OPINION & EDITORIAL
Dr. Paul: Report to America, stat
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- Lack of good government harms UW (April 24, 2008)
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by Sam Clegg
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
America has a magnificent opportunity to redeem herself from eight years of the most spectacular presidential failure in her history, next November. I'm not talking about Barack "from the cradle to the White House" Obama, nor am I talking about Hillary: Warrior Princess. And forget about those two ludicrous fascist frauds, Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani. But who, then? The man in question is the only Republican candidate to vote against the Iraq war, the only candidate that voted for the legalization of medical marijuana during his time in Congress, and the man who sponsored a bill to overturn the Patriot Act. He sounds too good to be true. His name is Dr. Ron Paul, and a small but growing group of UW students is awakening to his message.
You remember those slogans that were chalked at a number of campus locations about this obscure little man all over campus a few weeks earlier. A few of them are still there. It turns out that Dr. Paul isn't as obscure as one might assume. A diverse grassroots movement has sprung up on the Internet and college campuses across the country to support something other than the elephant that lost its way somewhere in the donkey's ass. And with an estimated $5 million raised in the 3rd fundraising quarter — a 114 percent increase from the 2nd — Dr. Paul is only going to become more prominent.
How is this intruder from Texas, the man who wants to abolish, among other departments, the IRS, getting so much money? The answer lies with groups such as Badgers for Ron Paul, a UW student group related to the Madison student chapter supporting Dr. Paul. Although their numbers are miniscule compared to that juggernaut of a single-celled organism known as the Madison chapter of Students for Obama, these cadres of Internet loyalists actually add up, as evidenced by Dr. Paul's third quarter figures. When Dr. Paul set a fundraising goal of $500,000 for the last week of the third fundraising quarter, small donors allowed him to exceed that objective by $700,000, raising $1.2 million dollars in one week.
Badgers for Ron Paul, two of whom I had the pleasure of speaking with this Saturday, do not enter into a quasi-orgasmic state whenever their candidate is mentioned. Indeed, Steven and Kyle have vastly different reasons for supporting Dr. Paul. Both are impressed with his foreign policy, which calls for the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from foreign soil immediately and the opening of trade with these countries instead. Often referred to as isolationism, the actual term for this idea is non-interventionism.
And, as Kyle told me, "It's refreshing to have a candidate who wants to return to the America envisioned by our founders." But what does that mean? By now all of our ears are saturated with bovine garbage about "building a stronger America, together." I hope I didn't just steal a slogan. But if I did, it was no doubt Mr. Obama's.
Dr. Paul was the only member of Congress who voted against creating a National Archives exhibit on Slavery and Reconstruction. Why? Because the creation of the exhibit was a use of taxpayer money not explicitly authorized by the Constitution. My respects, Dr. Paul. I am unaware of any other presidential candidate with such a healthy respect for our basic principles.
But why, then, is Dr. Paul receiving so little coverage in the media?
He is receiving some, but the limited coverage the good doctor is getting is exposure no candidate would desire. Indeed, in the wake of the discovery that his fundraising figures for the third quarter were so high, an MSNBC host that reported that Dr. Paul was an isolationist, twice. And when Dr. Paul beat Rudy Giuliani in a Michigan straw poll, he received absolutely no coverage.
Nonetheless, Dr. Paul and the UW students who support him are prepared to stun Americans again, by setting a fundraising goal of $4 million this month. Although Dr. Paul's election chances appear dim, it is not difficult to imagine what the implications of his candidacy could be far beyond the influence of one man.
In Dr. Paul's ideology, it is not so difficult to hear the founders' frustration across the centuries, reminding us of how our government was supposed to run this country, and maybe even the beginning of a real American Libertarian Party. But please pardon that last reference to one of those evil fringe groups who must be kept out of our sterilized political dialogue. The governmental rationalism advocated by Dr. Paul and Madison's students obviously has no place in the politics of today.
Sam Clegg (sclegg@wisc.edu) is a freshman majoring in English.
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 1:59am):
The reason we make fun of Ron Paul and Pals is because of how out of touch you are with reality. Ron Paul is the candidate for white males who are confused by complex issues and need their public policy dumbed down to the point where it makes other people, like me, laugh at you. No we cannot immediately pull out of Iraq and retreat into an isolationist shell, no we cannot simply end taxes, no we cannot ban the UN, no you cannot refer to "fleet-footed" black men and still expect to be taken seriously by those of us who don't whack off to posters of David Duke and George Wallace. You're going through a phase Sammy and it's important you grow out of it--either way, googling your name will now forever come up with this crap.
