The Left-Right Division is about Gender

Well, kind of. At least that is the way Sharon Harris of the Advocates for Self-Government sees it. What gender of parent do you want government to be?

(Image: A fair criticism of Obama, but the hypocrisy is that ever since 9/11, under supposed right-wing government, police and military have steadily intruded on Western citizens' lives with the pretence of 'giving' security. Martial law might allow them to 'take away' every freedom we have.)

"Conservatives want the government to be your Daddy: a strict, authoritarian Daddy who forces you to be "good" according to his personal and often idiosyncratic definition of "good" -- even though you're an adult and may disagree with that definition. This Daddy punishes you severely for engaging in peaceful activities he condemns as sinful or unwise."

"Liberals want the government to be your Mommy: a smothering, obsessive, guilt-ridden, wildly overly-protective Mommy who, in order to protect you from any conceivable harm or error, constantly and severely restricts your freedom. This authoritarian Mommy also wants to force you to be "generous" to others. Should you disobey, this Mommy will punish you just as severely as her authoritarian conservative Daddy counterpart."

"In other words, both liberals and conservatives treat you like... a child. Libertarians, in stark contrast, want to treat you like an adult: free to make personal and economic choices for yourself. Which do you prefer? To be treated like a child, or like an adult?"