"The nation needs a strong, independent Coast Guard" - Ron Paul

US Congress ^ | June 2002 | Ron Paul

[malibu2008]

Back in 2002 - and still in May 2007 - Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) wanted the United States Coast Guard, FEMA, INS, and U.S. Customs Service to remain independent and directly responsible to the local communities they serve to increase their efficiency.

USCG - "The Coast Guard and its mission are very important to the Texas Gulf coast, and I don’t want that mission relegated to the back burner in a huge bureaucracy."

FEMA - "FEMA needs to be a flexible, locally focused, hands-on agency that helps people quickly after a disaster."

U.S. Customs - "My coastal district also relies heavily on shipping for jobs," Paul stated. "Last year alone, more than one million tons of goods moved through ports in my district. The Customs Service must operate efficiently in these ports, or shipping jobs go elsewhere."

INS - "My constituents and my staff caseworkers worry that INS red tape will get worse . . . In my district close to the Mexican border, the INS directly affects the lives of thousands of people. Immigration matters are best decided by people familiar with border communities, . . .placing the agency in a giant department defeats that goal."

[edcoil]

I went into the Navy, I was not tall enough to get into the Coast Guard.

The minimum height requirement used to be six foot tall.

That way if the boat sinks, you can walk to shore.

[RinaseaofDs]

I graduated from USCGA in 1988, and thought I’d heard all of them.

Your’s is the best.

As for me, I’m only 5’7”, so I had to get a waiver.

[Zack Nguyen]

I get the distinct impression that this is Ron Paul's idea of a War on Terror - Fortress America - just shut the borders, beef up the Coast Guard and everything will be fine. I strongly disagree - we need a strong Coast Guard, well-guarded borders, and a vigorous intelligence-gathering, military strike capability. And we need to win in Iraq.

[Irontank]

Actually, the Coast Guard Academy is the most difficult of the service academies into which to gain admission.

I generally agree with Congressman Paul here...every one of these agencies could be improved (as could almost all government) by devolving and decentralizing power and responsibilities to the most local level possible

Of course, FEMA is a completely unconstitutional agency and should just be abolished

[maquiladora]

Great. But what about this -

Voted against war because Iraq was not a national threat. (May 2007)

Opposes Iraq war and opposes path toward Iran war. (Jan 2007)

Voted NO on declaring Iraq part of War on Terror with no exit date. (Jun 2006)

Voted NO on approving removal of Saddam & valiant service of US troops. (Mar 2004)

Voted NO on authorizing military force in Iraq. (Oct 2002)

[malibu2008]

beef up the Coast Guard . . . . Making the USCG and INS more efficient is what the fiscal conservative is getting at - NOT letting in 12 million illegals causing a drain on wages and a multitude of other problems nationwide including breach of security . . . Also, NO AMNESTY !

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I interviewed a USCG Academy graduate for a skipper’s job in the Great Lakes about ten years ago. She was some smart cookie; BS/ME and a 500 ton ticket. One of the gambling barges out bid me...

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

BTTT