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 2:15am):
Ron Paul is a racist, fascist, dominionist lunatic. Elect him and it'll be four years of more of the same.
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 3:06am):
I've been making and hanging Ron Paul signs all over my town. You can't stop the Ron Paul Revolution.
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 3:18am):
In response to the previous two comments...
...The important thing for you to remember, Montag, is we're the Happiness Boys, the Dixie Duo, you and I and the others. We stand against the small tide of those who want to make everyone unhappy with conflicting theory and thought. We have our fingers in the dike. Hold steady. Don't let the torrent of melancholy and drear philosophy drown our world. We depend on you. I don't think you realize how important you are, we are, to our happy world as it stands now.
~Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451
Christopher Lirette (October 10, 2007 @ 3:30am):
First off, the people that post the anonymous comments do a hit, and run. They make of Ron Paul, his ideas, his supporters, and than they run.
They offer no counter-argument other than, "Your Stupid". And, they offer no reasons as to why his ideas are "out of touch".
Basically you come in here, and try to "intellectually" bully everyone away from him.
The facts are Ron Paul has a point. We cannot keep up an empire that we cannot afford. We are simply out of money, and borrowing from other countries. How do we continue a war in debt? Not only that, but how can the congress, and government ignore its customers. WE are the government. This is a democracy, where every voice can be heard, and matters.
He has a consistant voting record.
He is the leading candidate for liberty, and freedom. He doesn't want to make more laws. He wants to get rid of a lot actually.
Taxes? why not cut spending? Why not bring the troops home?
The Founding Fathers didn't want us involved in Foreign affairs, and didn't want us to police the world. Why not go back to listening to what created this country in the first place?
Who are we to promote preemptive war? Why are we going attacking countries?
How do we change the world at the end of a barrel of a Gun. That doesn't sound like America. That sounds like Hitler. You can't force a country to change.
Let people decide to do what they want to do. Why don't you find out what he is about before you go trashing him.
DONT TREAD ON ME!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG_HuFtP8w8
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 3:49am):
"Ron Paul is a racist, fascist, dominionist lunatic. Elect him and it'll be four years of more of the same."
So basically you are saying ALL the other candidates are "racist, fascist, dominionist lunatics" as well?
In that case, we might as well vote for him!
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 3:54am):
1. He wants to abolish Income Tax not all tax.
2. He is for non-intervention not isolation.
- yes perhaps if you could actually bother reading Ron Paul's stuff you would know what the difference between and isolationist and non-intervention is.
3. Constitution has no race or color we are all equal in its eyes.
4. Ron Paul is the only one willing to look at the impact of our policies from the view point of others.
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 4:01am):
Comments like the ones above only show how scared and childish neocon ad hominem attacks are. Do you think people who make such unfounded comments care about America?
Ron Paul all the way!
http://www.ronpaulforpresident2008.com/
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 4:04am):
Dr. Paul is as racist as Mother Teresa and it's obvious that the comments left so far are totally ignorant of what Dr. Paul stands for. Obviously they support another candidate and or are too lazy to really understand the state of the nation
Most of us are beyond the fear tactics used by others to control our thinking.
Dr. Paul is the most honest, ethical man I have ever known and if America is wise she will put this nation in the hands of a man of great integrity. Dr. Paul understands the nations problems at the CORE.
Jim McMahon (October 10, 2007 @ 4:23am):
"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win."
-- Mahatma Gandhi
I just love that quote.
http://www.ronpaullibrary.org/
After Anonymous reads Ron in his own words they two will join the Ron Paul rEVOLution
Ron Johnson (October 10, 2007 @ 5:03am):
Dear Anonymous: Your knowledge of Ron Paul, his history, his positions, and his vision are seriously flawed. He is the exact opposite of a racist, fascist, or isolationist.
1. In thirty years of public life, Ron Paul has gone on record over and over again condemning racism and endorsing the idea that people should be treated as individuals and not as members of groups. This is closer to Martin Luther King's philosophy than anything, and not at all like David Duke's. He opposes federal death penalties and federal drug laws partially because they applied unfairly against minorities.
2. Ron Paul has publicly condemned the erosion of our civil liberties, including the loss of habeas corpus, the very idea of "free speech zones," domestic spying, and torture. He has opposed the military/industrial complex and the corporate favortism that has resulted in corporations having undue power to direct our foreign and domestic policies.
3. Ron Paul is anything but an isolationist. He has said repeatedly that the people of the U.S. ought to travel to, trade with, and talk with all nations, but that our military ought to stay home. This is the opposite of "isolationist." The proper term is "non-interventionist."
