I like Libertarians because they are outspoken on issues of personal liberty. Its good to have them at your back in a fight.
Most Conservatives are what I call "small L" libertarians, and we have a lot in common. I have toyed with the idea many times of abandoning the Repubs for the Libs but I have not done so for the following concerns:
#1 Contrary to the above quotation, Libs seem to be very hostile to religion. I wonder if a believer can ever be comfortable with these guys.
#2 I am not ready to abandon the war on drugs. The fact that the war never ends doesn't bother me; the war against murder, and theft, and other kinds of crime never ends either. But I recognize that drugs are different; most of us are familiar with them at some level. But most of us have also had to fight to keep drug use out of our families. So before I am willing to legalize, I need to sort out a few issues:
If drugs are legal, by what right do we prohibit Madison Avenue advertising, promoting their use? If we legalize their use, do companies still have the right to refuse employment to drug users? Can we refuse public benefits to people who are unemployable due to their drug use? Can I shoot the guy who is trying to sell to my kids?
#3 There is nothing wrong with implementing immigration policies to exclude citizens of enemy nations, who are not refugees from those nations. There is nothing wrong with limiting numbers of immigrants to numbers that can be assimilated. I agree, though, and have said, that the Mexicans wading the river to look for work are not a danger to the culture... the leftists born here are a danger to the culture.
#4 A lot of Lib criticism of Repubs have to do with the fact that, as Repubs are part of the governing coalition, they are forced to deal with the fact that at least 50% of the voting public is socialist. Libs, once they are in actual elective office, and have to deal with the same realities, will have to face the same kinds of compromises. But Repubs have gotten used to being beaten up, and beaten down, and are maybe a little too quick to compromise. And Libs are effective in winning socialists over to our side, I assume due precisely to their more liberal stance on social issues like drugs, etc.
If drugs are legal, by what right do we prohibit Madison Avenue advertising, promoting their use?
The same "right" that was exercised to restrict the tobacco industry.
If we legalize their use, do companies still have the right to refuse employment to drug users?
Of course. Consider this: is a raging, skid-row drunk (whose "drug of choice" is perfectly legal) going to be able to be hired for anything until he cleans himself up? Unlikely.
Can we refuse public benefits to people who are unemployable due to their drug use?
I would like to say "yes" to this unequivocally, but considering how "compassion" is the order of the day among "conservative" as well as "liberal" politicians, the answer is unfortunately no. In a true libertarian society, however, there'd be no "public benefits": charity would begin at home, just like it once did in America before socialism took root. But consider this for the real world: how much money do we spend as a society to arrest, prosecute, and jail these unfortunates, and just how effective is it? I believe that if drugs such as heroin were legalized via prescription (like it was 50 years ago), the problems associated with chronic drug use (such as committing real crimes to get the money to pay for the habit) would be greatly reduced, and our cities would become much more livable.
Can I shoot the guy who is trying to sell to my kids?
It will become unnecessary. Do you hear of people shooting bartenders and liquor store clerks for selling booze to their children? Of course not, because the bars and liquor stores are lawful businesses, and their owners prefer not to lose their licenses for selling to minors.