed when the vice president didn’t gain the votes he needed to win in Florida by the 5:00 p.m. Sunday deadline.

Some who read my essays have referred to me as a liberal, and given my upbringing, that’s a fair enough assessment. Nonetheless, I don’t label myself this way. I admit that a number of stands I take could be considered liberal or progressive (support for universal health care and a social safety net for those who need it, opposition to the death penalty) but others could be characterized as conservative or libertarian (smaller and more efficient government, school vouchers, strong personal values, and accountability). (more…)

Saturday, December 2nd, 2000