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...Libertarian principles are here to stay..

Yes, libertarian principles are here to stay. Principles like, support for abortion rights, legalization of drugs and prostitution, open borders and unlimited immigration, and a strong desire to dismantle both America's criminal justice system and military armed forces. The problem is, these principles aren't supported by a majority of conservatives. Conservatives view these major issues that Libertarians support, as fringe political extremism. Even most American's don't want anything to do with such an agenda.

Libertarian politics doesn't have a major following in America and never will. In the last general election for president, the LP candidate, Harry Browne, received less then 400K votes, out of over 100-million total votes cast. That's less the .04%. Even Pat Buchanan received more votes then Browne. That doesn't say much for the future of libertarian politics in America.

Libertarian politics doesn't have a major following in America and never will

You fail to distinguish the difference between ideas and elective politics. I agree that the LP is liikely to go nowhere, but it does appear that libertarian ideas are gaining, such as the ones the author listed.

If you try, you will be able to tell the difference. Try.

Unfortunatly Reagan Man, and a few others, your statements are only partial truths.

Most libertarians are not for "abortion rights" though a few are. Most are for making it illegal in each of their states. However, our contention is that it is NOT a FEDERAL ISSUE, and the SCOTUS does not have the right to legislate from the bench on what a State can or can not do in its sovereign capacity.

As far as legalisation of drugs (of any kind) under what section of the constitution does it say that they can limit what substance I put in my body. Just like anything, their are good and bad purposes for almost ALL drugs/chemical useage, and the big brother should not be determining how and when I use them. Haven't we learned anything about the prohibition? Legislation in that capacity does not limit crime, it creates it in an exponential fashion and makes stupid things (like drug use) the COOL thing to do. Start your own campaign, and I'll donate money to it in the private sector, and explain to everyone in commercials, flyers, etc... that drugs use for recreational use is bad for you and can kill you. But don't have big brother stop me from making higher grade clothes out of hemp becuase they say someone might get high on smoking their new well built pants.

Libertarians, generally, are not for unlimited immigration, just like most republicans are against abortion, but factions do support abortion. We are for free trade and individuals from outside, as long as they are not under investigation should be free to come here in trade just as we should be able to go elsewhere and trade without interference by anyone. It is your and my right to conduct our trade of choice without (or with very very limited) intervention by government. Bush is the one refusing to lock down our borders and allow the illegal immigration and pushing for amnesty for a bunch of criminals not the libertarians.

The notion of dismantling the criminal justice system is also absurd. We are for a much stronger criminal justice system, but only for CRIMES (abridgement of another persons life, liberty, or pursuit of happiness) not for not wearing your seatbelt or for some bonehead smoking a bong on his living room. Here is the difference between your philosophy and mine.

You are for, if your in possession of some drugs (of whatever type), go to jail for whatever amount of time or probation, whatever. Even if they haven't done anything. The response to your version of criminals is that it is either 1)The cool thing to do to rebel and to fit in showing your contempt of "authority" 2) An escape from "reality"

I am for if you want to smoke your bong or crack pipe, or whatever, thats fine. If your dumb enough to do it just becuase then thats your problem. Now if your in my house stealing a doller becuase it is so cheap now that it is not illegal to get your drugs, then you get either shot or arrested.

Either way someone who wants to drugs is going to do them. Making it illegal, just like the prohibition, makes the end users have to steal to get enough money to but the expensive stuff, and puts them in jail just for having it. But then it creates an upper class distributer market of criminal, that buys police and police departments, politicians, etc.. Creates an undue burden on the judiciary etc...

I would much rather deal with the consequences of to much liberty than to little.

Yes, libertarian principles are here to stay. Principles like, support for abortion rights, legalization of drugs and prostitution, open borders and unlimited immigration, and a strong desire to dismantle both America's criminal justice system and military armed forces.

Many of these aren't libertarian principles. Many libertarians are pro-life on the basis of when they believe a fetus becomes a human with full rights (in my case, I oppose abortion after viability, i.e., approx. 23 weeks).

Definitely most libertarians have no desire to dismantle the justice system or military. Protection of citizens from criminals within and enemies without are considered, by all but the most anarchist of libertarians to be legitimate roles of the government. Personally, I have a rather less isolationist view than the LP with regard to foreign policy.

The article is from the Cato Institute, not the LP. Try to keep up for a change.