4. The comment about "fleet feet" refers to one newsletter article Ron Paul says was written by a staff member (subsequently fired) decades ago. I, too, was concerned about the evidence of racism (that would have disqualified him in my mind) but I found nothing in his entire public life that sounded remotely like that one newsletter article. If you are familiar with Ron Paul's writings, it is clear that the sentiments, language, and style are nothing like his own writings. This one article has been dredged up by his poltical opponents to smear him, but in the end his lifetime of public statements, votes in Congress, and personal actions have supported his contention.
I encourage you to research Ron Paul's record in detail. He is intelligent, thoughtful, and principled. He deserves better than your ignorant smear.
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 5:40am):
For those who think they know everything and think income tax is necessary. Please refer to the film freedomtofascism.com. The dollar is a fiat money system run by PRIVATE BANKS with no commodity to back it. (Gold did back up the dollar until 1963
"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies . . . If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] . . . will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered . . . The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs." -- Thomas Jefferson -- The Debate Over The Recharter Of The Bank Bill, (1809)
Vote Ron Paul - truth compassion peace
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 6:02am):
It's sad but true - probably 95% of the criticisms of Dr. Paul are amount to either name-calling or outright lies. It's very difficult to find a substantive argument against his campaign given in a spirit of respect. That, all by itself, speaks volumes about the presidential campaign we're seeing.
Ron Paul represents a true, grassroots revolution unlike any seen in this generation. If you care about your country and want to know the truth, give him a chance.
Gene Gallagher (October 10, 2007 @ 6:57am):
"Students for Obama". Huh...in the age of the internet, there's really no excuse to believe the dems and repubs are separate parties anymore. Why are these students so tone-deaf?
There's is only ONE candidate running that will end the war and reverse the monetary situation that's bankrupting the nation. He happens to have an R next to his name, so what?
Ron Paul is the only candidate that can defeat Bloody Hillary, Queen of Marx.
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 7:06am):
"Racist" "Fleet-footed blacks"
Please, educate yourselves:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_paul#Newsletter_article_controversy
Rather than vote for Barak O'Brien, vote for Ron Paul...he is Goldstein incarnate.
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 7:41am):
I hope that UW Madison isn't telling their students we live in a Democracy; when our country is a Representative Republic. There is a difference and that difference is Very important.
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 7:49am):
Sam, thank you for a great article!
Ron Paul is the man of integrity and courage that America needs at this time.
http://www.ronpaulaudio.com/
Join the Revolution -- Vote Ron Paul!
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 8:00am):
It should be noted that the racist comments referred to above were not from Ron Paul but by a writer for his newsletter that was justly fired for the bigoted comments. Ron Paul has argued time and again that his message is about individual rights not the collectivist mentality that perpetuates racism. It's a shame people don't educate themselves on the facts, but rather see one comment from over a decade ago that wasn't even his and brand him in such a way that is wholly untrue. It is this lack of effort that leads to having bad leaders in this country, we end up voting for whomever can spin their dirt away faster, or who looks better on TV. When did good ideas get lost in the political game?
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 8:08am):
Howard Dean is a doctor too. They're both douche bags. I'll keep electing professional politicians, thank you very much.
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 8:17am):
There is an archive of Ron Paul quotes here, from original sources -
www.irregulartimes.com
He's not as constitutional as you think.
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 9:19am):
Ron Paul wants to pull out of the UN (it may be ineffectual at times but there is no need to pull out of it), return to the gold standard (as an econ major, wtf?!), abolish the department of education, and pull out of the WTO and World Bank. Kinda weird and reactionary...
His war policy is great tho.
Brian Defferding (October 10, 2007 @ 9:22am):
Ron Paul is the only candidate who can defeat any Democrat in the general election - not Rudy, not Fred. The winds have changed since 2004, and right now America does not want to stay in Iraq. This is the most important issue in the elections, and any GOP other than Paul wants to continue in Iraq. Plus, Hillary and Obama has made it clear they will pull troops out of the middle east, they will continue to bully Iran and move troops around Pakistan, thus continuing the violence which fuels more terrorism and hatred against America.
It's been clear that over the last half century we have been going the opposite direction of keeping the government within its constitutional limits, all Ron Paul wants to do is restore the federal government back to where it should be.
There is nothing crazy or quirky about that. It's common sense.
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 9:29am):
The right of an innocent, unborn child to life is at the heart of the American ideals of liberty. My professional and legislative record demonstrates my strong commitment to this pro-life principle.
In 40 years of medical practice, I never once considered performing an abortion, nor did I ever find abortion necessary to save the life of a pregnant woman.
In Congress, I have authored legislation that seeks to define life as beginning at conception, HR 1094.
