As a social liberal (in most regards) and a fierce conservative otherwise, I don’t see how the social cons can play nice with the libertarians unless the two groups can ‘agree to disagree’ on the social issues, or at least find a balance whereas social cons won’t push for any expansion of government or of regulation in general to achieve their social goals, but rather are willing to work within a libertarian framework, for example to lobby for laws whereas the federal and state governments will agree it is none of their business to regulate social behavior and the libertarians will (naturally) agree that they won’t get involved in expanding any federal regulation of social issues, and will leave such issues to the states.
Both parties can be pleased if the states are given primacy over the federal government, so as each state can vote for the norms and social policies they want so long as they aren’t in opposition to already established federal laws.
The main goal of both the social cons and the libertarians should be to stop the growth of federal government, which is the poison that will destroy both groups. As the government assumes the roles traditionally left to church and family, social cons and libertarians will both see their interests smothered by the nanny-state. It’s time to take the power back and give it to the people, to the states. Otherwise, our boats are sunk.
