Freedom from the State sounds nice, but I suspect most of us are more dependent than we want to believe. The “Masters of the Universe” on Wall Street were a proud and independent bunch while the market was rising and credit was easy. See them clamor for bailouts and line up at the discount window now.

To some extent, the politically correct nanny state has arisen due to changes in technology and the degree of hyperspecialization our economy demands. But to at least an equal extent, it has grown due to the activism of committed (but I think largely misguided) people who were willing to spend their time and money, and occasionally even go to jail for their beliefs.

If libertarian folks want smaller government, they’ll have to get organized, which may represent a bit of a contradiction in terms. If it happens, the road is perilous. Our 1994 Republican friends in Congress wanted term limits and a smaller government, but ended up overstaying their welcome and fattening on pork.