The left right division does not work you need to consider libertarian and authoritarian dimensions. There is a fascinating test that has evolved over the years that illustrates these dimensions. I used it in the years I taught and also used it on self styled Republicans. One warning this test seems to infuriate Republicans. Modern day Republicans fall much further on the right (economic planning) than fascists such as Hitler who was basically a moderate Keynesian (made trains run on time). On the authoritarian scale he was off the chart along with the likes of Stalin who moved to the left on a planned economy. I think we are seeing something new with modern day Republicans. Never before such lack of governmental planning and self entitlement. The ravings of the Tea Party such as Bachman, removal of voting rights is moving them much higher on the authoritarian scale just below the murders of the twentieth century. When the unhinged libertarians such as Ron Paul sound reasonable it is because some part of them rejects authoritarian dogma yet they reject any economic regulation which allows authoritarians to dictate.

Try it out for yourself I am a left of center libertarian. See link: http//www.politicalcompass.org/analysis2/: