Choice Isn’t A Dirty Word

Over at the new Crunchy Con blog, Rod Dreher (otherwise known as Cap’n Crunch ™ ) and his band of Birkenstocked brigands are making some pretty bizarre arguments. Like this one, for example:

We have all been paying lip service, of one kind or another, to the virtues of sacrifice, self-discipline, putting others before oneself, etc. However, I notice that there is the tendency, always, of always adding the caveats: “If I want to” and “If I have the economic freedom to do so.” This, frankly, is the language of choice; the language of liberalism. It reveals something important to note that even when self-described crunchy cons or their fellow travelers get together, they (we) cannot wholly avoid speaking in the language of liberalism. The effect of this is to undermine any gain in cultural or spiritual order that Rod’s prescriptions might otherwise offer.

So lemme get this straight. The concept of choice is a liberal concept? Gee, think the abortion issue has hijacked a word?

Choice is freedom (and in the religious context, choice is free will). Conservatives are (or should be) the party of limited government, the party of individual responsibility, the party of personal freedom. If crunchy conservatism doesn’t value personal freedom, then I think it needs a new label. Got any ideas?

By the way, I can’t wait to read more of Jonah Goldberg’s thoughts on the book. His first salvo is here.