We split with the conservatives on most of their desire to get government to enforce their “family values” or to enforce American values on other countries.

In fact, if you want to enforce something on individuals, we are probably on the other side.

The guys who are in trouble with the law should welcome a jail term; it will give them a chance to save themselves by preaching in jail. Since they are not part of the penal system, they won’t be running foul of the constitution while preaching to the prison population. Of course being invited to preach by any prison official would mean that someone’s breaking the law again.

There’s the classic liberatarian and want absolute minimal government interference in everything (which Chas appears to be.

There’s the states-rights libertarian who is in favor of small federal government but doesn’t seem to mind invasive government as long as it’s the local government doing it (most often them operate with the view that they will have significant influence over what local government does and so it’s invasions will be to their favor).

There’s the liberal libertarians who favor maximum civil rights for individuals but fairly strict regulation of business and focusing federal revenues on social programs.

There’s the big business libertarians who favor no regulation of business at all but want a strong police state to ensure a safe operating environment for their business.

And then there’s the most vocal* subset of libertarians who believe in small government except when they want the government to force everyone to hew to their personal beliefs, most often some form of Dominionist Christianity.

I’m sure I’ve left out at least a half dozen or more, including the ‘single issue/narrow spectrum’ libertarians who are largely apolitical except in the are of their specific interest(read: legalizing pot).

*not the largest group, just the loudest

Libertarians would extend civil rights to all sorts of people. This discussion mirrors my arguments with right wingers.

You’re using the traditional definition of “libertarian”. Unfortunately, the term has been appropriated by the right wing. Most people who call themselves “libertarian” now are either moderate Republicans who are embarrassed to admit to it, or are hard cases who think the Republicans have gone soft.

The libertarian philosophy I am familiar with is pretty much “Don’t boss me, don’t touch my stuff, I’ll do the same for you”.

I think the more common attitude of libertarians is “Don’t boss me, don’t touch my stuff, leave me be to do whatever I want and I’ll let you do whatever I want too.”