Some would call the current U.S. government a radical government acting on radical ideas such as the risk-taking idea of reforming social security and Bush's position on education. Personally, I think overall conservatives are really attempting to preserve the liberal ideas that America was founded on. Whatever happened to reducing government and increasing American's ability to make their own choices? If you look at the issues, I think most Americans would actually agree with about 50% of the positions on both sides. Yet each person seems to focus on those issues that are most important to them and go with the side that supports that position or stay with a party out of loyalty and history. The media attaches negative terms to the far-right and the far-left when in fact, most Americans fall in the middle. The Libertarian party looks better and better everyday in comparison.

I agree with much of what you've said - but keep in mind that there are libertarians with a little 'l' and a big 'L'. The latter have promoted some pretty whacky things, like heavy promotion of NAMBLA, dismantling much if not all of the military, etc. There are many libertarians (the former) who sincerely believe in reducing the role/size of the government to what it should be doing (protecting the rights of citizens)....but the party itself has supported some pretty perverted causes.

Kevin