Recently, I’ve gotten into an argument with a few Libertarians over the right of a person to not be judged because their blood alcohol level was over .08, but rather by their actions. My argument was that the act of drinking to excess was in itself an action that could harm the community, while their argument was that that was their personal freedom to do so. And so this debate has shown me the difference between me and them.
I totally agree in personal freedom. I believe that you have the privilege to do, say, think anything you want. Notice, I used privilege, not right. I believe the right to do anything you want as long as it doesn’t harm anyone else is not a right I can find in the Constitution, although I know there are Libertarian thinkers who use the right to happiness. I respectfully disagree.
Your actions should be allowed as long as those actions in no way affect those people around you. If you want to drink yourself silly in your own home with no kids or spouse to be affected by your stupid actions, go ahead, other than it is a little weird to do so. If you want to bring your buddies over and drink in your home until you are all passed out and again, no one else in the community is affected by this action, have fun. But the moment you do something like drink yourself silly and then get behind a wheel. Stop. Then you can hurt me, my loved ones or just innocents and you have crossed over my boundary.
Here is the crux of the problem. I value my community more than I do my personal rights. I drive on the right because it is a community rule. I drink and drive responsibly because the effect it might have on my community first and on me next. I do not carry a loaded weapon in a crowded area because of what that gun could do to innocent lives if it were accidentally to go off.
I view my place in the cosmos more as a member of many communities than just me. How many lives are ruined because of self-centered thinking? The act of driving a car while drunk was offered as allowable, until they swerve etc and break a law. My feeling is the act of driving that car could lead to murder. So that person’s blood alcohol level could mean they are impaired enough to not be able to control the car. Having a loaded gun in my home with children may seem like a right to bear arms, but when a child plays with the gun and shoots his brother. Again, that is an action that can not be reversed.
We are not here alone. We live in communities of families, neighbors, towns, states, nations and the world. Our actions have consequences. Some actions have negative consequences while some have positive ones. By taking responsibility for our actions and thinking forward about them, we can focus on creating positive results.
Personal Rights vs. Community Rights
