Good Question.

What if our ability to have a free society is dependent on our ability to restrain ourselves from exercising our freedom through reasona and prudence?

Designs on the Truth points out:

A frequent mantra from talk-show callers, this statement is often followed by “And that’s why I can’t vote for Santorum” or “That’s why I support Ron Paul.”

The proclamation is usually delivered in a measured tone, calculated to convey how very reasonable and rational the speaker is:

“Yes, as an independent thinker I’ve carefully considered past and present socio-economic trends and sagely concluded that conservatism is definitely called for in fiscal matters, but when it comes to morals well, that’s personal, whatever works for you.”

The glaring problem with this theory is that, all historical evidence to the contrary, it assumes a dualistic view of human nature. It says we’re able to behave one way in this area of our lives and the opposite way in this area. That we can be totally unfettered socially, yet totally disciplined in economic matters.

But if we’re generally freewheeling when it comes to our personal lifestyle choices, how do we magically develop restraint or responsibility in fiscal matters?

We don’t. As our friends across the pond are slowly, and painfully, realizing

Great Moments in Conservation.

Rhino dies during anti-poaching demonstration:

A conservation group in South Africa accidentally killed a rhinoceros Thursday during an anti-poaching demonstration performed in front of a group of reporters.

The demo required that Spencer, a male rhino in his late 20s, be shot with a tranquilizer gun so that demonstrators could dye and insert a tracking device into his horn—a procedure that ideally deters poachers from slaying the animal to sell the horn. But the sedation process failed.

"The rhino had an unfortunate reaction to the anesthesia," Lorinda Hern, a spokeswoman for the Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve told Reuters. "Every time you dart a rhino, you take a risk that the rhino might not wake up and unfortunately today was one of those days."

The animal reportedly went into convulsions and could not be revived.