Needs Paulycy fixin'! ZOT, not BAN
Posted on 05/11/2011 5:19:28 AM PDT by Kaslin
The man who likely has done more than anyone to put the libertarian philosophy of freedom and small government on the political agenda probably will make another run for the presidency: U.S. Rep. Ron Paul.
Paul is always upbeat, but lately he's had more reason to be, as he sees libertarian ideas bubbling up from the grass roots.
"People outside of Washington are waking up," he told me, "and they're getting the attention of a few in Washington."
Paul has been in Congress more than 20 years, and much of that time he's played a lonely role, often being the only representative to cast "no" vote on bills to expand government.
"Twenty years ago, there weren't very many people around that would endorse these views. So ... I'm very pleased with what's happening. There are more now, but the problems are so much greater."
Because bigger government creates built-in resistance to cuts.
"Everybody has their bailiwick they want to protect: 'We know the spending is bad. But don't touch my stuff.'"
The biggest growth is in entitlements. Recently, after constituents yelled at them, Republicans backed off on their reasonable plan to try to make Medicare sustainable.
"This is one of the places where good conservatives and good libertarians have come up short. ... We get a bad rap that we lack compassion. A liberal who wants to take your money and give it to somebody else ... grab(s) the moral high ground."
At the recent Conservative Political Action Conference, Paul floated a novel idea: "Would you consider opting out of the whole system under one condition? You pay 10 percent of your income, but you take care of yourself -- don't ask the government for anything."
The CPAC crowed applauded. But liberals like MSNBC's Chris Matthews mocked him, sneering that anyone who accepted Paul's offer would have no access to federal highways, air safety, food inspection, cancer research or defense.
Paul laughs at Matthews' shallow criticism. Ever the constitutionalist, he'd like to privatize the federal highways someday, but he notes that even now they are largely financed by the gasoline tax -- essentially a user fee. As for air and food safety, he's sure the airlines and food companies have no desire to kill their customers and that careless companies would be disciplined by competition and the tort system. He claims that government stands in the way of a lot of cancer research.
In other words, it's foolish to assume that just because the government doesn't do something, that it wouldn't be done at all.
"(Matthews is) using fear," Paul said. "They all do that ... use fear to intimidate."
A member of my studio audience asked Paul about the coming vote to raise the debt ceiling.
"They're probably going to ... (but) we shouldn't raise it. We should put pressure on them. If you took away the privilege of the Federal Reserve to buy debt, this thing would all come to an end because if you couldn't print the money to pay for the Treasury bills, interest rates would go up and Congress then would be forced (to cut spending)."
But smart people say we need the Fed to keep the economy going.
"The people who benefit from big government spending love the Fed. ... The Fed is very, very detrimental. You cannot have big, runaway government -- you cannot have these deficits -- if you don't have the Fed."
We libertarians say government is too big, but one thing it is supposed to do is provide for the common defense. Paul criticizes conservatives who support an aggressive foreign policy and says much of what is called "defense" is really offense. "I don't want to cut any defense," he said.
He added: "You could cut (the military budget) in half and even (more) later on because there's nobody likely to attack us. Who's going to invade this country?"
Ever the optimist, Paul says, "We have a tremendous opportunity now because most people realize government's failing ... ."
Yet he's a realist: "I think ... our problems are going to get worse ... before we correct them."
Needs Paulycy fixin'! ZOT, not BAN
the same nut also said to get rid of the CIA, FBI, NSA etc
the man is a complete fool and his supporters try and make it look like he is popular but if he were ten go on the libertarian ticket not the GOP one
are you sick?
Homosexuals do not behind in the military and I will say this too, they should not be granted equal rights just because they like having sex in a certain way and an unnatural way
you think they should then you need to seek mental help like those you seem to protect
ZOT
ZOT
these loons are more liberal than liberals on many issues and yet use the CPAC, this site , other sites like this and our platform to push their agenda.
Well JR has already said no more and more republicans need to tell these loons to use their own platform to push their own agenda
hey dummy you’re not conservative you are a libertarian using this conservative site to push your libertarian values, hell you’re more liberal than liberals on social issues so don’t start going on about us and this site
Oh, you know I loooooove that video! Thanks for reminding me, but I have it bookmarked, you know.
no such word as gay when referring to those who like sex i an un-natural way
they are homosexuals or queers but certainly not gay, that is played by the left and their name game
Exactly, they are far worse than most self-proclaimed leftists.
Not so anymore. The mob wants blood, the mob gets blood. I'm ashamed to say I've been caught up in it before.
Good luck, the_conscience and mommya, and God bless.
Things were different then. Far different. We're at war with Islam, we have an administration that is anti-American, and liberals who want to infiltrate this site and spread their garbage. Enough is enough. You want to debate them, go to their sites.
It’s perfect! Great job, Pauly. Thank you so much. I’m going to go use it on that pestilential thread we’ve been spamming.
The Boss himself read their posts and zotted them. What’s the problem?
:0)
It is, isn't it. :-)
What do the kids say....wAAAAAY cool. lol
LOL! Jim is a man of action. Not of words!
Let's see, the Paultards are typically pro-homosexual marriage, want homosexuals in the military, pro-abortion, pro-drug, pro-pornography, pro-prostitution, anti-military, anti-WOT, anti-Israel and happen to dislike taxes.
What's the 80% you agree with?
Not so anymore. The mob wants blood, the mob gets blood. I'm ashamed to say I've been caught up in it before.
This is a CONSERVATIVE forum, why should we accommodate leftists?
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