Sunday, March 25, 2012
Everywhere today ring the shrill cries of liberals demanding “justice” for various groups—the poor, women, minorities, for environmental concerns, etc. This call sounds familiar since it resembles America’s traditional support for the destitute, widowed and orphaned. It’s a constant demand to do the “right” thing, as defined by leftism. Yet, on closer inspection, this appeal is not based upon any coherent theory of justice like “Natural Law.” In fact, it’s the exact opposite of traditional Western theory. Instead, this clever ploy manipulates the naive, proving a foil against Conservatism. So this sneaky tactic must be exposed as a hoax since following this charade has proved extraordinarily destructive.
One of the most obvious and predictable aspects of modern Marxist morality is how often public figures and prominent intellectuals slump into its welcoming arms when describing how things should work. This strange default sense insinuates real justice resides in the claims of leftism, wherever identified. For example, consider how multi-billionaire Warren Buffet morphed into an acolyte of economic justice, demanding other rich be forced to “pay their fair share” despite knowing they already do, while dodging billions in his own tax bills. This absurd and misleading gamesmanship is a mirage of ethical rectitude, opposite of the real Natural Law—used by the Founders to frame our Declaration and Constitution.
I. The Problem: Liberal “Natural Law” is a False Appeal to Fairness & Justice
A. No Good Life Without a Sound Theory of Justice
In classical rhetoric, a standard ancient debate involved the nature of the “Good Life.” But today it doesn’t seem to occur to leftists that there could ever be a debate over any important subject. The majority of liberal rhetoric involves broadcasting damning statements regarding society, then claiming those refusing liberal antidotes are shameful cretins. This should be seen for what it is—a fake appeal to “justice,” done in the style of Natural Law, but substituting Marxist standards as the goal. Yet, such manipulations are highly effective because most people want to do the right thing. The destructive power in this game results as Marxism is the actual opposite of Western values, a toxic substitute to life’s problems.B. Ted Kennedy, Liberal Loudspeaker
The classic instance of such an appeal is found in Ted Kennedy’s sanctimonious 1980 DNC Convention speech. He said,My fellow Democrats and my fellow Americans, I have come here tonight not to argue as a candidate but to affirm a cause. I’m asking you—I am asking you to renew the commitment of the Democratic Party to economic justice. I am asking you to renew our commitment to a fair and lasting prosperity that can put America back to work.
C. Marxist Justice Versus Western Theories
1. A Transparent Lack of a Marxist Moral Code
An indisputable problem is raised for those comparing Marxism/ Socialism with rival theories. There is simply no exception-less moral center in Marxism as found in traditional Western beliefs. No socialist or Marxist analog to the Ten Commandments. Therefore, it’s impossible for Marxists to call out anyone else for not living up to “Marxist standards,” since there technically aren’t any.This explains a strange phenomenon in the leftist manipulation game. For, when socialists excoriate others for failing to follow “just standards,” they always appeal to the ideals espoused by the target of this criticism. Recall how famed community organizer Saul Alinsky advised in his infamous Rules for Radicals:
Rule 4: Make opponents live up to their own book of rules. “You can kill them with this, for they can no more obey their own rules than the Christian church can live up to Christianity.”
2. Marxist Scholars Reveal Lack of Central Morality
One searches in vain for a “Socialist Ten Commandments,” that is—a central, unbreakable statement of Marxist laws. If it existed, such a leftist exposition of Marxist-derived Natural Law could be used to build a defensible ethical model. Instead, such books as Marxism and Morality: A Critical Examination of Marxist Ethics; Marxism and Morality; Marxism, Morality, and Social Justice; Their Morals And Ours: Marxist Versus Liberal Views On Morality; Marxist Ethics: A Short Exposition, etc—all testify to the utter absence of a true moral center in leftism from Marxist’s own mouths.II. Problems in Pseudo-Natural Law Policy
But why is Marxism a false theory of justice? Well, how can anyone who stands for no firm ethical outline give anyone else grief over moral hypocrisy? Consider the following: First, the Declaration states just Government is built upon defense of “Life, Liberty, & Happiness”—a phrase taken from John Locke’s “Life, Liberty and Property.” Further, the US Constitution absolutely protects citizens from any government takings of property without compensation or due process—5th Amendment “...nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.”Yet, socialism calls for economic justice, in the form of redistributive payments, influenced by Marx’s line from the Critique of the Gotha Program: “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs!” This requires property be taken from its owner without any recompense. This not only goes against foundational US law but, just as important—repudiates historical experience, common sense and basic fairness.
So, the main problem with Marxist theories of justice is that no absolute standard of the just was ever established by Karl Marx. Instead, his universal goal was the creation of holy revolution, somehow convinced things always improve after revolution. Now we must ask—What problems occur when liberals are allowed to influence and set policy in the name of Marxist morality? Let’s examine some policies adapted out of Marxist theory.
