I think it is absolutely absurd, and SCARY that the government would seek to enact and enforce laws that tell me what I can and can't to with my 'pinky bits' with outher consenting adults- even though my urges are consistent with the 'legal protion of the populace. I think it is absolutely absurd, and SCARY that the government would seek to enact and enforce laws that tell me what I can and can't inject, inhale, snort or place in my own body of my own free will- even though my behavior there is also consistent with the norm.

I tend to agree with you. And most liberals and other libertarians would as well. Yet if I were to ask the same liberal if a guy who earned two million dollars last year should be taxed at 90 percent, how many would agree that this was perfectly reasonable? So the objection to government coercion is tightly focused, at best. Flip the whole thing around, and you have many typical conservatives.

However, though, I think is not absurd that the society asks folks to pitch in a 'fair share'. How the gov't asks (the unbridled power of the IRS), the inequality of the tax system, the inefficiency, the additude, what a fair share really is etc. are all subjects that I think are worthy to discuss and challenge, but the idea of the govt, as a representative of the individuals in this society tapping us on the shoulder and reminding us that we are expected to pitch in is not something I find scary or frightening, or big-brother or immoral or etc.

Interesting that when you bring up taxes, it's "society" that is involved, not the government. Again, it's a mindset problem.

If "society" (and who exactly speaks for "society?") has the right to distribute your income, why doesn't "society" have the right to tell you what to do in other areas as well? Once you have decided that "society" is in charge, where does it end?

The drug laws (to use your example) also represent the will of the individuals in a society. A vast majority of American think keeping drugs illegal is a good idea. See the inconsistency? Only libertarians are really consistent in this area.

Lets face it. If it wasn't enforced, I don't think most people would pony up...

Yeah, and a lot of conservatives would tell you that if there weren't drug laws, everybody would become an instant addict. I don't buy that either.

I have also had guns held to my head by police, been harrassed by police and been otherwise tormented by police because at times in my life I fit 'the rights' notion of what bad folk look like (long hair, beard, drove a mean black loud motorcycle etc). I think anyone who looked 'odd' in the rural midwest rapidly learned just how hard the conservative elements of society can lean on you.

Never happened to me, since I never went out of my way to look like someone a cop would want to pull over. And I grew up in the Midwest. That is largely a matter of choice, isn't it? People who put rings in their noses, spike their hair, and wear leather studs and then complain that people judge them by appearances are a hoot.