Editors note: Yahoo News asked young libertarian-minded voters to share why theyre drawn to the either the Libertarian Party or to libertarian political principles in general. Heres one first-person account we received this week.

FIRST PERSON | Eight years ago, I was a high school junior in Columbus, Ohio. I was 16 years old, and a very proud and outspoken liberal. A handful of hot political issues influenced my thinking: among them was the idea that war sounded unpleasant, women and homosexuals should be able to make their own decisions, and my bleeding heart loved the idea of providing free healthcare and education to one and all.

I really admired two of my teachers at the timeone taught English; a kind, eloquent Democratic who reminded me of Jon Stewart in both wit and mannerisms. The other, a lively and informed young Republican history teacher who was charming and persuasive. I found myself agreeing with each on different topics, which really confused mewas I a Democrat? A Republican? A little of both? And if it was the latter, what did that mean when it came time to support a political candidate?

I let those questions (along with my political interest) slide until the 2008 presidential election when I found myself in college, thinking about these issues once again, unsettled with my candidate options. Walking home from class one day, I saw a chalk scribbled Google Ron Paul on the sidewalk. And so I did.

Less than ten minutes of research confirmed that I had found a candidate whose stances resonated with my own on nearly every issue. But more importantly, this man had been consistent for years about the importance of civil liberties, of a limited, constitutional government, of free market Austrian economicsand just how far politics and policy in America had strayed from those tenets.

War is still unpleasant when we are engaged in unconstitutional, unsustainable, and costly foreign intervention. I still believe in the rights of women and homosexualsnot because they belong to those groups, but because they are individuals and should be treated as such. And my bleeding heart hasnt hardened, but a deeper understanding of free market economics had led to the knowledge that limiting government and encouraging private charity are the best way to help those in need. Im 24 years old now, and have recently moved to the Bay area from Washington DC. My passion for advancing the cause of liberty has led me to work for the largest pro-liberty student group in the country, a non-profit organization called Young Americans for Liberty, which came out of the original Students for Ron Paul group.

Weve come a long way since Ron Paul introduced these ideas to the mainstream, but we have a long way to go. Understanding that principles should matter over party affiliation, and that the fight is not between the left and right, but between the power of the state against the individual, is the key to furthering this cause. The growing libertarian wing of the Republican Party is exciting and inspiring and acts as a vehicle to bring these ideas to the mainstream media and to the public eye over time.

Examining alternatives to the often disheartening and unsatisfying solutions offered by the status quo Republicans and Democrats, libertarian thought is gaining more traction every day; for many, including myself, it is a source of hope and a reason to be optimistic for the survival and growth of our country.

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Libertarian Thought a Source of Optimism