The world is subtle... and that's why it's beautiful

Any time I post my political thoughts on this blog, inevitably someone in the comments or on Twitter will accuse me of being a far-left nut. I typically ignore people like that, because it's clear to me that they are not capable of understanding what I've actually written, and in their mind, and in these hyperpartisan times, anyone who isn't a far-right neocon must perforce be some sort of commie or socialist. In reality, my own thinking on political and social issues is more subtle. I am in many ways an individual libertarian (I think people should have far more personal freedom than they do in this country), a social liberal (I think one of the many roles of government is to help those who cannot help themselves, and to do what individuals and corporations cannot do or cannot be trusted to do), and a governmental conservative (in the actual ...