I have found my Political Party

According to What It Means to Be a Libertarian by Charles Murray, Broadway Books, 1997.

The American Founders created a society based on the belief that human happiness is intimately connected with personal freedom and responsibility. The twin pillars of the system they created were limits on the power of the central government and protection of individual rights. . . .

A few people, of whom I am one, think that the Founders' insights are as true today as they were two centuries ago. We believe that human happiness requires freedom and that freedom requires limited government.

The correct word for my view of the world is liberal. "Liberal" is the simplest anglicization of the Latin liber, and freedom is what classical liberalism is all about. The writers of the nineteenth century who expounded on this view were called liberals. In Continental Europe they still are. . . . But words mean what people think they mean, and in the United States the unmodified term liberal now refers to the politics of an expansive government and the welfare state. The contemporary alternative is libertarian. . . .

Libertarianism is a vision of how people should be able to live their lives-as individuals, striving to realize the best they have within them; together, cooperating for the common good without compulsion. It is a vision of how people may endow their lives with meaning-living according to their deepest beliefs and taking responsibility for the consequences of their actions.

I am ashamed and it is embarrassing that I had never heard that there was such a thing as the libertarian party until I really started following Ron Paul (2012 Presidential Candidate). The more I read, the more I like, and the more I identify with this party. I do think with some research many of my peers would consider themselves libertarian as well. But, as politics seems to be a hot, taboo, emotional topic...I will have to let them come to it on their own. I can't help but share new information I find via facebook, as I follow certain news groups and it's easy to post articles and videos that way. However, as no one comments or "likes" my political posts, I'll assume they are uninterested, afraid to comment, or completely disagree with me (and maybe some have hidden my posts for tiring of them). So talking to the "wall" that is facebook seems to be getting me no where fast. I have joined a San Diego Meet up group for Ron Paul and hope to meet some like minded people soon. It is especially disconcerting that my peers will post trivial political news, ie. a young man speaking out for gay marriage rights and of being raised by gay parents who is a perfectly normal, smart, and productive member of society... (I too felt his words were important for the masses to hear) however, to me such news is overshadowed by a national economic crisis looming, several undeclared wars in progress, and country wide protests against the establishment being met with a violent police force, bills in progress that would censor the internet and give government control over it, and bills that could imprison American citizens without trial (indefinitely!, and fortunately that one did not pass!)...I never cared before about any of it. It's easier, safer, more comfortable to get distracted by just about anything else! This may be my new wall to talk to as I start to define my political perspective and understanding.