Why I'm A Libertarian

I became eligible to vote shortly after I earned the Eagle Scout rank in the Boy Scouts. I had learned what it meant to be a citizen, and about the roles of the citizen and the government from my parents, from teachers at school, and through the scouting program. Proud of the right to vote, and understanding the awesome responsibility inherent in that right, I spoke with my parents about their views of the various candidates in preparation for my first vote. I was told that voting was a personal thing, and that I should form my own opinions about the candidates. That seemed right to me. After all, I would want to think that my personal vote was tainted by the beliefs of my parents. I then sat down to do what research that I could about the candidates.

I was disillusioned with the policies and actions of the then-current President and was not comfortable in voting for his main opponent because of his proposals, so I chose to vote for an independent candidate that year. As my family watched the election returns, my mother surprised me by asking me how I voted. I thought it was a personal decision, but I knew that the decision had been made and was now final, so I told her. When she learned that I had not voted for one of the main party candidates, she exclaimed that I had simply "thrown my vote away." After some discussion, I became convinced that she was right. I spent the next 25 years with this firmly ingrained as part of my personal political philosophy.

After serving in the U.S. Navy for six years, I worked in several different industries. No matter where I lived or worked, I was amazed to find out how few that took their duties as citizens seriously. Very few of my colleagues voted, most of whom claimed that it was a waste of time. "One vote doesn't matter" I would hear. I knew deep down that this was not so...that each election could be drastically different if everyone took the process seriously and voted. Nothing will change when there is an apathetic public; their failure to vote propagates the myth that a vote doesn't matter.

Later, while in the process of completing a college degree, I chose to fulfill a history elective with a class on the U.S. Constitution. We looked at the early history of the United States, and at how the Articles failed and the Constitution was formed. We also considered the various amendments to the Constitution...especially the Bill of Rights. This study led me to revisit my core beliefs, and to ask questions about patriotism, personal freedoms, and the political process. I began to reflect on the balance between the federal and local governments, and the role that government should have regarding individuals and businesses. And I learned what a Libertarian was.

I found that my personal beliefs were nearly identical to those of the Libertarian Party. I sought out a local Libertarian group via the Internet. I feel a need for change in nearly every issue that we discuss, whether it be regarding property rights, individual tax relief, or some other issue. While I would not call myself a revolutionary, I know that I can not be one of those who sit idle. I became a Libertarian and now enjoy the unity of purpose, and the common desire to change things for the better...not only for each of us as individuals, but for us locally and as a nation.

To sum it all up, I am a Citizen by birth, a Patriot by experience, and a Libertarian by choice.

Dave Washburn