[GoodCallYouWin]

"I doubt very much that libertarianism is a popular ideology. "

I think you're correct. Ever since man arose from the swamps, there has been a tendancy towards collectivism. By organizing into nation states and city states, and seperating ourselves from the rest of the world, as one group above the rest, we allowed pockets of culture to grow. Ever since the Sumerians people have been moving in favour of collectivism and authoritarian systems; the arguments for collectivism are base and simple. 'us against them' or 'we are the best' or 'they are evil' or 'this is how it is, accept it' etc. etc. etc. The arguments for liberty and freedom are seem overly subtle and vague. Why should one man, through individual rights, be allowed to stand up to one million? Why should the rights of the individual trump the desires of the majority?

Until you've seen it work so perfectly, it's almost impossible to understand.