III. The Real Natural Law is Not a Codeword for Socialism
A. Defining Natural Law
What is the Natural Law, and why is it important? Concisely, because the Western theory of law and government is founded upon such ideas as the Rule of Law, Natural Rights & Constitutionalism, it is irreplaceably important. And this theory produced the fairest and most influential legal system ever conceived.Certain elements provide a general outline. First, Natural Law has an essential moral element. Second, it usually encompasses biblical norms. Third, Natural Law takes on its characteristic elements via such thinkers as Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas, and Locke, etc. Fourth, it is quite often presented as “Higher Law,” or the “Law Above the Law” and placed in opposition to a mere positive law regime.
B. Classic Definition of Natural Law
Natural Law is defined here by Hugo Grotius in De Jure Belli Ac Pacis, ie On the Law of War and Peace:The law of nature [ius naturale] is a dictate of right reason which points out that an act, according as it is or is not in conformity with rational [and social] nature, has in it a quality of moral baseness or moral necessity; and that, in consequence, such an act is either forbidden or enjoined by the author of nature, God.
C. American Legal Roots as Natural Law
We correctly identify the US Declaration, Constitution, and Bill of Rights as all quintessential Natural Law documents. Writes one author in Introduction to American Founding & Constitutionalism,The prominence of natural rights in Early Modern thinkers played a crucial role for the founding documents of the American Republic. This rhetoric appears in the resolutions of the first Continental Congress in appeal to ‘the immutable laws of nature,’ and in the affirmation of the ‘unalienable rights’ of man in the Declaration of Independence. The Founders sought to secure the liberty and autonomy of citizens of the American Republic, and the Constitution and Bill of Rights display these inviolable rights of man.
D. Modern Liberal View of Natural Law
Many modern elites demand wholesale changes to the Constitution, or treat it as an irritating anachronism, only fit to be ignored. For instance, recall this exchange with then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (video):Reporter: “Madam Speaker, where specifically does the Constitution grant Congress the authority to enact an individual health insurance mandate?
Pelosi: “Are you serious? Are you serious?”
Reporter: “Yes, yes I am.”
IV. Modern Man-Made Disasters of Marxist “Natural Law”
Following are problems caused by socialism replacing Natural Law.A. State-Destroying Deficits
Deficits are now claimed “necessary” Marxist-styled social welfare spending, despite America’stechnical insolvency. President Obama gathered more debt in three years than President Bush did in eight, and will create $20 trillion in deficits. Critics claim any serious cuts, other than military, will “break the middle class.” But, if left unabated on Obama’s spending schedule, when will America stop being the world’s greatest economy? What will we have gained in exchange?B. Increasing Application of Welfare Remedies
Given the length of the current recession, a direct result of poor economic policy, welfare spending is the highest ever, and rising:Government dependence is a staggering 47%, highest level in American history, while 21 million households use food stamps. Government spending on food stamps in 2010 ($68 billion), double 2007, with 2011 to be even higher.The question here, of course, is not how many were saved by welfare — since people do not starve to death in modern America — but how many promising lives were permanently derailed?
C. Regarding Earth as Absurdly Delicate
The leftist notion that earth is itself a living being (Gaia) which must be defended from the slightest “injury” is not derived from analytic science. Instead, this notion coalesced in the vacuum after departure of traditional religious belief. In fact, liberalism itself is a religion. (see Modern Liberalism’s Hidden Religious Foundations & The Sacrifices of the Religion of Liberalism)The nonsensical fealty Obama directs towards Environmental & Global Warming cabals badly damages American energy independence while gasoline prices skyrocket. This is all a direct result of adherence to nonsensical Marxist ideology (Peak Oil Scam is Based Upon Ideological, Fact-Blind Liberalism, Global Warming hoax response reveals Obama’s shaky mental acumen & Global Warming Theory Not New, But Simple Reborn Malthusianism), seen most recently in his rejections of the 1.1 million barrel-a-day Keystone Pipeline. (see Malice in Wonderland as Barack’s Presidency Finally Runs Out of Gas).
D. Families Defined by State Action
It is a Marxist truism that even children have the right of free sexual expression; whereas adults may divorce ipso facto for any reason, or none. Since the 1960s, the number of common STD’s has leapt from 2 to 25. Meanwhile, half of adult Americans are single. The NY Times reports more children now born out of wedlock, than in it—as statistics show the jaw-dropping effects of fatherlessness. Marx would be thrilled as US institutions substitute as permanent parents.E. Obamacare Cost
Universal healthcare is the greatest Marxist trope. Whether Obamacare is constitutional will be decided soon by SCOTUS. But it will break the bank, as its projected costs just doubled.From 2013-2022, the CBO reports, costs of Obamacare are $1.76 trillion, twice the phony original number. It gets worse. Annual gross costs after 2021 are more than a quarter of $1 trillion every year—until the end of time. That, for a new entitlement in a country already drowning in $16 trillion of debt.
Conclusion
Liberal demands to redistribute wealth, etc. must never be accepted as axiomatically true, like Natural Law. Such demands must be treated like the toxic Marxist propaganda they are, and resisted strenuously, if the West is to survive at all.Canada Free Press
