I grew up in Texas in the 80s. Ronald Reagan had just become president and the country was recovering from an economic malaise. Even as a young teenager, I could see the enthusiasm and excitement of ‘better days’. I was also very patriotic, so it made sense that I would quickly identify as a Reagan Republican. I loved my country, I thought we had and needed the best military in the world, and I believed in small government and more liberty for citizens.
I was too young to watch the nightly news (what we used to call mainstream media back in the day). So, I didn’t pick up on the criticisms of the Reagan administration. All I saw was the space shuttle program (including the Challenger disaster, and the return to space), Wall Street was booming, interest rates were coming down, my dad was making more money and buying us nicer homes and cars. I was a teenager and if felt like a golden age.
I joined the Air Force in 1989 and served until 1993. I got out, got married in 1995 and was focused on my career and planning for a family. I wasn’t overly concerned with the Clinton administration, but I listened to Rush Limbaugh and news radio ridicule and roast the Democrats throughout the 90s.
Then, in 2000, a Republican once again took office after 8 years of the Clinton administration. The cold war was over, the internet was booming (and I worked in the tech sector), and we had our first budget surplus since WWII. I was ready for a new republican administration to pay down the national debt, reduce regulations, and keep the economy growing.
One of the first things President George W. Bush did was to announce the era of ‘Compassionate Conservatism’. Rather than reducing the role of government in our lives, he wanted to spend money to ‘help’ people by expanding Medicare (Part D). I remember thinking: What happened to the ‘small government’ plank of the Republican party?
Also, the attack on September 11th shocked the nation. Of course I (like many of us) felt caught up in a wave of patriotism and wanted revenge. The war in Afghanistan to find Osama Bin Laden and bring him to justice seemed the right thing to do. But then, attention diverted from Afghanistan to Iraq. This was a highly partisan move with many Democrats openly opposed to it. I remember, however, many prominent Democrats urging then President Clinton to attack Iran back in 1997 and 1998. Of course, still looking through partisan lenses, I thought they were sleazy politicians who only wanted their side to enjoy a victory. In short, I was skeptical about Iraq, but my political leanings led me to reluctantly support it.
I was feeling less enthusiastic about the Republican party than ever before. Lots of spending on wars, no concern for the national debt; this did not reflect the party I had been in since I could first vote.
In 2006, I began learning about Libertarianism. I read Atlas Shrugged (7 times in 7 years). I read Rothbard and Mises. I watched Ron Paul’s campaign for the 2008 Republican nomination and was enthralled with his message. I was caught up in the Ron Paul Revolution. This, I felt, had some merit.
I’ve been a ‘conservative-learning’ Libertarian every since 2008, when I changed my party affiliation. You could say my politics are summed up in 2 short phrases:
Don’t hurt people, and don’t take their stuff. – Matt Kibbe
Libertarians believe foremost in the principle of non-aggression. Don’t start fights. Don’t use force to intimidate people. Don’t steal their property, their money, or their life. The use of self-defense against agressors is allowed (as is natural). But otherwise, if people aren’t imposing upon your freedoms or hurting you, leave them alone.
This aligned with my general thoughts on same-sex marriage, recreational drug use, and many other topics.
I can’t say that Libertarianism is a ‘pure’ ideology. There are factions within the tent. But, those disagreements can be met with honest, civil debate.
You’ll probably find my take on my social issues follow a generally libertarian world view, and I hope that I’ll be making good arguments in the writing you’ll find on this site.
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