There is an old story that used to be told that defined the differences between the Republican and Democratic parties. It goes something like this.
There is a person drowning in a lake 30 feet from shore. A Democrat walks by and throws him 60 feet of rope, drops his end to go do another good deed and wishes him luck.
A Republican walks by, throws 25 feet of rope, tells him to swim 5 feet to grab the rope because it will be good for his character and then considers helping him further.
But America has a growing bunch of voters who ascribe to a different theory. They will throw you 30 feet of rope and they will pull to help you out of your predicament, but you had better be helping yourself by kicking like hell on your end.
After having worked in politics and government from both sides of the aisle and from the aisle itself, that is my political philosophy.
And the one thing I learned in over almost 25 years in the business is…Keep a safe distance from politicians and skunks.
I have worked in small business as well as Corporate America
I believe that “wisdom comes from experience, most of it bad”.
I believe in rugged individualism and self-reliance.
I believe that if your neighbor’s barn burns down you help him rebuild it just as he would help you rebuild yours.
I believe in the common sense of the people not the cattle crap that emanates from the mouths of politicians and pundits.
I believe that encroaching intrusive government is the most dangerous threat to our freedom.
I consider myself a free-born, free-thinking American. My political journey has come full circle and I have returned the place I began.
In 1964 I was 12 years old when Barry Goldwater was nominated by the Republicans in San Francisco as their candidate for President.
It was the first election I followed and I read the paper every day to learn more.
I remember sitting with my Dad and watching Goldwater’s acceptance speech.
I was hooked. And I still have my old copy of his Conscience of a Conservative.
I consider myself a Libertarian-Conservative. Some might think that is a contradiction. I don’t.
I don’t follow in lockstep with any political party or political philosophy. I like some things Libertarians say and I like some things Conservatives say.
For example if I were an elected official I would never sign a “no new taxes pledge”. It’s not that I want higher taxes..far from it.
But the only pledge I will ever take is the Pledge of Allegiance. That says it all for me.
My political philosophy can be summed up this way.
I believe in Iimited government in all things.
I believe in the fundamental right of all Americans to live their lives as they see fit as long as they abide by the laws of the land.
Or put another way, government should keep their hands off the public’s wallet and their nose out of folk’s private lives.
I am extremely concerned about the fiscal and financial health of America.
But I am equally concerned about the ethical health of the nation as evidenced daily by our coarse popular culture.
I believe that the simple truth that right is right and wrong is wrong still has meaning today even in this age of moral relativism and an “anything goes” culture.
Today these truths are slowly disappearing if not gone all together.
Children cheat on tests and think it is okay.
Adults cheat on Wall Street and are rewarded.
Politicians cheat on their wives. If a man will cheat on his wife what do you think he will do to the folks that elected him.
Everything is for sale including one’s honor.
And bad behavior in public life will more likely land you a book deal and a spot on Oprah than the consternation of society.
Some folks might say I’m “naïve” or “old fashioned” or that “times have changed and I need to get with it” whatever “it” is.
I am not so naïve that I think we can go back to the “good old days”. There was plenty wrong back then.
But when a nation forgets the values that made the country strong and discards the ethical compass as “outdated” that nation could be at its end.
And if not the end you sure as Hell can see it from here.
Now you know where I stand.
So tighten the cinch on your saddle, adjust your stirrups and mount up for what I hope will be an informative and fun ride!
THE COWBOY LIBERTARIAN’S CODE
John Wayne once said…”A man’s got to have a code, a creed to live by no matter his job”.
Here’s mine…
- Live by the golden rule. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
- There are only two things you can count on in this world. The sun coming up in the morning and setting at night. Everything else is a crapshoot.
- Citizenship is not a passive activity. Get informed and stay informed. And if you don’t vote, don’t complain.
- Don’t go looking for trouble. You’ll get your share in life.
- Right is right and wrong is wrong there are no shades of gray.
- Never interfere with something that ain’t bothering you none.
- Never drop your gun to hug a grizzly bear.
- Never forget a kindness and repay it in kind.
- If you don’t believe in something you will fall for anything.
- Face your problems head-on. They won’t look half as bad if you do.
- Wisdom comes from experience, most of it bad.
- Help the less fortunate and defend those who can’t defend themselves. It is not an option but an obligation.
- If you looking for a helping hand, start by looking at the end of your own arm.
- Play the hand you were dealt. In life there is no second draw of the cards.
- Life is not fair and it is not the responsibility of the government to make it so.
- The responsibility of the government is to guarantee equal opportunity not equal outcomes.
- We will all fall down at some point in our lives. It’s how you pick yourself up that counts.
- Hollywood should be just as concerned about the “mental pollution” of our children as they are about the environmental pollution of the planet.
- Parents are parents and kids are kids not friends and buddies.
- Any government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you got.
- When you’re wrong admit it and when you’re right stand by it.
- Courts are not casinos or the lottery.
- Life has risk. We can’t litigate, legislate or regulate our way out of every problem.
- Not every problem is a crisis. But if you watch television you would think so.
- We all have two ears and one mouth. Listen twice as much as you talk.
- You can disagree with someone without being disagreeable.
- Nothing is free. Somebody always pays.
- If it sounds too good to be true, chances are it is.
- The Ten Commandments are not the Ten Suggestions.
- Sorry looks back. Worry looks around. Faith looks up.
About The Cowboy Libertarian
Patrick Dorinson is a prodigious writer on many websites. He is a columnist for the FOX News.com Opinion on the FOX News website and regular contributor to “The Arena” on POLITICO the #1 political website in the nation. He is the resident political analyst for Clear Channel’s Newstalk 1530 KFBK radio in Sacramento, California. Dorinson has had columns published in the San Francisco Chronicle and has been a guest columnist for Sacramento’s political journal, the Capitol Weekly. He also appears regularly as a commentator on local television.
Mr. Dorinson has appeared on Sean Hannity’s Great American Panel on the FOX News Channel and on Cavuto on the FOX Business Channel as well as on FOX News.com webcasts
He is host of weekly radio talk show, The Cowboy Libertarian with Patrick Dorinson. It airs Sundays from 11am to Noon Pacific time on Newstalk 1530 KFBK .
Dorinson is an avid student of the West and a pretty fair horseman. And he knows that when learning how to ride, the ground is the best teacher, having the broken bones to prove it.
He enjoys working and riding alongside his friends in the ranching and cattle business whenever he gets the opportunity.
And if he had his druthers and he could find an outfit that would take him on he would make his living from the back of the horse.