Atheists Need Not Join

In doing some local organization of Libertarians I have come across some of my fellow party members that are latching onto the 912 Project of Glenn Beck’s.  Not knowing much about it I did some research and found that not only was it ‘phony’ Libertarianism but I was definitely not a person it is directed towards or included in.

The idea behind it is intriguing at first.  Principles.  Libertarians, as members of the Party of Principle, can easily be lured into this movement if they are frustrated with the discourse in DC and getting little response for their concerns as is the case with both the left and right these days.  It is easy to jump to a large group of people who seem to share the same concerns and think that finally the tide is turning and people are understanding!

The problem is, in the case of the 912 Project, they miss the road.  They seem to be close to understanding but swerve at the end of the driveway and drive headlong into the weeds.

I won’t get into the whole list of 9 Principles and 12 Values, I’m sure a search on the Internet will provide the answers, but as I started to read this 21 ‘items’ it only takes me 2 of them before I realize that this movement is not speaking for me, nor should it be for any Libertarian.

The first principle is easy enough.  “America Is Good”.  Ok, it is a bit simplistic.  ‘America’ can mean a lot of different things to different people, sometimes good, sometimes bad and it all depends on how ‘America’ is behaving at the time.  Most likely both good and bad at the same time!  But, as a simplistic opener it could be worse, I suppose.  Actually, it does get worse.

#2 – I believe in God and He is the center of my life.

*sigh*  And into the weeds it goes.  Now, if you DO believe in god, great, then you probably don’t see much of a problem with this.  Well, if you weren’t in a good understanding of Libertarian values.  There is nothing at all wrong with believing in a god if you want to.  But to list it as one of the guiding principles of a political movement?

Now, understand that Glenn is definitely not trying to win over the Libertarian voter.  I’m sure he doesn’t care if he offends and alienates anyone who fervently believes that if you want to believe in a god or which god you choose should not be the business of politics.  But anyone who is searching for a philosophy and gravitate to the project should take heed.  This is NOT part of Libertarian thought.

The bad part is that a lot of the other principles are very much Libertarian values.  Such as having a right to pursue happiness but not the guarantee of achieving happiness.  That the individual should be the ultimate authority over themselves.  Although, he slips up here as well by making the principle about the family.  You know, marriage, between a man and a woman, considering you were listening to that second point.

It is frustrating to talk to some of the people who are getting together for Libertarian organization when they start talking about the 912 project.  It is as if you were talking to your brother about football and all is going well until they point out that they think it is obvious that they should change they way pro’s decide overtime.  You have that momentary flash of ‘Do I *know* you?’

Pushing your religion onto others is definitely NOT a Libertarian principle and anyone falling for such obvious manipulation should expose it as what it is, one of the first violations of human rights by a group bent on keeping you ignorant and obedient.  But, that may just be me and how I view the history of religion to begin with.

The worst part is that Glenn Beck is ‘going away’ to develop ‘The Plan’, much in the way Moses went away from his flock and returned with the 10 Commandments.  This plan will be ‘revealed’ to us in Washington DC in August of next year, just in time for the mid-term elections.

On August 28, 2010, I ask you, your family and neighbors to join me at the feet of Abraham Lincoln on the National Mall for the unveiling of The Plan and the birthday of a new national movement to restore our great country.

Anyone who doesn’t believe in a god or who doesn’t believe in the right of a political movement to tell anyone what they can or can’t believe, be afraid.  The problem with manipulators such as Glenn Beck is that they are good at manipulation and eventually this goes to their heads and leads to some very unfortunate things, as history has shown us.  Especially when they use religion as the tool for their narcissistic manipulations.