As a likely voter in the upcoming midterm elections, I am feeling decidedly unenthusiastic about the choices before me.

In this, I doubt I am alone.

While some may find their choices satisfactory, I’m not sure why anyone whose views are consistent would.

This is because, if we focus just on the two major parties, the choices are essentially two sides of the same inconsistent coin.

On the one hand, the Democrats can talk a good game when it comes to people’s right to be free from government intervention in personal affairs like marriage and government encroachment of civil liberties.

But they conveniently forget about individual rights when economic issues come up.

On the other hand, Republicans often hit the right notes on economic issues only to segue moments later into a discussion of why we must restrict foreigners’ freedom to enter our country and why we must continue to wage an immoral and unwinnable war on certain drugs.

The problem is this: Both major parties have the right idea about one class of issues (Democrats on the social issues and Republicans on the economic) but have mostly the wrong idea about the other.

On economic issues, Republicans tend to note, correctly, that free enterprise, free trade and minimal government regulation of commerce contribute to general well-being and rising living standards.

This, while true, is merely a consequence, not the cause, of capitalism’s inherent morality.

Far too few people understand the real reason behind capitalism’s goodness is the only economic system that respects and protects every individual’s right to run his own life as he sees fit.

Because of this, people do not seem to realize that this system of voluntary exchange to mutual benefit is the reason why economic freedom results in prosperity.

While Democrats irrationally appeal to collectivist sentiments, Republicans often make appeals to tradition without properly explaining what it is about this country’s traditions that makes (some of) them worthy of preserving or restoring.

In the face of these unpalatable choices, what’s a concerned, libertarian-minded voter to do?

I think the short answer is your guess is as good as mine.

One solution, however, would be to determine which set of issues is trending most reliably toward the freer end of the spectrum and vote for the party that has the better policies on the other set.

I think supporting Republicans would make more sense, as recent gains on the gay marriage and drug legalization fronts indicate a trend toward greater personal freedom at a time when economic freedom is more urgently under attack.

This method, however, like the two parties themselves, could certainly use some work.