--- description: As Rand Paul considers a 2016 presidential run, his increased spotlight may help more Americans fully embrace their libertarian ideals. title: Libertarianism Is on the Verge of a Political Breakout image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte55499704b1483d4/69877d83e53aba04884d7645/rand-paul-vaccine.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Ideas](/section/ideas/) ## Ideas Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [politics](/tag/politics/) ## politics Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Libertarianism Is on the Verge of a Political Breakout by [David Boaz](/author/david-boaz/) ## David Boaz Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Feb 5, 2015 3:51 PM CUT  Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., speaks during a news conference on Jan. 27, 2015. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., speaks during a news conference on Jan. 27, 2015.Bill Clark—CQ-Roll Call,Inc./Getty Images by [David Boaz](/author/david-boaz/) ## David Boaz Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Feb 5, 2015 3:51 PM CUT Rand Paul’s leadership in the Senate – on the budget, regulation, privacy, criminal justice, and foreign policy – and his likely presidential campaign are generating new attention for libertarian ideas. “Libertarianism is hot,” [headlined](http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/libertarianism-is-in-vogue--again/2013/06/09/ab8ede42-d108-11e2-a73e-826d299ff459%5Fstory.html "undefined") the _Washington Post_ in 2013\. From an almost-forgotten part of American political culture, libertarianism has grown into a respected and much-discussed political faction and a compelling set of ideas that challenge the conventional wisdom. Tens of millions of Americans are fiscally conservative, socially tolerant, and skeptical of American military intervention. The growth of the libertarian movement is a product of two factors: the spread of libertarian ideas and sentiments, and the expansion of government during the Bush and Obama administrations, particularly the civil liberties abuses after 9/11 and the bailouts and out-of-control spending after the financial crisis. As one journalist [noted](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/01/08/conservative%5Flibertarianisms%5Fcomeback%5F%5F99823.html "undefined") in 2009, “The Obama administration brought with it ambitions of a resurgence of FDR and LBJ’s active-state liberalism. And with it, Obama has revived the enduring American challenge to the state.” ### Photos: On the Road with Rand Paul  Senator Rand Paul talks to voters at the Horry County Republican Party in Myrtle Beach, S.C. on Sept. 30th, 2014. Charles Ommanney for TIME  Senator Rand Paul talks with students at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C. on Sept. 30th, 2014. Charles Ommanney for TIME  Senator Rand Paul's boots are seen as he talks with students at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C. on Sept. 30th, 2014. Charles Ommanney for TIME  Senator Rand Paul bows his head in prayer before talking to voters at the Horry County Republican Party in Myrtle Beach, S.C. on Sept. 30th, 2014. Charles Ommanney for TIME  Senator Rand Paul and GOP Senatorial candidate Thom Tillis meet with diners at Big Ed's restaurant in Raleigh, N.C. on Oct. 1st, 2014. Charles Ommanney for TIME  Senator Rand Paul attends a BBQ event at the Donnelly Barn in Bowling Green, Ky. on Oct. 12th, 2014. Charles Ommanney for TIME  In a back tent, Senator Paul manages to have five minutes alone to go over his speech at the Donnelly Barn in Bowling Green, Ky. on Oct. 12, 2014. Charles Ommanney for TIME  Senator Rand Paul and Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell attend a BBQ event at the Donnelly Barn in Bowling Green, Ky. on Oct. 12th, 2014. Charles Ommanney for TIME  Senator Rand Paul speaks at a BBQ event at the Donnelly Barn in Bowling Green, Ky. on Oct. 12th, 2014. Charles Ommanney for TIME  The BBQ event's band at the Donnelly Barn in Bowling Green, Ky. on Oct. 12, 2014. Charles Ommanney for TIME That libertarian revival manifested itself in several ways. Sales of books like _Atlas Shrugged_ and _The Road to Serfdom_ soared. “Tea party” rallies against taxes, debt, bailouts, and Obamacare drew a million or more people to hundreds of protests. “Crony capitalism” became a target for people across the political spectrum. Marijuana legalization and marriage equality made rapid progress. More people than ever told Gallup in 2013 that the federal government has too much power. In studies that David Kirby and I [have](http://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/libertarian-vote "undefined") [published](http://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/libertarian-vote-age-obama "undefined") at the Cato Institute on “the libertarian vote,” we have found that only 2 to 4 percent of Americans say that they’re libertarian when asked. But 15 to 20 percent – 30 to 40 million Americans – hold libertarian views on a range of questions. The latest Gallup Governance Survey [finds](http://www.cato.org/blog/there-libertarian-vote "undefined") 24 percent of respondents falling into the