[JSDSKI]

CompetentOne -
Just found the things you associate with liberal thought interesting. I did assume that you meant them as negative examples - am I correct?

You raise property rights to a level society has found unusable in practice. All rights have limits in real life - with the consent of the governed. Most of the governed population do not consider social security, taxes, permits, or licenses to be interferences. They consider them benefits and necessary to conduct business and real life on an equal playing field. I pay taxes to support our country - I think it's a good and patriotic thing to do. Remember, one of the reasons the US was founded was the idea that taxation would be for the benefit of the governed rather than for some distant land or population - not for the elimination of tax.

Just one example, consider the earthquake death toll in countries that ignore or don't have "building permits" versus US death tolls - most people agree that "building permits" and contractors and engineers with "licenses" is a good thing. I am in that majority. The regulatory environment you describe - without these things - sounds like anarchy rather than liberty. Recent libertarian thought regarding taxes sounds more and more like philosophically justified selfishness rather than an expression of personal liberty.

If liberals are "substantially less business friendly" why is California so successful?
Why is national GPD higher (admittedly a small percentage) under Democratic vs Republican administrations?

A few idiots does not a conspiracy make. Again, most people do not want to take away your guns - they just want to reduce gun related violence. What is your solution?