To Diagnose Your Political Ailment...

My mother sent me the World's Smallest Political Quiz, and I answered the 10 questions.

And, "a la peanut butter sandwiches!' - there's a new label people can use on me. A Libertarian. I'm not shocked, really. I'm not impressed, either, and I don't think it's a very revealing test except for what other people want to call me. We like labels.

"Nevermind that Taran fellow. He's a libertarian." At least now they have a label as an excuse. ;-)

The site itself was all prepared for me being shocked about the whole thing. Advocates For Self-Government wheeled in a support group when I showed up on their radar as a Libertarian. All these Libertarian Resources.

But I'll let you all in on my little secret. The test didn't change who I am. It doesn't even define who I am. It does say that a large group of people have similar thoughts about some things. I didn't read a bunch of libertarian literature. I didn't study to join a group. I just thought things over and came to my own conclusions, like everyone else should.

I'm leery of a 'libertarian philosophy'. I'm more of an individualist than someone who would wander around and follow someone else's philosophy. Ultimately, I believe that I am responsible and accountable for things that I am involved in. That this fits into the libertarian philosophy makes intuitive sense, but a libertarian philosophy makes me think of herding cats versus cattle.

And it's a little strange to say that Lao Tzu was a libertarian, before the 'movement' started. 'Movement?' Yes. Apparently there's a movement. There's even a list of celebrity libertarians if you want to be cool.

So I dunno. It's an interesting test to take. It didn't change my mind about things. Maybe the world would be better if everyone thought like a libertarian, but then a lot of other groups thought the same thing in the past. I'd prefer to lose the label and work toward progress instead of making the label the goal.

I'll leave the politics to the politicians. I just speak up when I feel I have to. No politics. I don't know if I'll buy their lemonade, but the Advocates For Self-Government certainly have a nice stand that you should probably check out.