If you are stupid enough to believe this poll indicates most Americans are Libertarians, then you are probably a Libertarian. This poll does not ask those questions about issues which actually separate Libertarians from the rest of the country.
For example, the Libertarians don't want to just audit the Fed, they want to end it. Why did the poll not ask this question? Because Libertarians can't take rejection.
Libertarians also want to legalize crack cocaine. Why did the poll not ask this question? Because Libertarians can't take rejection.
Libertarians also want to eliminate the FDA. Why did the poll not ask this question? Because Libertarians can't take rejection.
Libertarians want to shrink our Defense posture down to the size of a cub scout troop. Why did the poll not ask this question? Because Libertarians can't take rejection.
These and many other deliberately unasked questions will never be seen on an honest Libertarian poll.
I think there is a big problem with what you are saying. Namely, the fact that Libertarianism is poorly defined. We need only look at those who are self professed Libertarians to see that. There are some very liberal Libertarians, and some very conservative Libertarians. Some of them hold contrasting feelings about some issues.
From where I sit, Libertarianism is emerging as an alternative to the traditional right/left, Republican/Democrat dichotomy that currently exists in our politics. Most especially, people seem to begin gravitate toward Libertarianism as a way to avoid the inherent contradictions on both sides of this old system. This creates substantial diversity within the Libertarian camp.
Libertarianism in the 21st century, therefore, is a gap bridging position for many people. Inasmuch as most people in the US are not extremists within the left/right spectrum, it's not unreasonable that most people could be "plotted" as being Libertarian based on an assessment of their positions on a variety of issues.
I based my statements on official Libertarian policy planks. I have documented these planks many times on this forum. Usually when someone posts yet another lie-by-omission poll about how Libertarian Americans really are.
Americans are not Libertarian. That's why the LP scores only about 3 percent in elections.
If you polled Americans on truthful Libertarian Party planks, you would quickly see how unpopular Libertarians are. You would lose most Republicans just on the Defense issue alone.
Seems silly to use election results as a vehicle for seeing who Americans most agree with, at this point.
If the actions and rhetoric of politicians regarding campaign funds and lobbyists are any indication, money buys a lot of votes. Otherwise Democrats wouldn't be shitting bricks over Citizens United and Republicans wouldn't be foaming at the mouth about where union funded political donations end up.
I'm sorry, but the fact that the libertarian candidates tend to get wrecked come election time says to me more than the wealthy special interests aren't libertarian than it says that the country isn't.
That said, I can't help but think there's some logic to your conclusion, if not the path by which you've reached it. Very few people are truly libertarian, though most will seem to be if ask the proper questions. Essentially, if you ask someone whether or not they feel that the government should be allowed to regulate the rights that rank highly on their personal list of values, EVERYBODY comes off like a libertarian. The sad fact of the matter, however, is that the majority of people out there, both those that consider themselves left and right of center (even those who define their views as moderate), enjoy a duality of philosophy that allows them to reconcile regulating those same rights when they don't feel that said rights are as important as X. (Take your pick on the value of X, though it usually boils down to security or the satisfaction of some dogma or other).
Democrats generally don't want the government telling people what to do with their bodies. Don't tell women whether to use birth control. Don't tell me I can't smoke a little pot (though that one's far less universal in the D party). On the other hand, fat people cost a lot of money, so go ahead and tell them they can't eat trans fats. My body is sacred. . . those fat *****? Not so much. Nationalize their meat, just don't do it to me.
Republicans, same deal. When they wanna be the party of small government, it's 10th amendment this and federal overreach that. When it comes to marijuana, though? 10th who?
THe libertarian outlook is that the ideal society is one where the government is minimal (essentially there to protect the borders, build/maintain roads, bridges, etc, and enforce the laws that keep people from oppressing eachother) and each individual is allowed to pursue the values of his or her own conscience. On the back half, everyone is a libertarian because everyone wants to pursue the values of his or her own conscience (that's what makes them the values of his or her own conscience). In my experience, however, the vast majority of people are not satisfied to allow others to pursue their own values when they don't feel that those values are appropriate. Most people in the US, and to an even greater degree most people on the planet, are decidedly un-libertarian, much to the detriment of all.
Edit: I wanna make a t-shirt that says, "JESUS SAID MIND YOUR OWN FUCKIN BUSINESS!"
Eventually one'll come to me to piss off stereotypical leftists with the same sentiment.
