How I Became a Libertarian

At one point in my life when I was younger 5 years previous to me writing this article I was naïve and full of good intentions. My addiction was being too merciful without proper discretion to my kindness. It sounds like as if I was addicted to the socialist call and Marx's call to revolution to overthrow those who exploit others in the name of profit. It sounded like good intentions, a liberal persona that would allow for every need to be met and every desire for more than what was needed to be extinguished.

Catchphrases like "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need" or "Universal Education/Healthcare" or "Workers of the world unite" have always seemed to offer a sense of something that was right and perhaps in some ways they are nice to have. However, I liked the catchphrases at the time because they were attractive to my naïve and good intentioned self that did not have the ability to know better. So this drew me in even further into socialism with the idea that the state could fix our problems, I figured that since we the people comprise the state they would be forced into taking care of us.

I Was Drawn In Particular to Democratic Socialism, in which the ideology that "Democratic Socialists believe that both the economy and society should be run democratically'"to meet public needs, not to make profits for a few." It seemed like a godsend that we would be able to lead the way as a society towards the improvement of the society as a whole for the greater good. Truly it was as if a prayer had been answered, but as time went on there seemed to be inconsistencies that had begun developing because as I got older my naïve, good intention ignorance that I had placed on such an ideology was beginning to fade.

2. Conspiracy Theorist Got The Best of Me

Although I was skeptical of the conspiracy theorist because I was still under the influence of societies group thinking that conspiracy theorists are "nuts" or "insane" I still nonetheless, with my good intentioned nature decided to give them the benefit of a doubt. I watched several conspiracy theory videos at first they were really abstract concepts such as the freemasons and illuminati '"it was at this time I had developed an interest of my own in the occult and esoteric philosophies. I than proceed down the ladder of abstraction to more down to earth conspiracy videos in which they discussed how central banks are determining the fate of a nation, to how we are moving towards complete integration until we have a one world communist dictatorship, I have also heard conspiracy theories that discuss how approximately 80% to 90% will die to set up a New World Order and a planetary population that would not exceed 500 million. These provided the basis of distrust, where the information war was on, I learned much from this information war and have seen much take place. I also viewed many documentaries that were not conspiracy but rather more mainstream such as John Stossel's "Stupid in America," "Why we Fight" and "IOUSA". These various videos provided the means to act as my new Thesis against the Antithesis of the New World Order.

It was at this time I became ultra-cynical about government, bankers, and corporations, the first conspiracy video that I was witness to was the whole 9/11 Truth Movement. Now, before stirring up controversy and discontent towards me I will say that the official story concerning 9/11 has left holes in it that have been unanswered, how much of what you will believe from government and these conspiracy theorists is entire up to you to decide. Nonetheless, I grew skeptical towards all governments everywhere and all organizations that I saw were only a pawn in the manifestation of this New World Order. This was my turning point where I realized that there was no hope for the practical application of socialism in this country or the world because of the mass corruption that existed.

That awareness began breaking down the hopes of a socialist society. However, I was still not disheartened I felt that if the rampant corruption was removed than perhaps we could still have socialism. What needed to be attacked and threatened was not the pragmatism of socialism to destroy my belief in it but rather the abstraction that need to be attacked and proven wrong in order to destroy my faith in socialism. It was around the same time as Ron Paul's Appearance during early 2008 that finally dealt that fatal blow.

3. Than Ron Paul Came About

A Republican who was not pro-war and did not want to tell others what they can and cannot do was the ultimate and true miracle, in the political world. As Ron Paul spoke while being (what seemed to be like) crucified by the panel and moderators as well as those who mocked him in the audience, I was awe struck; I thought "it is possible to be conservative while being anti-war and limited state." Here was a man that resonated well with my beliefs and of course the beliefs of others who felt the same way I did and knew the same things I knew. His arrival to the scene is what I describe as "just in the nik of time" I felt certain that what he said and what he started would not end and perhaps begin the process of reversing the tide of this New World Order of The Elite.

I learned many things from the man, both personally and in my investigation to his political philosophy. It was at this time that I came to the conclusion that the esoteric and occult philosophies used in unison with the political philosophy of Ron Paul would be a force that would offer the greatest good to humanity. It was him and the movement he started that encouraged me to look back to our founders and learn much wisdom from them that would allow for freedom and prosperity for all. Unlike the soap opera drama between Obama and Clinton, Ron Paul was a good man who taught while he spoke, not just promise us the things we wanted to hear so that we might win his votes. Unlike the Obama and McCain slap box match, Ron Paul continued his principled message of conservative fiscal spending even while the two "Republicrats" said we need to spend our way out of this situation.

Ron Paul and the movement he started have lead to the further increase in awareness of the benefits of what his ideas offer. The pragmatic information provided by Dr. Paul interestingly compliments the abstract notions of Conspiracy Theorists who hold on to the idea of a New World Order. This completion provides a new worldview and a new awareness that has done the number one thing I hoped socialism would have done and that is threaten the power base of those who exploit, lie and oppress.

4. I Am Now A Libertarian

So the old shell of socialism is no more in my mind, it is gone and uprooted because I realized that collectivism is not the way to life but to certain death. I realized that centralized power anywhere will fall to evil and corruption eventually, it is with such a realization that one notices that bankers and corporations not only collude with government in order to exploit others but become government in order to warp that exploitation into oppression. This cannot be allowed, when I hear the world equality I hear it as it should be that "everyone is equal under the eyes of the law and entitled to the same things as anyone else," that some may need to work harder in order get it but with that greater struggle comes an even greater triumph. However, when government and corporations hear the word equality they hear the word "lower the standards so that everyone may be brought down to the same level" but how would this lead to the development and growth of an individual? It does not; equality to government is the least common denominator in mathematics.

My final realization was that with only needs met, what would happen to the things people want? They would be reduced so as to address the needs of others according to socialist thinking, also known as re-distribution. However, that is not living either according to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs the pyramid does not end once basics have been met they move on into more individualistic matters, but with the socialist collectivist model these more individualist matters would be oppressed so that the needs of others would be answered. Thus socialism is a threat to the development and growth of the true individual and only conspires to hold the individual down. That was the final realization that put the nail in the coffin in my hopes for socialism.

At this time in my life, I could not be anymore sure of myself and what I have come to understand. I Am a Libertarian and proud of it, because I understand the purpose that is our Great Nation. The merger and maturity in my life over the course of these past 5 years has allowed me to be granted the opportunity to see how the world really works and with that awareness comes the responsibility to act upon it and share it with others. What I have come to understand fills me with an inner sense of prosperity and a life that is empowering. I am free, because I know I was once a slave and now I am breaking out from my shackles and chains that my former self and society has set before me.

This is What I Hold as True, because it is empowering and liberating. That which is empowering and liberating is this, that I am an individual my duty is to myself not in vain and narcissistic pride but in virtue and life, for that is what will free me. That my goal is not to submit to a life of joyless servitude but rather to expand and learn, that I might grow to new heights of awareness of just how powerful life and reality truly is. That my life shall no longer be based upon by fear, but rather all actions based on the courage and dignity to maintain the life that has been given to me, that although I might have to suffer and be humbled to maintain that I would rather do that, then submit my dignity and life for slavery and death. That is what I hold true because, that is what is empowering and liberating at all levels of my being.