Of course, I have "read the sayings that are attributed to him [Jesus]".
And of course he never said anything "even vaguely libertarian".
However, Jesus is one thing, and Historical Christianity is quite another. Over the centuries, various Christian denominations developed theological and social views that would seem to be at complete odds with the Gospels.
Let's take poverty. The Calvinists, for example, took a much more Old Testament view: riches were, to them, a sign of "God's grace", whereas poverty was a sign one had fallen from grace. (Remember Job.) And today there are plenty of preachers down South who preach much the same message: i.e., riches come to those that (spiritually) deserve them. (And the poor are poor because they are naughty.)
Besides, it is quite possible -- and quite common -- for people to hold contradictory beliefs. They split themselves in two, operating with one set of values in one aspect of their lives, and with another in another aspect. Happens all the time, and it should not really surprise you that much. :-)
jbe
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