With the thought in mind that many of Ron Paul's followers are young, and the rest (with the exception of some 'troofers' and a few apparent crackpots--to be found among almost any candidate's supporters) are those who recognize his strict Constitutional angle on Government, has anyone thought that those who are coming of age this election or did in the last are looking at what has been policy inexorably pushing their generation and that of their children into the poorhouse before they even start working?
I'd be pretty aggravated with the ongoing government bloat which has afflicted us all with a dim economic future and the power grabs which cost hundreds of billions of as yet unearned dollars--regardless of who has been in power in the Congress and the White House.
For those who are just getting their political feet under them, who do not want to be part of the dependency class, it is a bleak landscape of strangling regulations, fouled-up economy, and crushing debt (taxation) which must be crossed to ever become prosperous.
You don't have to be a genius to see the programs which continue to foul that landscape, the vast majority of which are without Constitutional authorization, or which fly in the face of rational interpretation of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Kids aren't dumb unless they are relentlessly programmed to be that way, and even then, they'll believe their own lying eyes rather than swallow twelve to sixteen years of crap to the contrary of the evidence before them.
Sure, the lazy will turn to the great Government teat and game the system, but the remainder will want to abolish the Departments and Programs which will ultimately rob them of the fruits of their labors--and which already are robbing them, even before they enter the workforce.
Do I find it strange that Libertarianism is making some serious inroads into that emerging voting bloc? Not at all.
Were it not for the drug issue and a couple of others, I think most Conservatives would recognize that Conservatism (in a strict, originalist sense) and Libertarianism have more in common than most would admit.
Continuing to smear the Libertarians over some fringe elements is much the same as the Left smearing Conservatives by lumping them in with neonazis on the 'right wing'.
Time to quit.
Many of us are darned upset with the way the GOP has continued to throw Conservatives under the bus, election cycle after election cycle. The group of college age has seen it, too, if they are politically aware. They can see what the Democrats have been doing. They can see what the Republicans did NOT do when they had the chance.
No one else will name names and say we should eliminate the Department of Education, the EPA, seriously downsize HHS, cut out the Irs and the Income tax, and hammer Government back within its Constitutional constraints. Who else is saying defense starts at home--with our borders? Who else is saying send the illegals home?
I am not surprised that Ron Paul has support from many younger voters.
All they have to do is talk with Grandma and Grandpa and they will have a good idea of the freedoms they have lost. They want them back, and I don't blame them.
Libertarians want to open the border.
Thats a nonstarter, thats a deal killer.
Well said. People need to chill. Ron Paul isn't going to win the GOP nomination, but if he's not thrown out of the tent he'll bring votes to the eventual nominee - assuming the nominee isn't completely unpalatable to libertarians.
“No one else will name names and say we should eliminate the Department of Education, the EPA, seriously downsize HHS, cut out the Irs and the Income tax, and hammer Government back within its Constitutional constraints. Who else is saying defense starts at home—with our borders? Who else is saying send the illegals home?”
Couldn’t have said it better myself. I’ve NEVER heard of any modern “conservative” talk about getting rid of all the agencies and most of the depts. like RP has. You only need to travel within 50 miles of d.c. to see where all the wealth of the nation is going. It’s downright sickening.
A good overview for sure. I won’t disagree with any particular part but only offer a comment or two without doing a lot of indepth thinking about it.
I believe that for many individuals idealism, political outlook and overall risk taking changes with maturity. I believe that youth has its place as that is the time for really exploring and developing your foundation to which you anchor around the rest of your life. Also I think that as one ages to some degree the comfort level for change becomes smaller and therefore one pulls back or isn’t pushing the envelope.
I don’t see the level of support for say a Paul that maybe you see. In 08 in his home state of Texas he received just over 4.8% of the primary vote. Now this is a Texan and well known politician that won just about every online straw poll conducted. Now that tells me that a small percentage of hard core, pushing the envelope types can impact something like a poll but when it comes down to finding the warm bodies at the polling place on election day pulling the lever they can’t be found in large numbers. Their idealism doesn’t translate into votes.
They do make waves and some of the waves stir up debate and that’s not all bad.
Take care.