The idea that people's political leanings can be expressed on a one dimensional spectrum like 'left/right', is more than just absurd, it is 'highly' misleading, resulting in an utterly skewed political landscape and people having really no clue as to who is where. I am fiscally extremely 'conservative, but socially I am extremely liberal. Does that make me a centrist? I do not believe in middle sized government and moderate government control of people's social lives.

A two dimensional spectrum makes vastly more sense, as on such a spectrum, people's different positions actually can then be accurately placed. (Technically a multidimensional spectrum would make even more sense, but that is both difficult to discuss and impossible to easily display.) The two dimensional chart that has gained by far the most support is the Nolan Chart, displayed below.

You can take a quick survey online to show you where you fall on this chart, in case you aren't sure. Go to:  http://www.nolanchart.com/survey.php

The Statist: Give me 10% of your money and 10% of your freedoms, my bureaucrats can spend your money better than you can, because we are nobler than you.

The Libertarian: No, this is my money and these are my freedoms, you have no right to steal them away.

The Statist: I will give you an illusion that you have some say in the theft of your money and freedom. You must compromise! Give me 5% of your money and 5% of your freedoms and then we will all bask in how reasonable we all are.

And so is born the state.

*

The Statist: Give me 20% of your money and 20% of your freedoms, my bureaucrats can spend your money better than you can, because we are nobler than you.

The Libertarian: No, this is my money and these are my freedoms, you have no right to steal them away.

The Statist: I will give you an illusion that you have some say in the theft of your money and freedom. You must compromise! Give me 10% of your money and 10% of your feedoms and then we will all bask in how reasonable we all are.

And so grows the state.

*

The Statist: Give me 40% of your money and 40% of your freedoms, my bureaucrats can spend your money better than you can, because we are nobler than you.

The Libertarian: No, this is my money and these are my freedoms, you have no right to steal them away.

The Statist: I will give you an illusion that you have some say in the theft of your money and freedom. You must compromise! Give me 30% of your money and 30% of your freedoms and then we will all bask in how reasonable we all are.

And so grows the state.

*

The Statist: Give me 70% of your money and 70% of your freedoms, my bureaucrats can spend your money better than you can, because we are nobler than you.

The Libertarian: No, this is my money and these are my freedoms, you have no right to steal them away.

The Statist: I will give you an illusion that you have some say in the theft of your money and freedom. You must compromise! Give me 50% of your money and 50% of your freedoms and then we will all bask in how reasonable we all are.

And so grows the state.

*

Until finally the Libertarian realizes that they have compromised away virtually everything, their property and their freedom has been nickled and dimed away, they have compromised themselves to the level of serfs without a shot fired in defense of freedom. And then they wonder if perhaps it is not time for the tree of liberty to once again be watered with the blood of patriots. The Statist gets wind of their thoughts and warns; The State has the guns, you will obey the State, you will submit, or the State will send men with guns to kidnap you and lock you away and if you dare resist them, the men with guns will kill you.

And thus the true nature of the Statist is revealed. The Statist is not the noble one, the Statist is the one who believes in force, the rule of the gun, the embodiment of might makes right, the State is violence. The State is the gun in the room.