For the left we are too conservative - what do you mean we can't spend it all plus 10%?

And for the right we are too liberal - you want to have sex with whom? And what is that you are smoking?

On the other hand when it comes to a date with a major political party we have twice as many choices.

My formulation of the libertarian's political conundrum is: The left (Democrats) scare the hell out of me somewhat more than the right (Republicans) do.

I am FOR every single individual person reaching their highest potential--of achievement, of happiness, of contentment.

A society which strives to maximize individual freedom, political liberty, individual responsibility, and the rule of law universally and equally applied to all is in my opinion the only path to that objective that history has shown actually works.

Further, history shows that the extent to which societies limit individual freedom, limit political liberty, allow individual irresponsibility, and substitute the rule of whim over the rule of law is the extent to which those societies suppress the "average person's" ability to reach their maximum potential.

That's my opening salvo in the Great Argument . . .

I like to be right, but I hate being left behind.

I'd rather be right than have the left on my behind!

Thomas Sowell made the best comparison, I think: Better third-rate firemen than first-rate arsonists.

Eric, I have a great deal of sympathy for your dilemma. Personally, my political views fit in very well with the Right, except for one glaring fact--I'm gay. As such, I have a lot of friends (also gay) who are dyed-in-the-wool Leftists, and who basically excoriate me for being associated with the Tea Party, which they view as anti-gay (even though the Tea Party's premise has nothing to do with gay issues whatsoever). I've tried defending the Tea Party to them on its merits, talking about things like fiscal responsibility and smaller government, but then I hear about people like Jim DeMint saying that openly gay people shouldn't be allowed to teach children, and the defense on my lips withers and dies. How can I vote for a party so removed from the realities of the world as the Democrats, but on the flipside, how can I vote for a party like the Republicans that doesn't want my vote?

(Ultimately, I know I'll still throw my vote in with the Republicans, but it is starting to really pain me to do so. Someday, somehow, I hope to eventually see a candidate I can vote FOR, rather than candidates I feel compelled to vote AGAINST.)

I really appreciate the comments.

And John, thanks. I was beginning to wish I hadn't bothered with that post about DeMint because I really don't like to start arguments, but you made me think it was worth it.

John,

Not to worry, the GOP will outgrow the remnants of its homophobia in a few years.

The Dems will never, ever outgrow statism.

Another excellent point from the ever wise Dave.

allow individual irresponsibility, - ?

How can you prevent it?

The best you can do is let people learn from their mistakes. So long as the mistakes are vices and not crimes.

If the right lived up to their small-gov't ideals, they would be ideal.
But we continuously see that many social cons can't.
They like big gov't just fine when it advances their goals.

I think the right moderation of each trait is somehow acceptable. We don't need to choose though...

well drilling Australia

We don't need to choose though...

Spammers have no right to be insightful!

Life is drill. Bore till you die.

Life is a bore. Drill till you die.

Bit by bit.