libertarian quadrant, matching the number of conservatives and liberals and up from 17 percent in 2004 and 23 percent in 2008\. And when asked in a [Zogby poll](http://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/cpr29n1-1.pdf "undefined") if they would define themselves as “fiscally conservative and socially liberal, also known as libertarian,” fully 44 percent of respondents – 100 million Americans – accept the label. Those voters are not locked into either party, and politicians trying to attract the elusive “swing vote” should take a look at those who lean libertarian. In two presidential campaigns, Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) attracted hundreds of thousands of followers to his combination of antiwar, anti-spending, and sound-money (“End the Fed”) ideas, and showed them that these views were “libertarian.” Two national student organizations Students for Liberty and Young Americans for Liberty now take libertarian ideas to thousands of college campuses in the United States and well beyond. Now his son, Rand Paul (R-KY), is generating headlines about the GOP’s libertarian wing and questions about libertarian ideas. **MORE** [Shhhh, Rand Paul: A Guide for Politicians on How Not to Talk to Women](http://time.com/3693776/shhhh-rand-paul-a-guide-for-politicians-on-how-not-to-talk-to-women/ "undefined") In the past week alone Paul has joined Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) to introduce legislation designed to limit the use of mandatory minimum sentencing laws, introduced along with Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) a bill to encourage companies to “repatriate” overseas cash, proposed to audit the Federal Reserve, and found himself in the crosshairs when he questioned the need for compulsory vaccination laws. Libertarianism, a belief in what Adam Smith called “the obvious and simple system of natural liberty,” is the core philosophy of America. The first colonists fled aristocratic Europe to find religious liberty, individualism, and economic opportunity. They declared their belief in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. American history has been a struggle between liberty and power, between those who wanted to defend and extend the liberties guaranteed in the Constitution and those who wanted to make the United States more like the countries our ancestors left, with powerful and paternalistic government. Throughout our history, libertarian sentiments have been rekindled when the federal government has grown beyond what Americans will tolerate—such as the past few years. Today, libertarians support policies based on these same principles – lower taxes, less regulation, protection of civil liberties, personal freedom, and a foreign policy based on a strong national defense and avoidance of foreign wars. In recent years libertarians have led the way in supporting marijuana legalization, gay marriage, gun rights, school choice, and restrictions on NSA surveillance of Americans, and in opposing policies ranging from Obamacare and Wall Street bailouts to the Iraq war. Whether or not Rand Paul wins the presidency, one result of his campaign will be to help those tens of millions of libertarian-leaning Americans to discover that their political attitudes have a name, which will make for a stronger and more influential political faction. In my book _The Libertarian Mind_ I argue that the simple, timeless principles of the American Revolution—individual liberty, limited government, and free markets—are even more important in this world of instant communication, global markets, and unprecedented access to information than Jefferson or Madison could have imagined. Libertarianism is the framework for a future of freedom, growth, and progress, and it may be on the verge of a political breakout. _Read next:_ [_Watch 5 Elevator Pitches from 2016 GOP Contenders_](http://time.com/3686511/2016-republican-primary/?xid=time%5Freadnext "undefined") [_Listen to the most important stories of the day._](http://time.com/newsletter/the-brief/?sl%5Fautoplay=true&xid=spl-fullbrief-article "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3695448/rand-paul-libertarianism-political-breakout/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3695448/rand-paul-libertarianism-political-breakout/"},"headline":"Libertarianism Is on the Verge of a Political Breakout","datePublished":"2015-02-05T15:51:10.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T05:05:51.431Z","description":"The spotlight on Rand Paul may help more Americans fully embrace their libertarian ideals","url":"https://time.com/3695448/rand-paul-libertarianism-political-breakout/","keywords":["politics","Rand Paul","ron paul"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte55499704b1483d4/69877d83e53aba04884d7645/rand-paul-vaccine.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"David Boaz","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/david-boaz/"}],"articleSection":"Ideas","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte55499704b1483d4/69877d83e53aba04884d7645/rand-paul-vaccine.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Sen. 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