Climb On Board The 'Ron Paul Revolution'

TheDay ^ | 9/16/2007 | Marc Guttman

[NapkinUser]

When Americans evaluate today's political landscape, most feel something between impotence and disapproval. So, while citizens shake their heads or shrug at the mainstream media's “top tier” presidential candidates, it is extraordinary how many are becoming overjoyed about one lesser covered candidate.

Tens-of-thousands have joined the appropriately named Ron Paul Revolution, joining Meetup.com groups, putting up signs, and crossing states to attend rallies. Congressman Ron Paul's genuine message and untarnished record of promoting individual liberty for everyone, a free-market economy of wealth and abundance, and a foreign policy of non-intervention, peace and free trade, has attracted vast support from diverse individuals. Inspired libertarians, Democrats, independents, and previous nonvoters have registered Republican so they can vote for Ron Paul in the primaries.

For those who watch mostly mainstream media sources, Paul is one of the most “searched” humans in cyberspace, has won several straw polls, has been the subject of dozens of blogs, and has an amazing number of entertaining, amateur Youtube.com videos promoting him.

Ron Paul, a medical doctor, worked as a flight surgeon for the U.S. Air Force before becoming an obstetrician. As a 10-term congressman, he has consistently promoted individual rights and kept his oath to defend our Constitution. In 1988, he was the Libertarian Party's nominee for president. As a supporter of Dr. Paul's for more than a decade, I enjoy watching people first learn about this great statesman and appreciate the universal benefits of liberty.

So just what is it that many of us think Ron Paul gets? Why do we want a president who does not want to run our lives nor our economy? How can we make our lives on this planet more peaceful, fairer, greener, and more prosperous? Let me discuss (too) briefly a few important, and recently highlighted, issues.

Our foreign policies have gone well beyond matters of defense. Regardless of whether our intervention in the affairs of other countries is altruistic or self-interest, it is a negative for everyone. Not only do we not have the right, we have created enemies who are now aggressors against us, making us less safe; we have supported those who would oppress many; we have militarized areas of conflict; we have unwisely spent borrowed trillions; we have created opportunity for large-scale graft; many well-intentioned Americans and innocents have been killed or injured and otherwise have had their lives disrupted.

Military is for protection

The only appropriate use of our military is to protect Americans. It is immoral and illegal to order U.S. soldiers into battle for any other reason. If we truly want peace, to be safer, and to not drain the pockets of our children, we should redeploy our military personel back to our shores and waters and trade freely with all nations.

Consumers have enjoyed the benefits of lower prices and better quality in products and services offered by the least regulated industries. Unfortunately, two of our most important services are the most heavily regulated. Public education has innovated little in 50 years and student performance is poorer. Patients find it more and more difficult to access affordable health care.

To provide quality health care to the greatest number of people, the costs for all levels of care need to be less prohibitive, so that near everyone can achieve a level of care to which they are comfortable. This is accomplished by deregulating the industry, re-establishing competition amongst health care insurers and providers, and allowing patients more freedom in their health choices.

Corporations benefit unfairly from favorable legislation that drives out competitors, harming the consumer. There is only one way to end this inequity and to get money and corruption out of politics. Take back the power from politicians by returning government to its constitutional limits.

There is no surer way to have the money you have earned for yourself and your family be used to support that which you do not value and given to those who have not earned it than by allowing the government to tax your income.

They say a frog thrown into a pot of boiling water will immediately jump out, while a frog in a pot of water that is slowly brought to a boil will remain to be cooked. Authoritarian usurpations of our freedoms progresses.

Laws prevent adults from making decisions for themselves every day. They decide when you must use personal protective equipment, what you cannot eat or drink, what you cannot sell and buy, how much you are to get paid for a service, who is not allowed to provide services, and what medical therapies you may choose for yourself.

Right now there are untold numbers of people being imprisoned, without due process, by the U.S government that have not been charged with a crime. The Real ID Act has been passed and soon Americans will have to present their papers to be allowed the privilege to travel domestically. Citizens are spied upon by government officials without legal warrant.

