One of the big problems I have with the use of such terms here on Mudcat in particular, is that political *parties* and their policies are not necessarily identical to the political *philosophy* which they adopt to define themselves.

Hence when I describe myself as a libertarian, it may or may not have much to do with the American Libertarian party and their policies - AFAIK. Yet an American reader might misconstrue my post to mean 'I'm a supporter of the Libertarian political party', rather than 'I define myself as a libertarian thinker.'