I'm the son of a libertarian father, and yeah, but they lack empathy, but in a way that you might not expect. To explain that, I'll have to provide context.

A big reason why my dad is a libertarian is because in many ways, he grew up alone. He was one of the only kids who surfed Lake Michigan during the 80's and liked was the only child who liked to party in a strict Christian Home. His parents, the rest of his family, and his community really did not understand him, and he dedicated himself to making his own way so that he wouldn't have to pretend to be someone he wasn't. Times got hard, like he spent last two dollars he and my mom had paying a bridge toll to get home and they went dead broke. He and my mom shielded me from a lot growing up, but when he used the last of his money to buy a company and make it successful, my family made it financially. He sold it recently and had a lot of building it into an exciting brand about adventure and acceptance of weirdness - all of the things he desired growing up. He's made his world in his image. To say that he can look back and acknowledge that he's run a good race is an understatement.

A big reason why he's a libertarian is because he's experienced such profound failure and succeeded because he was energetic, inventive, and dedicated. And he's been able to sell a healthy product and grow his business without having to compromise his moral values. I can honestly say I'm extremely proud of my dad's moral conviction, his honesty, and his kindness for others as well as his business savvy. He's experienced an ideal scenario in the free market and it's been a liberating and empowering for him. He wants other people to be able to experience that and so is trying to figure out ways to allow people to become entrepreneurs, to start their own businesses, with fewer barriers than are present in many industries.

The problem is, he doesn't seem to realize that he is an exception in the free market system. He's smart, thoughtful, and incredibly determined, and he thinks everyone else can be all that he is - he really sees more in the human race and expects more out of them than they are capable of. His ability to restrain and regulate himself, makes him believe that we can all live in a less regulated society.