Paradox

A libertarian leaning Conservative guy, I was formerly a pseudointellectual liberal. I voted for MONDALE AND THEN DUKAKIS! I remember quite well the smugness with which I looked down upon Republicans and Conservatives.

The one good thing of my liberalism at the time, was that it demanded that I remain open minded (dont most liberals say that? Yet they are usually the opposite). I became an "independant", then decided that the libertarians were the most logically consistent and correct folks out there. From that standpoint, I was able to look down my nose at BOTH parties and REALLY feel Superior!

But no matter how hard I tried, it was hard to ignore the fact that the Republicans were far more right on the issues than the Democrats. Socially, I became more conservative as I realized the importance of cultural values.

I still am a registered "independant", but I usually side with the Republicans. I am not afraid of voting for a third party (Constitution or Libertarian) in an election that is not going to be close.

I favor TruCost Governing. Every citizen should be exposed to the real and total cost of what he is consuming, be it physical goods or services. There are too many hidden costs and subsidies, that the vast majority of people don't have the proper information to make an informed decision.

Stupid Conservative Tricks:

Intelligent Design/Creationism
Anti-Flag Burning Amendment.
Conspiracy Theories
Knee-Jerk anti-environmentalism

(more as they come to mind...)

"People have always understood that love is the primary path to salvation, but they’re often confused about the details. For instance, when a woman loves a man, it almost always includes her desire to save him. When a man loves a woman, it almost always centers around his desire to save himself."

Aenea Keats , a main character from the Hyperion/Endymion books by Dan Simmons.

"Democracy tends to ignore, even deny, threats to its existence because it loathes doing what is needed to counter them."

Jean-Francois Revel

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."

C. S. Lewis