I am also the prime sponsor of HR 300, which would negate the effect of Roe v Wade by removing the ability of federal courts to interfere with state legislation to protect life. This is a practical, direct approach to ending federal court tyranny which threatens our constitutional republic and has caused the deaths of 45 million of the unborn.
I have also authored HR 1095, which prevents federal funds to be used for so-called "population control."
Many talk about being pro-life. I have taken direct action to restore protection for the unborn.
"As an OB/GYN doctor, I've delivered over 4,000 babies. That experience has made me an unshakable foe of abortion. Many of you may have read my book, Challenge To Liberty, which champions the idea that there cannot be liberty in a society unless the rights of all innocents are protected. Much can be understood about the civility of a society in observing its regard for the dignity of human life. " - from Ron Paul's website on his stance on "Life and Liberty"
"My commitment to ensuring home schooling remains a practical alternative for American families is unmatched by any Presidential candidate.
Returning control of education to parents is the centerpiece of my education agenda. As President I will advance tax credits through the Family Education Freedom Act, which reduces taxes to make it easier for parents to home school by allowing them to devote more of their own funds to their children's education.
I am committed to guaranteeing parity for home school diplomas and advancing equal scholarship consideration for students entering college from a home school environment.
We must have permanency in the Department of Defense Home School Tier 1 Pilot Program, providing recruitment status parity for home school graduates. I will use my authority to prevent the Department of Education from regulating home school activities.
I will veto any legislation that creates national standards or national testing for home school parents or students. I also believe that, as long as No Child Left Behind remains law, it must include the protections for home schoolers included in sec. 9506 (enshrining home schoolers' rights) and 9527 (guaranteeing no national curriculum).
Federal monies must never be used to undermine the rights of homeschooling parents. I will use the bully pulpit of the Presidency to encourage a culture of educational freedom throughout the nation." Ron Paul's stance on home schooling. It's one thing to support efforts at home schooling, but if you're going to encourage such activities there has to be some effort at oversight so you don't have children falling through the cracks because their parents don't want them to go to public schools.
" I have always supported the Second Amendment and these are some of the bills I have introduced in the current Congress to help restore respect for it:
* H.R. 1096 includes provisions repealing the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act and the Federal Firearms License Reform Act of 1993, two invasive and unconstitutional bills.
* H.R. 1897 would end the ban on carrying a firearm in the National Park System, restoring Americans' ability to protect themselves in potentially hazardous situations.
* H.R. 3305 would allow pilots and specially assigned law enforcement personnel to carry firearms in order to protect airline passengers, possibly preventing future 9/11-style attacks.
* H.R. 1146 would end our membership in the United Nations, protecting us from their attempts to tax our guns or disarm us entirely.
In the past, I introduced legislation to repeal the so-called "assault weapons" ban before its 2004 sunset, and I will oppose any attempts to reinstate it.
I also recently opposed H.R. 2640, which would allow government-appointed psychiatrists to ban U.S. veterans experiencing even mild forms of Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome from ever owning a gun."
-Ron Paul on the 2nd ammendment. Seems a bit extreme to me.
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 9:41am):
This banal idea that America is "out of money" is ludicrous on it's face.
Let's dumb it down some for the Paulians. Imagine you were a grown up with grown-up responsibilities-- like (say) paying a mortgage.
That's right, most normal adults understand that borrowing money from multi-national financial institutions (banks) to invest in the basic necessity of shelter-- and assuming a mortgage debt often many times higher than their annual income-- is fiscally responsible behavior. We adults typically earn modest incomes to pay back that mortgage debt (among other debts) over 30 years or so.
Now imagine you're not merely an average working adult with a 30 year debt horizon but the world's most mature, successful constitutional democracy (or an "empire" in Paulian hyperbolic parlance) with a reasonably predictable life span of hundreds (perhaps thousands) of years. And your current annual income is many trillions of dollars.
What sort of financial debt can you reasonably assume (and pay back over time) to willing investors in a world of open financial markets?
I know... it's a very big scary number. The kind of number only Dr. Ron Paul can wield like a club and beat you with until you're a senseless, drooling idiotarian-libertarian.
Here's a thought: Try taking an economics course and avoid being hoodwinked by Paulian libertarian hyperbole.
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 9:46am):
Apparently this Anonymous guy is very ignorant!
-Mark
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 9:48am):
HERE COME THE FREAKS!
