re: How did you develop your political beliefs?

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I hope he continues to raise his profile. I think with the current awakening that many Republicans are having to the benefits of Libertarianism, he has an amazing opportunity to do so. I really hope he wins the Republican nomination when Trump finishes in 2024.

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I hope Rand has a shot but him dropping out after Iowa in the primary was disappointing. I also hope many republicans can see libertarianism for what it actually is. The current status of the libertarian party is a horrible depiction. The conventions in the past years are a fricking circus. They had the best chance in decades to get support last year in the election and they nominated a complete buffoon. Gary even had the opportunity to appear live on multiple main stream outlets and he absolutely shite the bed in the worse way possible.
Rand is a great representation of libertarianism, the libertarian party itself and the leaders of it are complete jack asses.

My parents were registered Democrats like most of their generation in the south but always voted for Republicans. I was the nerdy kid who watched the news every night before CNN and Fox, etc. I read newspapers and tried to keep up with current events. I was pretty moderate throughout college. It was the fiasco in FL with the “hanging chads” that got me actively engaged. The blatant attempt to steal that election opened my eyes. I don’t believe mainstream media’s reporting anymore and always go read reports on my own without their “interpretation”. I read bills, follow SCOTUS hearings, etc. and make up my own mind. It just so happens that I agree with the “conservative” viewpoint/philosophy/whatever you want to call it the vast majority of the time.

I grew up in a fairly apolitical family. My grandparents were a bit more political though. Very strong fiscal conservatives based on how they grew up (grandmother in Germany during WWII and the economic struggles afterword, grandfather from a poor farming family in New Mexico), but pretty open minded socially. Resulted in me taking a conservative slant but still fairly middle of the road.

In college, studied political science and philosophy with a focus on political theory. BA and MA. Read just about every major political philosophy book out there. From Marx to Hayek to Smith.

End result is that a staunch libertarian. I want the government out of my wallet and out of my bedroom...and more importantly I want the same for everyone else.