Neither Liberal nor Conservative

by on

First published in the Chicago Free Press., January 18, 2006

One of the most widely noted political phenomena of the last decade is the polarization of political opinion-usually along liberal versus conservative lines-so that there seems to be decreasing room for moderation, compromise or "just getting along."

Everyone listens to people on their own side, tunes into media and accesses weblogs that they agree with, and the notion that the other side might have a good point fades from the political universe. Fading even more is the possibility that the other side might not only have a good point but might actually be right about some issue.

Vanishing almost entirely from the polarized mentality is the possibility that both sides are utterly wrong and there could be some third position that is closer to the truth. Yet it seems unlikely that there could be just two plausible positions on any given issue.

I find this political polarization personally troubling because I have come to conservative positions on some issues and liberal positions on others. And I have concluded that there are yet other issues where neither side is right. In each case, I believe I can offer fairly good reasons for what I think.

Let me give some examples, not to argue for them here but to demonstrate what I mean. I know there are plausible-sounding arguments against all of these, but in each case I believe I have good counter-arguments.

First, nine "liberal" conclusions:

  1. I am for legalizing gay civil marriage (or civil unions).
  2. I support allowing gays to serve openly in the military.
  3. I support legalized assisted suicide: It's my own life.
  4. I think recreational drug use should be decriminalized: What I put in my body is my business.
  5. I oppose government subsidies to farmers and corporations: Let them earn their money the way the rest of us do.
  6. Commercial sex (prostitution) should be decriminalized: It's my body.
  7. I oppose the death penalty.
  8. Abortion at any time should be legal: A fetus is not a person.
  9. Pornography should be legal to make and sell.

Now here are eight "conservative" conclusions:

  1. I oppose government seizure of people's private property through eminent domain.
  2. I support tax cuts for anyone anytime-rich, poor or middle-class.
  3. I oppose government subsidies to arts organization: They should earn their money by pleasing customers.
  4. I support school choice and home schooling.
  5. I support absolute free trade: Tariffs and quotas are subsidies for inefficient businesses.
  6. I oppose zoning restrictions by officious "city planners."
  7. I support more welfare cuts: The last ones had salutary effects.
  8. People should have the right to own guns to protect themselves: The police cannot be everywhere.

To all appearances these two sets of views belong on opposite sides of the political spectrum. So I have trouble describing my political position for people. I suppose I could call myself "a small government liberal." Or maybe "an ACLU conservative." But these terms would not mean much to people with deep commitments on one side or the other. They would just look at me strangely, as if I described some object as a round square.

Usually, people end up thinking I am whatever they are not. Conservatives think of me as liberal and liberals think of me as conservative. Both sides insist on 85 to 90 percent conformity with their views to qualify as "one of us." Apparently that is one way that political ideologues inhibit "deviationism"-otherwise known as thinking for yourself. You are supposed to buy the whole package.

Interestingly enough-interesting to me, anyway-I have come to some liberal positions on the basis of "conservative" arguments. For instance, I oppose the death penalty not because it is inhumane but because I do not trust governments to impose an irreversible sentence: Courts can make mistakes.

Similarly, I have come to some conservative positions for "liberal" reasons. For instance, I think Supreme Court justices should interpret the Constitution strictly because I think a strict reading must include deference to the Ninth Amendment, which recognizes a number of previously ignored "liberty rights" for individuals.

For that matter, I support privatization of Social Security so gays and other singles can pass on their investment to their partners when they die rather than having the government keep their money. Is that liberal because it benefits gays or conservative because it eliminates a government program?

Is there some coherent view that unites most if not all of these diverse positions? I think so and I think I can explain roughly what it is. But the point I hope to make is that whether or not they represent a coherent outlook, they are meant to show that a person might find good reasons to diverge from the liberal or conservative party line on several issues, if not these then others.

Back in the 1960s when the world was young there was a button that read, "Question Authority." I used to have one. It may still be around somewhere. Maybe I should start wearing it again.

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