that 40% of the TER survey participants on political alliance identify themselves as right-wing (whether "just" right or "far" right), by far the biggest group, when it is a long stated goal of the political right to eliminate the specific types of freedom and pursuit that TER represents?

Perhaps they are more in tune with the right's more pro-business policies and their lower taxes stance.  Although when it comes to social issues you would think hobbying and the right have little in common.

Being a mild righty myself, who voted in the TER pole btw, I would like to point out it is the stated goal of the religious right and the dipshit politicians who pander to their intrusive beliefs and efforts for no better reason than to garner votes.  It's a whole bunch of intrusive BS IMO.  Lastlyll, each party has it's own version of the thought police and I find both distasteful.

Many members of the political left oppose forms of adult entertainment under that grounds that they believe it exploits women.  I'm sure if you polled all the Democratic candidates for President about their views on prostitution you'll discover that they all oppose legalization.  They can't afford to upset the liberal base of support that includes feminists.

The only state that currently has legalized prostitution has historically been Republican controlled (but now trending Democratic).

I personally do not base my political beliefs on my own experiences. Also, just because I enjoy the hobby, is does not mean that my main goal in life is to have it legalized or vote for those that want to. This hobby and it's related subjects are the last thing that I look at when deciding on whom I vote for. Just for me, there are far more important issues in this world.

I wish they would have included libertarian which generally is fiscally conservative and socially liberal and not left, right or in the middle.

dawctor

Ditto on Libertarians!

All good responses and not worth repeating, but adding...

It is also highly likely that there is a higer percentage of educated, white collar, $50k++ wage earners who use the net, and hence the politically center-right audience on TER.

All of the socialists I know (which are quite a few in SD) have no computer skills or do not speak english... so they were never polled.

The right caters to ignorant masses of people who are sucked into any hot issue. Weapons of Mass Destruction(where are they?) The link between Saddam Hussein and Al Quida (Where is it?) The growing deficit and the right's belief in the balanced budget amendment is just another example. The right will be happy to hire law enforcement to arrest you as they party with their paid help. I bet there are providers on this board who have seen rightest politicans professionally. Any takers?

and I know a sucker bet when I see one.

I marked myself as right-wing in this poll, when actually I'm Libertarian.  First of all, the Libertarian party is not just the "Legalize it" party.  The goal of libertarianism is right in the name, liberty.  It's your money.  Use it as you see fit.  It's your life.  Live it as you see fit.  The only two useful functions the federal government performs, national defense and care of the national parks, could be more than paid for with a 1c sales tax.  Maybe if they didn't have to worry about saving us from ourselves, they could do a better job of both.  Everything else can be done either through volunteerism or private enterprise.
Ideally, we would live in a moneyless communal society.  Until then, at least give us our freedom.