by the Left Coast Rebel

This one from Bastiatarian in the comments over at Rational Nation:

Personally, the usual terminology has gotten so twisted (e.g., what is so liberal about liberals other than their morals and their use of other people’s money?), that I try to use the individualistic-collectivistic continuum instead of conservative-liberal. Even then it’s necessary to differentiate between “voluntary collectivism” and “totalitarian collectivism,” the former being compatible with individualism and liberty and the latter being a form of slavery. Unfortunately, both of the major parties in the U.S. are much too far along the road to totalitarian collectivism. In other words, the road to serfdom.

UPATED: Also, I write to Les, who seems to be facing a bit of burnout in our fight against the far-left, in power and otherwise:

Les (from our email discourse, though pertinent here as well),

I have not responded nor posted to your site as this was a bit heavy on the mind for me. Let me see where I can take this.

First off, I agree that the gamesmanship can be essentially a useless enterprise and one that believes in liberty can lose the forest for the trees. On the other hand, the virulent fascist left needs their asses handed to them – in a street fight fashion (check www.memeorandum.com).

The philosophy of our founding has been lost, I disagree though that the spirit of our founding has been lost though. I see this in the resistance to our collectivist President at the moment.

I gladly accept to carry the mantle of liberty forward and ask that you do not give up the task yourself. Perhaps you have taken discourse to a direction that is not one that makes you happy ( I, along with C-Gen like fighting the libtard left), but I can understand those that do not. You are brimming with ideas and insight, it would be a shame for that to be lost.

Think back to the Ayn Rand’s beginnings in teaching her philosophy. She was met with scorn, ridicule and lack of recognition. In fact, such carried through until her death. However, she knew what was right and stayed on course – changing millions of lives for the better. How many of the Leftists can claim so as well? Like Rand, don’t quit.

Perhaps it is a bit of my youth speaking when I think of the eternal hope that America represents. I will never let it go. I will always face each day knowing that AMERICANS can create a future for themselves through individual pursuits that is better than what was passed to them. I think that our current (and most of close past) government-regimes have worked to take this away.

But they will not succeed. We will continue this in person!

In liberty,

-Tim

UPDATED Again: Bastiatarian chimes in again:

Another thing that I try to keep in mind is 2 Kings 6:16-17. Elisha and his servant were surrounded by the Syrian army, and the servant asked Elisha what they were going to do:

“And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.”

It frequently seems like those of us who are for truth, liberty, honor, and all those other old-fashioned ideals really are a dying breed, and that the odds are stacked too high against us, but then I remember that all the hosts of Heaven are behind us, and that ultimately the forces of good will be victorious. I suppose that wouldn’t mean much to people who don’t believe in God, but for me it makes all the difference.

Also, War Planner offers:

If folks are getting down in the dumps about stuff, I recommend that they take some time off, enjoy the family, loved ones, friends, etc. and come back in a month or so and they will feel better.

Secondly, we gotta stick together in this struggle. I sometimes feel the same way and fear that one of two things will happen: (1) we will get complacent and lose the fervor or (2) get discouraged and do the same.

Sometimes it’s a little difficult to express in a blog comment. If appropriate, pass along my e-mail address to they folks and tell them to drop a line. I always have a freindly ear for comrades.

Bastiatarian come up with some pretty inspiration stuff up above there. My I add, in a secular vein, try Kipling’s poem, “If..” — maybe not as powerful as scripture but it nourishes the spirit nonetheless.

Earnestly,

~The War Planner.

And Right Guy gets it right:

The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother’s keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee.

Jules, Pulp Fiction