I've
never been a liberal but I used to think I was a Republican. When I was young and stupid I thought you were either a Democrat or a Republican. I definitely didn't like the wealth re-distribution, anti-gun, criminal coddling Democrats, but plenty of things about the Republicans irritated the crap out of me as well (as they do even more so today).
Eventually I found out about Libertarianism. A few years back I finally bit the bullet and switched my registered party to Libertarian. Since Florida has closed primaries that means I basically don't get to vote in primary elections, but it just made me ill to have that "R" on my card.
In my experience, most Republicans that I know
say they are for small government, but are either lying or kidding themselves. They are for small government when it comes to messing with them and the things they feel strongly about, but very much for big government when it comes to messing with the people who they don't like. They'll double back on just about any principle of small government they purport to support if it means an opportunity to have the state enforce their morality. They are all for the 4th amendment until violating it nabs some guy with an ounce of weed in his pocket. They are all for the right to contract and do business without government interference yet are giddy when a big prostitution sting is announced. They are for family and marriage and think the government should stay the heck out of their bedroom and mind their business when it comes to their children, but do a 180 when it comes to same sex couples. They love the first amendment when it protects
their religion, but hate it when it protects the Scientologists or is used to defend "pornography".
The Libertarians aren't perfect but they are the party that comes closest to my ideal form of government - one that leaves you the heck alone unless you're violating the rights of another person.
It's funny, because I'm straight (married 26 years), don't use drugs, don't hire prostitutes, etc., but passionately feel people on the other sides of those coins have every right to live their lives as free as I do - as long as they don't hurt anybody.
I think most politicians, and even most voters (liberal and "conservative" alike) have forgotten the purpose of government (or more likely, like me for the longest time, never knew it). I believe it was Vin Suprynowicz that said he likes to ask elected representatives what they believe the purpose of government is. Most of them struggle for an answer and don't even come close - not realizing that the answer is provided for them in a document they should be very familiar with.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. -- Declaration of Independence, 1776
The purpose of government is to secure your rights, among which are (but are not limited to) to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. When the government does something, especially if it does something
to someone, it would be nice if it bore some resemblance to its purpose of securing those rights - as opposed to stomping all over them.
If you are a Republican and are offended by this, please note that I said "most Republicans that I know" are like the above. I don't likely know you, and you may not be like that at all. If you're a Republican that has an unfaltering commitment to the protection and support of your family, is patriotic, loves personal responsibility, truly favors a small government, and an even smaller Federal government, and believes the government should let people be if they are causing no harm, then the above isn't about you. And you too are probably a Libertarian.
Take
the quiz. You might be surprised.
Thus endeth the sermon. Sorry if I strayed way off topic.
