Thanks, Amos. Some very good reading there. I'm going back to read the whole speech.

First, a disclaimer: I get confused looks from some libertarian pals, when I say that I'm one of them. Oh sure, I send money to the LP and routinely vote Libertarian in primary elections. I appeared as a keynote speaker at the California LP Convention, in 1998, and here at the national convention in July 2002.

On the other hand, I admit turning around and often voting for Democrats in general elections! I send cash to Greenpeace and the ACLU and support my local public schools. So what the hell am I?

After serious thought, I can only conclude that I must be a . . . (shudder) . . . pragmatist. David Brin