How to Become a Libertarian

How to become a libertarian.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Healthy distain for arbitrary authority
• A brain
• The ability to reason
• A good sense of humor

1. 

   Decide whether you actually believe that others should be able to do as they wish so long as they do not infringe on the rights of others. Many people say they agree with this statement, but upon further reflection are troubled by the thought that their neighbor would be able to engage in drug use or homosexuality without penalty, even if such actions had no impact on anyone other than the neighbor.

2. Libertarians like beer, generally

   * Become comfortable with the fact that if you identify yourself as a libertarian you immediately place yourself outside of the current political mainstream. At cocktail parties if you start talking about the illegitimacy of taxes people may wander away. What I have found however is that about an equal number come over to talk. There are many libertarians that are in the closet. After a few beers you figure out who they are.

3. 

   Read. Read Reason Magazine, read Hayek, Milton Friedman, Ayn Rand, Murray Rothbard, Mises, and the United States Constitution. Become informed so that those general libertarian inklings become richer and deeper opinions.

4. Double Eagle. Good stuff!

   Buy some precious metals if you can, even if it's just a symbolic statement. Understanding the economics of "real money" meaning gold and silver is very important. To own gold and silver is to have immutable wealth. It's the only investment you can make for your great grandkids. It is also despised by central bankers who seek to expand the money supply and the state by extension.

5. Peace and money-2 great tastes that go together

   Get involved. There are actually many fellow libertarians out there and the internet has made it much easier for us to find each other. Join a Ron Paul Meetup group, or go to the local libertarian group meetings. Write letters to the editor. Network with other libertarians via social networking sites. There is really tons of stuff out there.

6. 

   Don't hide your opinions. Of course don't force them on others either. But it is important that other people know you are a libertarian and that it's not really that radical an outlook on the world. If people see that good, honest, hardworking people identify themselves as libertarians perhaps libertarianism might, just might, become mainstream.

Tips & Warnings

• Some libertarians will try to "out libertarian" you. They may question your "purity." Let them. Libertarianism has many different hues. Libertarians do not have to agree on every point.

• Once you start down the libertarian road you are unlikely to ever turn back to the nonsense that passes for political theory nowadays.

Resources

• Econoland Blog
• The Libertarian Party