Why Libertarians Lose
From John J. DiIulio Jr., former head of the Bush admin's faith-based initiatives office, writing in Chronicle of Higher Ed (link via Arts & Letters Daily):
Why is small-government conservatism so little honored by Republican policy makers even now that they control the Congress and the White House? Even a nonlibertarian like me can be moved by certain libertarian ideas and values (especially each April 15). The simple truth, however, is that most citizens, including most who are registered as Republicans, carp about taxes but, when push comes to shove, want–even demand–most of what "big government" does and delivers. No national politician can stay in office long or get things done legislatively if he or she always talks or routinely votes the way a committed libertarian should.
Whole thing here.