 According to Reason 's Julian Sanchez , Firefly 's cult following " seems to include a disproportionate number of libertarians . " The story themes are often cautionary about too @-@ powerful central authority and its capacity to do bad while being considered by the majority as good . The characters each exhibit traits that exemplify core libertarian values , such as the right to bear arms ( Jayne , Zoe ) , legal prostitution ( Inara ) , freedom of religion ( Book ) , logic and reasoning ( Simon ) , and anti @-@ conscription ( River ) . Joss Whedon notes this theme , saying " Mal is , if not a Republican , certainly a libertarian , he 's certainly a less @-@ government kinda guy . He 's the opposite of me in many ways . " 
