I am a Libertarian. I am neither a Republican nor a conservative. [2008 Update: I am a small-l libertarian. For several years now I have been convinced that the Libertarian Party is not an effective route to having one's beliefs and positions enacted into law. Instead, I am a member of the Republican Liberty Caucus, a group that believes a more effective path to liberty is to support the Republican Party and to work within the Republican Party to urge it in the direction of limited government, a government that confines itself to exercise of its powers as enumerated in the Constitution (and only those powers so enumerated).

As a Libertarian, I uphold the right of all citizens to live in whatever manner they choose, so long as they do not attempt to force others to conform to their choices. All of my positions follow from that principle of freedom of choice.

That is why I support your right to the lifestyle you prefer, as well as your right to pursue that lifestyle freely and without discrimination. Of course, this principle requires that I also support the rights of those who disagree with you, as long as they do not invoke force in that disagreement, or attempt to use the power of government to enforce their opinion on you. There is no surer supporter of your freedom than one who supports everybody's freedom.

I therefore support a limited government, a government that does not have the power to restrict freedom of choice. A government which has the power to impose your opinions on others could likewise be turned against you if those who disagree with you should one day gain control of the reins of government.

My position on freedom of choice extends to all areas of personal life, including:

• the right of the individual to choose one's lifestyle according to his or her personal beliefs and principles;
• the individual's right to choose a life partner according to one's own preferences;
• the individual's right to choose how and whom he or she will marry. [This should be a matter between individuals and their respective beliefs systems. It should not be a matter for the government to determine to whom to grant the right to marry, nor to force new belief systems on those who hold traditional views, e.g., the traditional definition of marriage.]
• the right NOT to be discriminated against because one's particular lifestyle does not fall within arbitrary standards set by the government;
• the right of all people to live according to their conscience and not be subject to government scrutiny and control in their private lives;
• the right of parents to exercise educational choice for their children
• the right of parents to choose the educational values their children will be taught in school. Public schools should teach academic subjects only;
• the rights of all should be respected in a public institution, including the rights of those who object to alternative values being taught in the school.
• the right of parents to choose or create alternative educational options for their children, when their values differ from those being taught in the public schools.

As a Libertarian, I believe that the freedom of choice should be universal, and that a person's right to make lifestyle choices without government interference is just as important as the freedom not to include an alternate lifestyle in one's personal life.