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 9:50am):
The writing is on the wall. Our once great nation is tumbling into an abyss. The present two party system is broken and needs a tune-up before it's too late. Democrats and Republicans do not represent the majority of Americans, and they are making 100% of the decisions. Blindly following them and dismissing any ideas that are too radical for your simple minds will only lead us into another depression. Why not eliminate the federal income tax? It only accounted for 1/3 of the federal budget of 2006. If you were to eliminate 1/3 of the 2006 budget, you would still have more money remaining than the entrie budget for the year 2000. It's not wars or healthcare that's ruining this country, it's the open check book that we have given to these politicians and they are not held accountable. They keep spending and we keep electing them.
A great quote which opened my eyes is "If you keep the people fighting amongst themselves, they will not fight against you"
These politicians enjoy a divided nation, it gives them job security.
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 9:56am):
Ron Paul is the only candidate bringing to light important issues that have been ignored since Reagan ran in 1980. It's funny how some folks resist his message of personal liberty and integrity; perhaps because they don't want to take responsibility for decisions they make in their own lives.
Ron Paul wants to liberate people from government dependence, the very reason our founders declared indepence. The shrinking middle class has been dependent on the government for decades, and this aspect is getting worse with each passing year.
Because of our current monetary and taxation system, a common member of the middle class can not afford Social Security, Medicare/caid, private health insurance, and a private retirement account (one that the investment can be passed on to anyone you choose) at the same time. Since SS and Medicare are mandatory cuts from paychecks, the middle class has no choice but to be dependent on these programs where 'investments can not be passed on to the persons of choice'. This means their heirs will not gain the fruits of their labor, unlike the more affluet in society, who can afford lucrative private investments that can be passed on. This keeps the poor poor, and will eventually hit the affluent generations down the road.
Just one example on inflation: in Alabama (where I live), in 1968 unleaded gas was .40 a gallon. 25 years later, in 1993, gas was .99 a gallon. Today gas is 2.61 a gallon. It took 25 years to go up 59 cents. But in the last 14 years it has risen 1.62. Why? because the Fed just keeps printing more and more money (money that we pay for) that is based on nothing.
And this, coupled with our fiat money, will be the downfall of the United States.
Vote Ron Paul if you want to stop it.
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 10:03am):
I appreciate Ron Paul's integrity to his ideals, something not often seen these days in American politics. However, while his administration would be far less morally reprehensible than the current one, the consequences of his radical minimal-government approach could be even worse for the US in the long run, especially given our ridiculous current debt--cutting taxes is not going to help pay off $9 trillion and counting.
The world has moved on since the Founding Fathers attempted to cobble together a working government, and while the end result wasn't half bad, worshiping at its altar is not a viable strategy for progress.
But hey, it's all academic--Ron Paul is too extreme to win a GOP nomination, and without party backing, his odds are nil. $5 in the third quarter? Remind me what Obama and Hillary pulled in again...
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 10:09am):
"Ron Paul is the candidate for white males who are confused by complex issues and need their public policy dumbed down to the point where it makes other people, like me, laugh at you."
Ah, the ol' white-male rap again! Yeah, I laugh too when I look at the candidates liberals has brought us. Also, consider the fact that all the Democrats who were elected in 2006 have caved in to Bush and his regime.
As for the white male crap, that is the reason minorities never get anywhere. Keep blaming all your stupid problems on Whitey, because it's so convenient for you, but in the end, you'll still be spinning your wheels in the mud.
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 10:17am):
"Ron Paul is the candidate for white males who are confused by complex issues..."
The voice of liberal America. You had your salad days back in the 90's. Now it's over and all you have left are old season compilation DVD's. Oh, the memories.
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 10:25am):
OK, Sam, since you're so keen to engage in actual debate:
What do you think of Ron Paul's support for the gold standard, which most economists agree would cause a huge contraction in the money supply and thus an economic meltdown?
What do you think of his opposition to the federal war on drugs, only to encourage states to replace it with fifty separate wars on drugs?
Do you agree with Dr. Paul that states should be permitted to declare official religions (read: Christian sects) and discriminate against those who don't follow them?
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 10:26am):
Last I checked, conservatives are the majority at UW-Madison.
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 10:29am):
Reduce Federal spending by 40% and you can abolish the IRS. Just go back to year 2000 taxation levels and we can get rid of it.
The cash infusion into the economy would result in a huge boost.
I personally would have an additional $114 per week to spend on retirement and a medical savings plan. (boring)
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 10:42am):
To the first Anonymous poster,
I doubt it is the Ron Paul supporters who need things dumbed down. Rather they are the ones concerned with the esoteric but important issues like America's place in the globe (not just the Iraq War), the wisdom of fiat currency, the utility of the United Nations and the importance of American sovereignty. People may laugh at his supporters but the fact his Rep. Paul and his flying Circus is doing more to shake up American political culture than all the other candidates combined.
