Libertarianism

"Libertarianism is a long, clunky word for a simple, elegant idea: that government should do as little as possible. . . . [but] it doesn’t fit into the two-party paradigm. Libertarians want less state intrusion into the market, which aligns them with Republicans, but also less interference in social choices, which aligns them with Democrats. As Massachusetts governor William Weld put it in 1992, “I want the government out of your pocketbook and your bedroom.” -- Christopher Beam, "The Trouble with Liberty"

STTA. Libertarianism has long existed on the fringe of American politics, its appeal often esoteric and intellectual--although the current Tea Party movement has both passion and a strong libertarian (anti-government) bent. Still one wonders why such a seemingly popular idea has had such a hard time gaining a mass following. Your thoughts?