The George W. Bush Freedom Institute
by Karen Kwiatkowski Many are poking fun at a Connecticut Yankee’s dream of a Fantastic Freedom Institute in Texas. Robert Draper’s book tour and the six or so hours of presidential interviews are shedding new light on our once-thought-to-be simpleminded supreme leader. I, for one, think it is a sign of real hope for America. Dubya has an idea that we should all be supporting. A privately funded institute, outside of Washington, that promotes ideas and education on freedom at home, and around the world. Of course we have Cato, and for years, the Cato Institute has done a yeoman’s job in territory always hostile to the ideas and practice of true freedom. Blessedly, we have the Mises Institute – a global center for freedom awareness, but it’s in Auburn, Alabama, a place most people can’t immediately place. Indianapolis is host to the Liberty Fund – another privately funded institute that focuses on education and awareness of freedom. And we have the Foundation for Economic Education, and the Independent Institute on the east and west coasts, and the wonderful Future of Freedom Foundation, and the great work it does. LewRockwell.com is ever-present on the net, far exceeding the daily readership of the Hudson Institute, the Hoover Institution, and the Heritage Foundation combined. With all of this – and the thousands of libertarian and freedom minded blogs, radio shows, meetups, and the whole Ron Paul revolution – it was only natural that George W. Bush and the renown gut that guides him would be eager to find out how he too could get on the freedom train. We could use an ex-president to lend a hand in spreading the good news of free markets, free people, and the peace and prosperity such freedom inevitably brings. We could use a powerful public figure to stand up and disavow the entire Republicrat platform, his own political career, and his party’s anti-freedom and pro-war platform in the name of liberty and justice. As a full-fledged freedom advocate, George W. Bush does come with a few flaws – but who doesn’t? Surely we can transform his charming Marquis de Sade–inspired totalitarianism into devolution-loving small government advocacy? He’s not a deep thinker on these matters – it probably won’t take much more than a dictionary (and maybe a medium-sized waterboard!). It is true that George W. Bush is loyal to his friends, and indeed, they are a bad bunch of freedom-doubting, control-freaking nannyists. But he’s nervously peeling off friends like an old scab these days – and that’s good for the freedom movement. What say we hook up our once and future freedom fighter with some new friends? I’d be willing to volunteer Fred Reed, Ted Nugent, Tom Chartier and Chris Floyd for starters, and frankly, I think this group would make real progress in educating George Jr. George W. Bush has a few other problems to work out before he can truly embody the liberty line. He appears to have a cruel streak, indicating a secret love of power unrestrained and a somewhat sneering contempt for life. He is impressed by Stalinesque ideas of government and secrecy, Mussolini-inspired economics, and Churchillian war-making, and not in a good way. But George W. Bush now says he wants to celebrate and promote real freedom – at least after his presidency. That he is even considering that there will be an "after" is good news! I believe that we should all support the future George W. Bush Fantastic Freedom Institute, and begin immediately to build the necessary bridges to the Oval Office. There is a lot of behind-the-scenes work required to rehabilitate Dubya into the liberty-loving, anti-state, free-marketer he was born to be. Apparently he now reads history voraciously – and we can share with him the anti-federalist papers, and some of the speeches of Thomas Paine, and Patrick Henry, and oh, I don’t know, maybe the Constitution of the United States. The energetic, freedom-inspired, and newly free George W. Bush and his Institute can be a great asset for the next president. It can contribute to healing this country morally and economically, and lend practical and philosophical support for the liberation of those occupied, constrained and held captive by the long-term imperialistic and state capitalistic trends in American foreign policy. Dr. Ron Paul, during the debates and throughout his campaign, has captured the hearts and minds of regular people, those who closely follow politics, and even that of the other presidential candidates from various parties. It is amazing and gratifying to hear so many of them enthusiastically echo Ron Paul on issues from the global economy to foreign policy to immigration, constitutionalism, fiscal wisdom and security at home. Now, if what I read in the New York Times is true, George W. Bush has joined the Ron Paul revolution. I’d be proud to work with what’s left of George W. Bush after he completes the Nugent-Reed-Floyd-Chartier finishing school. And in the rare off-chance that the George W. Bush Fantastic Freedom Institute is an Orwellian shot across the bow at those who live, breathe and fight every day for real liberty in America – I can only say, "Bring it on!"
LRC columnist Karen Kwiatkowski, Ph.D. [send her mail], a retired USAF lieutenant colonel, has written on defense issues with a libertarian perspective for MilitaryWeek.com, hosted the call-in radio show American Forum, and blogs occasionally for Huffingtonpost.com and Liberty and Power. To receive automatic announcements of new articles, click here. Copyright © 2007 Karen Kwiatkowski |
September
6, 2007