Ronald S. Ramo
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 11:00am):
RON PAUL 2008!!!
FINALLY A PRESIDENT WE CAN BE PROUD OF!!!
-J. Hand, Jacksonville FL
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 11:06am):
Thanks for the article. There are signs for Ron Paul all over my city too. Word is spreading. The press can't tell us who to vote for. It is our choice.
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 11:20am):
The spelling, and punctuation of the above posters does a great disservice to Paul. Although I may be as far left as he is right, I still think he's better in some ways than even the most "leftist" Democrats. For example, he's condemned our support of countless dictators, whose regimes we've propped up with taxpayer dollars, even those who were on the anti-communist front lines, such as Franco in Spain. And he's against growing imperialist ventures into Latin America, although his motivations are different.
On the other hand, his isolationism and withdrawl would be disastrous. Locking all the doors won't keep immigrants out. There will always be some immigration, but there has been absolutely no effort by anyone in the government to analyze WHY there is so much, and even less effort to solve the structural conditions in Mexico and farther south that create migration.
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 11:47am):
This should read,
In response to the FIRST two comments...
...The important thing for you to remember, Montag, is we're the Happiness Boys, the Dixie Duo, you and I and the others. We stand against the small tide of those who want to make everyone unhappy with conflicting theory and thought. We have our fingers in the dike. Hold steady. Don't let the torrent of melancholy and drear philosophy drown our world. We depend on you. I don't think you realize how important you are, we are, to our happy world as it stands now.
~Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 12:08pm):
Mocking Ron Paul through machiavellian attacks is silly when you don't provide an alternative candidate.
Calling Ron Paul a fascist was a nice touch though, I have to admist I laughed. Time to realize collectivism withering away doesn't prompt a resurge of ancient, dated, warmongering techniques. Get your corporatism out of my free market, please!
Oh, and I don't vote for neocon chickenhawks.
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 12:16pm):
First anon user stated:
"The reason we make fun of Ron Paul and Pals is because of how out of touch you are with reality."
Didn't Sean Hannity say this not too long ago on Faux News? Is that the new slander piece being used as a talking point?
So...ummm...getting back to the Constitution is "out of touch with reality". Wow...who would have thought.
Anyways, you slander rangers ever going to join up and go over to Iraq and be the macho men you claim to be? Easy to 'fight' a war with bs talk. Classic neocon chickenhawks.
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 12:21pm):
I think somebody at the Badger Herald doesn't like white males. Whassamatta, libs? Afraid Ron Paul will outshine Hillary and Obama? Is that why certain posts were deleted here? I guess that's what happens every time liberals lose their status. they get desperate and try to censor other people's free speech.
And the anti-white male comment posted by 1:59am is pure proof that liberals have lost it.
BTW, Sam Clegg, you look so sexy sitting on that toilet. Is that your office?
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 12:40pm):
"3. Constitution has no race or color we are all equal in its eyes."
Is that why for 76 years under the Constitution we enslaved blacks?
"The Founding Fathers didn't want us involved in Foreign affairs, and didn't want us to police the world. Why not go back to listening to what created this country in the first place?"
Chris, the Founding Fathers didn't live in a world with nuclear weapons and genocide. (well, except for when they killed all those Native Americans)
Isolationism or non-interventionism isn't as practical now as it was in 1789.
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 12:49pm):
I'm guessing 25% of the comments above defending Ron Paul were actually written by UW students, or even Wisconsin residents.
And who says it's just "liberals" attacking him?
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 1:16pm):
"What do you think of Ron Paul's support for the gold standard, which most economists agree would cause a huge contraction in the money supply and thus an economic meltdown?"
Ha I love it when pseudo intellectual "economists" try to talk down to the rest of us. Here is a newsflash: most modern day economists are MORONS!
Why is it so hard to understand that if you endlessly print money that the value of every dollar in existence will go down?
Why is it so hard to understand that those that spend the new dollars first before the market knows about them gets their full worth, thereby enabling a transfer of wealth?
Please enlighten us.
-Nick
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 1:29pm):
Sam, if googling your name forever ties you with Ron Paul, I think you have done yourself a great service.
Although this is coming from a simple minded white male who struggles to grasp complex public policy issues.
Maybe if we make public policies so complex, and no one understands them, they might work.
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 2:15pm):
You know, we tried a weak federal government once. It was the nation as founded under the Articles of Confederation. After about a decade, the founding fathers trashed the system because it created a weak federal government makes for a weak nation.
