If you don’t identify with any of the major political candidates running for president, you might be a libertarian.

I know because I am a libertarian. Actually, I am a Libertarian as I am a card holding member of the Libertarian Party. This may come as a surprise to some, but there are more than two political parties in the United States. 

In fact, the left/right paradigm commonly associated with Democrats and Republicans only describes contemporary American political thought. It wasn’t until the 2012 presidential race when libertarian Ron Paul ran as a Republican did we actually see “libertarian” in the news. I would have voted for him had he won the nomination. 

As far as this election goes, I cannot vouch for any of the major party candidates. I’m going to step on a lot of tails for this but, no, I don’t “feel the Bern.” Though there is common ground between libertarians and Bernie Sanders, the style of government he proposes is not libertarian. Any principled libertarian should see this. The Libertarian Party describes itself as the “Party of Principle” for a reason. Think about it. 

Then, we have Ted Cruz who said: “It is now clear that [Edward] Snowden is a traitor, and he should be tried for treason.” This is the same candidate who has been described as libertarianish. I’d like to ask Cruz exactly what makes Snowden so clearly a traitor. Certainly he should be tried for treason for the legal formality of it, but any respectable libertarian should pardon him.

Without Snowden’s revelations, there wouldn’t have been bipartisan support for reforming the surveillance state. His revelations turned out to be positive for the people of the United States. I remember reading somewhere about the government of the United States was a government of and by the people. 

Since Rand Paul dropped out of the race, I have yet to see any of the other major candidates be seriously suggested for libertarian voters and for good reason too. In November, I will probably vote Libertarian so America doesn’t forget we exist.

This may also come as a surprise; I don’t look like the monopoly guy. I’m not rich. The Koch brothers do not pay me. I simply believe that the government should play a minimal role in our lives. I believe that all people are born free. I believe in the individual. I believe the road to prosperity is paved with freedom and not the other way around. 

If you want to discover libertarian philosophy, there is plenty of literature. If you want to read something long, Fredrich von Hayek wrote two great works called the “The Road to Serfdom” and “The Constitution of Liberty.” If you want something short you can read Frédéric Bastiat’s “The Law.”

If you’re tired of reading, YouTube these two things: Milton Friedman and Learn Liberty. 

Or if you see a short man with a mystical beard on campus, it’s probably me. You can certainly just walk up to me and ask me about what it means to be libertarian.