Samuel Adams, Pride of Massachusetts a Son of Liberty - image art.com
The Liberty Index, published for the past 22 years by the Republican Liberty Caucus, recently released its 2009 assessment of Members of Congress and how they rank in regards to economic and personal liberty. The study is” compiled and analyzed by Professor Clifford Thies who holds the Eldon R. Lindsay Chair of Free Enterprise in the Economics Department of Shenandoah University. He is assisted by an anonymous panel of experts who have worked with him on the project for many years. This year his work is dedicated to the late David Nolan whose system of charting political ideologies has been a valuable tool for educating voters and promoting libertarian ideas. (ht/Blog Critics).
The Index Full PDF here), is based on individual Representatives votes on both economic and personal liberty issues, the score is based on a total of 40 votes, roll calls and links to bills are provided in the PDF. A perfect score would be 100 on each category, and this year one Congressman did achieve a perfect score, Congressman Jeff Flake, R - AZ6th, scoring slightly higher than Libertarian Champion, Ron Paul R-TX14th. All Congressional Representatives are scored, and also given a ranking as to their ideological approach to the issues of economics and personal liberties. The categories are: Libertarian, Enterpriser, Conservative, Moderate, Liberal and finally Authoritarian! The entire Massachusetts Congressional Delegation are designated by their voting records as Authoritarian, however, three of the 10 Massachusetts Democrats at least score in areas of economic and personal liberties.
Keeping in mind the score is based on 100 in each category, Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA4), received a 0 for Economics and a 30/100 for Personal Liberty, Congressman Jim Tierney (D-MA6) score a 13 in Economics and a 21 in Personal Liberty, leaving Richard Neal (D-MA2) scoring 7 in Economic and 29 in Personal Freedoms (one behind Barney Frank). (Ironic in that Frank chaired Finance and Neal was seeking the Chair of Ways and Means)
The Republican Liberty Caucus, is the Libertarian Leaning arm of the Republican Party and endorses candidates through it’s PAC as well as offers state chapters, even in Massachusetts.
From the perspective of a Massachusetts citizen who views the Commonwealth through rose-colored glasses of the historic contributions of the early residents and leaders of the Massachusetts Colony who were, as every 2nd grader should be made aware, pivotal in forming a government that offered both economic and personal freedoms in spades. This allows the resident of Massachusetts the opportunity to have some pride in living in the state that contributed so much to the founding of this great nation.
However, upon viewing the scores of the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation, one might say the rose is off the lenses, and a deep abiding embarrassment for our State settles in. Massachusetts is represented by those who are labeled “Authoritarian” (defined by Webster’s as: “of, relating to, or favoring a concentration of power in a leader or an elite not constitutionally responsible to the people
Apparently, the fact that they scored at all, may come as a surprise to residents and voters who, for the first time in decades had choices at the ballot box in 2010, and made those 10 Democrats actually campaign for their seats. The results were closer than in previous elections, and that has given incentive for Liberty loving individuals of the Bay State to challenge each and every one of them again in 2012. Throwing off the shackles of Authoritarianism, so to speak, is not an overnight affair, rather may take several electoral cycle, in order to finally achieve balance in the Bay State. That day cannot come too soon – Authoritarian indeed.
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