We tried life without a federal reserve. After a regular cycle of financial panics, one of which was so bad that J. P. Morgan had to bail out the federal government, we went to a more centralized financial system. We had one depression, but nothing like the frequency of financial disasters of the Gilded Age.
We once had life without a United Nations. It gave us two world wars in three decades. Since the creation of the UN, we've had minor wars, but no all-enveloping ones, and no wars on the soil of first world nations, thus protecting the global economy from collapse.
In other words, almost everything that Paul espouses has been tried and replaced with something better. A weak federation would get eaten alive by the global economy, especially with a consolidating Europe.
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 3:12pm):
I don't know much about Ron Paul, but reading his supporters comments sound like the ramblings of cult followers. Like I said, I can't comment either way on his ideals, but these comments come acrossed as pure idol worship.
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 4:20pm):
"Why is it so hard to understand that if you endlessly print money that the value of every dollar in existence will go down?"
Good thing the Fed doesn't do that, then.
"Why is it so hard to understand that those that spend the new dollars first before the market knows about them gets their full worth, thereby enabling a transfer of wealth?"
So economics is bullshit when debunking the gold standard, but when it comes to criticizing fiat money it's A-OK? Pick a side, dude.
There just aren't enough shiny rocks in the ground to replace the full value of American currency and financial assets. Putting us on the gold standard would result in a massive monetary contraction.
Can you tell us how replacing 10 of my fiat dollars with 4 gold dollars will make me better off?
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 4:44pm):
There is some good dialogue here and of course a bunch of uneducated moronic postings as well who simply do not understand the concept of liberty, sovereignty and free market economy. Especially to someone who is an econ major questiioning the return to a gold or commodity based satndard. Wtf? So does your econ professor claim that a free market economy is based on the whims of private central banking and their monetary policy? You think that a private monopoly of bankers has the right to create money from nothing and lend it to the government and then saddle the working population with a tax on their labor to pay the interest on this fiat money. No! I say WTF? Further, nearly every other candidate has no intention of ending this war, so we can keep paying for it with blood and more loans from the banks while our own economy goes to hell. I am not saying that Paul can fix this, no one can, but he can definately soften the blow. My vote and my money will back him. Also go to pledgebank dot com and pledge your support for Ron Paul. If just a million people gave 100 dollars, paul would have more money than Hillary.
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 6:02pm):
For people who don't like the idea of the gold standard, I guess fiat money backed by nothing is better? One idiot on here talked about being adults and paying mortgages. Ironic that the housing market is at an all time low right now. Stop listening to the "experts" on T.V because their opinion is not fact.
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 7:25pm):
I have nothing to add but TOGA! TOGA! TOGA!
- Germain E. Stemme
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 7:45pm):
It's not the rich white males who are supporting Paul, it's the poor ones who live in their parents basements and sit at their computer all day thinking they're starting a revolution by posting on the Ron Paul + 9/11 Truth message boards. You are all abject failures at life existing on the fringes of society where you can cling close to conspiracy theories that satisfy your romanticized fantasies. Grow up, wipe the cheetos residue off your mouth, walk up the stairs, open the basement door, give your rent check to mom and go outside and start interacting with real live humans.
Ron Johnson (October 10, 2007 @ 9:25pm):
Anonymous 4:20--Our dollar today is worth about the same as 4cents in 1913, the year the Fed was created. Due to Federal Reserve policies, the dollar lost about 96% of it's value in the last century, most of the loss coming after the U.S. went off the international gold standard during the Nixon years. In the century before 1913, the dollar lost nothing.
"Can you tell us how replacing 10 of my fiat dollars with 4 gold dollars will make me better off?"
First of all, "gold dollars" tell me nothing about how much gold we're talking about. If, say, we were talking about an ounce of gold, we'd say that it takes $730 in fiat money to equal one ounce of gold. A month ago it took only $650 in fiat dollars to equal one ounce of gold, meaning the fiat money lost the equivalent of $80 of value per ounce of gold. It's not that the gold became more scarce, but that the dollar has become more common, and thus became devalued versus gold. (There are actually other factors, but this is the broad sketch.)
Knowing this, would you rather have had $650 in paper money one month ago, or one ounce of gold?
Ron Paul is right about the Fed and inflation.
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 10:36pm):
The person relating our country being in debt to a person having a mortgage for 30 years at an amount many times more than my annual income sounds good on the surface.
But, its the entire premise that is anti-freedom. Because we are now a debt based society instead of being true owners of our most critical assets.
If you look at the percentage of people who used to actually own what they lived in vs. what was carried with debt you will see that over the past 100 years our country has changed dramatically.
