Here is where I fall on some issues, some would call me a libertarian:

[The Straight Story]

1. Your body, your choice - all for that (see below though)

2. Government regulations - all for them when it comes to companies like coal mines, banks, etc and so on. Also feel that there should be common sense in it all, like a company with only 5 people working there is not the same as one with 500 - and different rules/regs should apply (see more below again)

3. Education - more power to the teachers who are there each day, and less power to the few in DC. I trust our teachers more than I do politicians. Which of the two is there day to day with the kids and has more experience in education?

4. Unions - companies pull together their investors and such (banks who loaned them money, insurance companies who have a lot vested in them, etc) all the time for their own benefit. Why shouldn't employees do the same? Pull together and bargain for the best deal. Makes sense. Not having unions seems to me rather un-American and anti-capitalist. If my time and skills are a commodity why wouldn't I do the most I can to leverage my time (an investment)?

5. Here is the 'below though' - smaller companies, like Joe's bar and grill. He and his family run it. Less regulation will help them. Want to offer a non-smoking bar? You should be allowed to. Want to offer a place where people can eat peanuts and throw them on the floor? OK. Want to allow patrons to smoke? OK. Big companies have often had more restrictions than smaller ones (and it varies by industry - try throwing peanut shells on the floor of a factory), for several good reasons.
In a small town a guy/gal can open a little place. If they all smoke some would tell them they cannot do so at work because it harms the workers - even if all smoke. Patrons and workers have a choice, I don't favor removing it.
If someone opens a bar where they let each other throw rocks at each other I would not object, I just would not go there. But I don't see the point in restricting their freedom to do so. I have a choice, and I like that others have choices as well.

6. Abortion - some feel a fetus feels pain after so many weeks. Others say that if you don't want to have a baby don't have sex. I say leave it up to the individual - which I also feel strongly about in other issues (which is why I get labeled a libertarian). It is not my business. You and your choices over your body are your business.

7. Size of Government. Big in some areas, small in others. After all, WE are the government AND the people. I am all for pooling our resources together via taxes for the good of us all. From helping the homeless, the sick, the unemployed to companies that may need some help to stay afloat and keep people working. Sharing resources helps us all.

8. Home Schooling - I am all for it. But then I am all for choice. One size does not fit all - that is the mantra of the right 'be like us and all will be better'. No. I prefer letting individuals being themselves. Not everyone is meant to be an engineer, MBA, artist, writer, etc. Some do well in public education, some in private schools, some in home school, etc. Choice. A word I cherish. If that makes a libertarian then so be it.

9. College and Health Care - fund it. Raise my taxes. I would rather pay for those things than war. Health and education will do more for us all then war and death. I want smaller gov't in some areas, but not in other areas.

10. Religion and such - keep it out the government, and keep the government out of it as well. It goes back to above: choice. Leave me the hell alone. If I want to drink myself silly, my business. If me and my friends want to go to the bar and smoke - none of your business. If I want to grow and smoke pot, my business and not yours. If my choices lead me to be more sickly than others - that is my choice, if you want to make it your choice be prepared for me to start being involved in your choices as well. Freedom and choices have a cost, one that I am willing to pay for.

If the above makes me a libertarian then so be it. I am for gay marriage, abortion, government regulations, etc. I am pro-choice. I also try to be consistent in how my beliefs map out across a larger spectrum.

There are gray areas, which is why I am all for debate on them.

[BlooInBloo]

1. YOU'RE NOT OUTRAGED OVER KFC'S DOUBLE DOWN????

Membership in the self-proclaimed "true progressive" club, revoked.

[The Straight Story]

3. I think we should ban it. It is the only way to protect people.

If we let them choose, they might make choices we don't approve of - or that the pope does not like.

Control - it is great for others...

[LeftyMom]

2. I seem to recall you've posted your manifesto before,

I'm not entirely sure why explaining your political philosophy merits a thread of it's own. Have you considered starting a blog?

[The Straight Story]

4. A blog? Naw, will just post here. It seems to irritate the anti-choice fundies.

Which actually gives me a great deal of pleasure.

[pitohui]

5. my body, my choice but my business and i hire people, needs to be regs

maybe in your area it's different but around here small business is owned by republican fuckwits and joe's bar and grill will definitely violate the rights of anyone unfortunate enough to work for him

i should not have to give up my right to breathe to have a job -- small business has too much power relative to its importance in the economy as it is

joe's bar and grill not only wants to blow smoke up my nose but they don't wanna pay me overtime, they want me to clock out and then do clean up after hours UNPAID, i get paid only by tips, they want to give any donations to republican fascists like david duke and david vitter, and they will never willingly pay me benefits for health insurance, vacation time, etc.

until we acknowledge that a great many small businesses are fascist/extreme rightwing republican who want to take from the economy and take from america and NEVER give back we are not living in the reality based world, sorry

it's similar to your point about "home schooling" where you basically say, ok, some people are stupid and if they want to be home schooled, fine, it's their choice -- honestly, do you think they CHOSE to be stupid? their PARENTS are stupid and want their kids to be stupid in their turn, the kid's only hope is to get OUT from under the thumb of the home school -- i don't know any doctorates/phDs who are qualified to teach all the sciences, maths, languages, english, etc. but some moron baptist with a GED should be allowed to home school their kids and keep them stupid too? that isn't "choice," that's deciding a child's future and a child's mind is less important than placating an ignorant fuckwit

[SocialistLez]

6. I agree with a lot of your points

and I'm a socialist.

A lot of libertarians however seem to be very anti-union. At one point I thought I was libertarian but I don't agree with all this "free market" bull.