I have never been interested in politics. I believe I was born at a perfect time in history so I have never HAD to be concerned with politics. It didn’t matter because everything has been so good and we have had such a good life. I say that often and truly believe it. Now, however, I am worried about our country. I am patriotic – I love America, I love the US, I love this country. But it’s flailing and failing. I am getting more and more interested in the politics of it all. What makes this country tick? Is there anything I can do to help?
So, I started reading about it. Mike started reading about economics and politics a few years ago. He would pass along some articles here and there, but I never really got it. Never really cared. I hated econ in school, thought it was boring, so why would I care about it now? Now, however, I read about it everyday, and find it absolutely fascinating. I love the learning, yes I do!
I used to be a Democrat. Yep, I was. Mike was too. Up until just a few years ago even! I believe it’s how we were taught in school. Government is good. The bigger the better…it will take care of us! We were brainwashed – I don’t even really remember being taught other philosophies. Keynesian economics (don’t think I even learned that it was called that in school) is all that is taught, so how are we supposed to know that Austrian economics makes more sense and why isn’t it taught in schools? It’s irritating. Anyway, Mike and I did really well during the Clinton era. Really good. It’s when we made our money. I have since learned that it wasn’t because of him 
but since it was good during that era, I was impressed with him, and the democratic way.
Then things started to go wrong under Bush, and now Obama. For me. For my family. For the country. I started to get a bit worried. What could we do? Read. Read. and Read some more. Learn about it. Big government was failing me! How was it possible? It’s not what I was taught in school, how could it be?
Then Mike started to talk about being a Libertarian. Huh? What? I read more. Learned more. And figured out that Libertarianism is just plain common sense. Everything under the Libertarian philosophy makes sense to me. And the more I talk to other people about it, the more they realize that hey, I might be a Libertarian, too! It’s amazing that there is a political philosophy out there that explains everything that makes sense to me. I am enjoying learning more and more about it every single day. Every.Single.Day. Lewrockwell.com is my favorite, and an excellent resource. I also really respect and admire John Stossel, who turned from a big government advocate to a libertarian (because it also was logical and common sense to him!). We watch his show every week – haven’t missed one since it debuted. I have learned SO much from those 2 resources alone! Amazing. They have opened my eyes to logic and common sense.
And I can’t forget to mention Ron Paul of course. In 2008, Mike campaigned a bit for him here – he had a lot of fun doing that. We have a faded Ron Paul 2008 bumper sticker on the truck – it will soon be joined by a Ron Paul 2012 sticker. We heard him speak last year when he came through Boise. It was packed, and so very very interesting. I loved listening to him, and truly, passionately, with all my heart, think he is one of the very few people who could actually turn this country around. I really want this country to turn around, too, because I want to be able to stay here. Chile is still on the back burner, but really, I hope we are able to stay here. If the economy keeps going down down down, we’ll have to move (flee?)…but until that time, I still have hope.
What inspired this blog post today was this article – Can Ron Paul Really be Right About Everything? Please click the link. Read the article. Absorb the article. Reflect on the article. It really got to me – it explains WHY Libertarianism is logical. Why it’s common sense. I just loved it. I don’t care if you disagree with me. Some (lots?) of you will….but I know in my heart that this philosophy is right and true, and I hope this country is turned around by it, and I hope you will read the article with an open mind…and let it sink in a bit.
I wish there was something more I could do. Right now, I can educate myself and spread the word. I just hope it helps. Because my family and my country’s life depends on getting the word out. Depends on people learning. Depends on people taking action. Depends on an actual change and turnabout for this country. I just hope it’s soon enough to actually make a difference.
