I am a Libertarian because I believe that freedom represents the only sustainable model for a large, complex, and diverse society. Historically, from the Roman Empire to the old Soviet Union, civilizations propped up by compulsion or prohibition eventually collapse under their own weight or under the unmet demands of people who want to live as they choose.
Libertarians believe that every person has rights laid out in our constitution and that government’s proper role is to secure those rights. Others believe that governments is actually the holder of rights and that they can grant or withdraw them as they wish. If you believe that government should have the smallest possible role in your private life and the smallest possible role in your finances, you are a Libertarian.
If you believe people should only be limited by their mind, body, and talent, you are a Libertarian. If you believe that building a truly compassionate society cannot by definition involve the use of government coercion, you are a Libertarian.