Do You Feel Like Neither Party Represents You?
You believe in free speech — but also in free markets. You want the government out of your personal life — and out of your wallet. You think people should be free to make their own choices, as long as they don't harm others.
If that sounds like you, you're not alone. Millions of Americans feel the same way — and they feel like they have nowhere to turn in today's political landscape.
You're politically homeless.
You're Not Alone
According to polls and surveys, a growing number of Americans identify as politically independent. They reject the two-party system not out of apathy, but because neither party reflects what they actually believe.
- You might agree with progressives on civil liberties and personal freedom — but disagree on economic policy.
- You might agree with conservatives on fiscal responsibility and limited government — but disagree on social issues.
- You might think both parties spend too much, regulate too much, and fight too much — while accomplishing too little.
The problem isn't you. The problem is the outdated way we think about politics.
Politics Isn't Just Left vs. Right
The traditional left-right political spectrum forces all beliefs onto a single line. You're either a liberal or a conservative. Left or right. Blue or red. But real political beliefs are far more complex than that.
The Nolan Chart, developed by political scientist David Nolan in 1969, reveals what the left-right model hides: political beliefs have two dimensions, not one.
- Personal freedom: How much control should government have over your personal choices?
- Economic freedom: How much control should government have over your economic activity?
When you map beliefs this way, a whole new landscape emerges. Suddenly, there's room for people who support freedom in both dimensions — not just one. There's room for you.
A Home for the Politically Homeless
Many people who feel politically homeless discover, when they look at the Nolan Chart, that their views have a name: libertarian.
Libertarianism is the philosophy that individuals should be free to live their lives as they choose, as long as they respect the equal rights of others. It combines the best of what people value on both sides of the traditional spectrum:
- Personal freedom — like progressives, libertarians defend civil liberties, free speech, privacy, and the right to live as you choose.
- Economic freedom — like conservatives, libertarians support free markets, property rights, low taxes, and limited government spending.
- Peace — libertarians advocate a foreign policy of diplomacy and trade rather than intervention and war.
This isn't a compromise or a "middle ground." It's a consistent philosophy rooted in the idea that voluntary cooperation produces better outcomes than government coercion — in every area of life.
Operation Politically Homeless
The Advocates for Self-Government has been reaching out to the politically homeless for decades through our program called Operation Politically Homeless (OPH). At fairs, festivals, and campus events across the country, OPH booths use an interactive, visual approach to help people discover where they really stand on the political map.
Thousands of people have had their "aha moment" at an OPH booth — realizing for the first time that their mix of beliefs isn't contradictory or unusual. It's libertarian.
Find Out Where You Really Stand
The World's Smallest Political Quiz can show you in just a few minutes where you fall on the Nolan Chart. You might discover that you've been libertarian all along — you just didn't know there was a word for it.
Free. No signup required. Takes about 2 minutes.
Explore the five political types and see which one resonates with you:
- Libertarian — personal and economic freedom
- Conservative — economic freedom, traditional values
- Progressive — personal freedom, economic regulation
- Authoritarian — more government in both areas
- Centrist — a mix of views across dimensions