Now it's not a matter of working your way up paying as you go it's a matter of whether you can afford the mortgage payment or not. With a debt based monetary policy the entire economy has now adjusted to the extent that it is more and more impossible for the average wage earning American to ever outright own his most important asset.
The difference here is very important. This causes us to become very subject to others instead of being free.
Property tax is abhorant becuase it is the assertion that the government owns all the land in this nation and its willing to rent it back to us.
Income tax is the second most abhorant because it is the assertion that the government owns all our income and its willing to let us have some of it back.
These two aspects were not part of the founding of this nation but represent major corruptions of our free society towards a society that is more easily manipulated by the powers that be.
The philosophical argument that Libertarians lose all the time is that they don't care about others. The difficult thing to show to their defence is that "charity" based on theft and compulsion is a violation of our most basic and fundamental rights. The nation we live in can only survive if our government truly upholds the oath of office to defend the constitution which is the American citizens advocate to protect their most basic and fundamental rights.
Unfortunately, our government has become the most powerful usurper of these basic fundamental rights that made this nation the greatest, most prosperous on earth.
If we return to this form of government, yes individuals will have to go back to being responsible for ourselves and accept whatever we are able to accomplish on our own merits, but it will be ours. All ours. And, when we do charitable things around the community, nation and world we will know that it is true charity because nobody was holding a club or a gun to our heads.
The whole notion of welfare supported by compulsive measures is nothing more than a few people who pretend to care about others but use the "dire needs" around them as a means to guilt people into allowing them to accept a false notion that we need others to force us to "do good". Or, some feel it necessary to steal from others and use the democratic process to steal from others to do their "do gooding" around the globe when is all they really wanted was power and control.
What Ron Paul is pointing out is that this nation is like a snake that is eating its own tail and that even though the flesh we are consuming is nourishing and creating a false sense of prosperity the time will come when vital organs will be reached in the consumption process and cause the breakdown and collapse of the entire body.
One such vital organ that is breaking down is the family unit.
We must return to our Constitutional Values!
Ron Paul, Hope for America!
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 11:34pm):
"I'm guessing 25% of the comments above defending Ron Paul were actually written by UW students, or even Wisconsin residents."
Yeah, like a bunch of out-of-state residents would actually pick the Badger Herald to vent. Liberals suck and this is proof.
Anonymous (October 10, 2007 @ 11:38pm):
"Although this is coming from a simple minded white male who struggles to grasp complex public policy issues."
And minorities can't figure out why fewer people give a crap about 'em! BTW, has anyone noticed how sad liberals on State Street seem lately? Ten years ago, they were the biggest loudmouths. Now they just mosey along, like they're trying real hard not to be noticed.
Anonymous (October 11, 2007 @ 9:43am):
"So economics is bullshit when debunking the gold standard, but when it comes to criticizing fiat money it's A-OK? Pick a side, dude."
No i said most economists are morons. Not correct economic assertions. Just because some prof at your school says "monetary contraction" doesn't makes it correct. How is it there was no inflation until 1913? Goods should get cheaper with time as manufacturing advances progress. Do you really think that it takes more time/effort/money now to produce the same bushel of corn?? Of course not! It seems more expensive because our dollars are progressively worth less and less.
"There just aren't enough shiny rocks in the ground to replace the full value of American currency and financial assets. Putting us on the gold standard would result in a massive monetary contraction."
Says who? Tying the dollar to something of real value would help protect Americans savings. It also would curtail some of the powers of the federal government. Do you really think the American people would stand for the amount of new taxes necessary to actually fund the war, social programs, needless departments, etc..?
Economics is often the study of maximized profits. What is good for a trans-national corporation is not necessarily what is best for the average middle class american.
"Can you tell us how replacing 10 of my fiat dollars with 4 gold dollars will make me better off?"
Somebody else already has a good explanation of this one.
-Nick
Anonymous (October 11, 2007 @ 2:02pm):
How nice all these non-students are charging in to defend the honor of DOCTOR PAUL!
Julia Wells (October 11, 2007 @ 8:54pm):
I have a heart and a head conviction that the next President elected, if from the frontrunners will be the last link we have
to America. They will sever National Sovereignty and ruin us.
Elect Ron Paul! We MUST get out of these foreign entanglements or we will cease to exist as a nation. He speaks the truth.
Anonymous (October 16, 2007 @ 5:40am):
Most of the people criticizing Ron Paul are media shills hired by the CFC and the international bankers that own the Federal Reserve who in turn used the money they counterfeit to buy up control of main stream media. They have been given a manual written by propaganda experts full of lies and misrepresentations that they copy and paste to mislead and confuse. However, if you notice the comments on other sites you will see the wording is almost verbatim.
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