Now here's a clever observation from a commenter in Grant McCracken's wonderful blog:

"Commerce is to the left as sex is to the right."

This little thesis is developed nicely, with the following wonderful, and I think oddly apropos, punchline:

"Of course, by this model, libertarians suddenly become godless, amoral hedonists and Marxist gender-theorists become elitist, puritannical killjoys."

Indeed.  I'm proud, in fact very proud, to proclaim myself a godless amoral hedonist with respect to both sex and commerce (and rock and roll for that matter)! 

Seriously, I do find this an interesting way to cut the issues and it does explain the way in which I find both the Left and Right to be "puritans" of one sort or another.