[IMC-Editorial] Letter: Why Leftists Favor and Conservatives Oppose Going to Liberia

[The Ayn Rand Institute]

Dear Editor:

The current debate raging over whether or not to send U.S. troops to Liberia reveals a 
lot about leftists and conservatives. While leftists clamor for U.S. military 
intervention, conservatives oppose it, but only meekly. Why?

Morality, the leftists believe, consists not in defending one's interests but in 
sacrificing them. Accordingly, they advocate U.S. military intervention only when no 
U.S. self-interest exists (such as in Somalia, Bosnia and now Liberia). 

Conservatives, who generally uphold military intervention when in the interests of the 
country, are morally disarmed by their own altruistic beliefs. They are unable to resist 
the leftists' calls to sacrifice for the needy (abroad or at home).

Thus, as long as altruism remains the prevailing morality among our politicians, 
Americans can't count on either the right or the left to defend their interests. Only 
when self-interest replaces altruism as a *principle* of domestic and foreign policy, 
will Americans be safe in their inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of 
happiness.

Sincerely,

David Holcberg
Ayn Rand Institute
Irvine, CA  92606
United States
949-222-6550 ext. 226
davidh at aynrand.org

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