In our often well-intentioned attempt to solve more quickly the few problems suffered by any free society, we have created wider-spread, deeper-rooted and longer-standing ones by burdening ourselves with the heavy fist of government. Many of us think an effective way to advance liberty and enjoy the benefits of a free society is to elect Ron Paul president. So, order a yard sign and a bumper sticker, donate to the campaign, join a local Meetup group, register Republican for the primary, and join the Ron Paul Revolution.

Marc Guttman is an emergency doctor and vice chairman of the Libertarian Party of Connecticut. He lives in East Lyme.

[MNJohnnie]

Message of Freedom?

Why doesn’t Ron run over and ask the fat cats he got $400 million in earmarks for to pay his bills?

[George W. Bush]

When people join the military, they know there is always a chance they will go to war. See, that's one of the main reasons we have a military. And we have an all-volunteer military, no less.

Some of these folks enlisted before the Iraq war. Some enlisted in National Guard, never expecting overseas duty since that's relatively rare for the Guard. Many have been recalled after leaving the military from the Reserves. So they aren't precisely comparable to your civilian job. You knew what you were signing up for. And you have renewed (AFAIK) for a specific amount of time. And your obligation is, at most, a civil contract. The troops don't have the same options if they don't want to be the beat cops for the Iraq government or if they simply think they've spent enough time on Iraq and want to get on with their lives, spend time with their families, etc.

I was merely pointing out that your situation is different from that of many of the troops.

[MNJohnnie]

Building Converts? Really so that why he went from 3% to 1% in the professional polls.

[hedgetrimmer]

What’s wrong with you, are you illiterate?

No, I didn't imply you said something else, so I am quoting you again.

Now, tell me why GW Bush (and the current Republican leadership) doesn't repudiate Saudi Arabia and the other middle eastern countries who fund muslim terrorism? You have made a false argument, and I am just calling it to your attention.

[Eric Blair 2084]

He is an amusing little pussbag.

I don't believe for a second that is the real reason. Mike Huckabee is an amusing "Big Gubmint, nanny state, tax raising, illegal immigrant coddling theocrat pussbag".

If a Huckabee thread gets 4 responses its unusual. There is something more here.

[George W. Bush]

Bzzzzzzzzzt. Sorry. You’ve failed again. You’re not doing very well.

Unlike you, the AG knows full well the additional legal measures that come into effect with a congressionally-declared war.

Our troops are in a war or maybe now, just a police action since there's no national military in Iraq that they're fighting now. But our nation is not at war officially. The AG is correct even if you don't like it. The authority of the executive branch, the AG, the military would all be stronger if we had declared a war which is, incidentally, what Ron Paul wanted when he offered declarations of war for both Afghanistan and Iraq.

[Hydroshock]

Juanie, if you are against him then that is another resoundly positive mark in his favor!!!

[Dr. Frank fan]

Look, I don’t mind that you’re there

How generous of you! You "don't mind" that someone is doing something that doesn't affect you in the slightest. I'm sure Allegra is relieved to have your permission.

But since you signed up for it as a civilian, you have less right to complain about it than do our soldiers,

I must have missed the part of the Constitution where it discusses these gradations of which type of people have "less right to complain about" things than other type of people.

Allegra has just as much right to complain about it as you or I do. The point, which you seem to have missed, is that Allegra (and many others) are actually affected by the thing. One would think that a person's "complaining" would be in some sort of proportion with the extent to which they're actually affected by the thing they're complaining about (or not). Yet what we have seen in the case of Iraq, is that this is not the case. It's almost the opposite: the less someone is affected by it, the more "tired of" it they become and the more "complaining" they do. Which is weird, and I still haven't figured it out.

many of whom signed up for military service before the current situation developed.

This is not relevant to anything unless you're actually suggesting that soldiers must be told of all possible wars in advance when they sign up. Sorry, soldiers are grownups and they know (or should) that when they sign up for the military, military efforts requiring their participation might take place in the future. That's kinda the point, in fact.

[George W. Bush]

Now, tell me why GW Bush (and the current Republican leadership) doesn't repudiate Saudi Arabia and the other middle eastern countries who fund muslim terrorism? You have made a false argument, and I am just calling it to your attention.

You know, when even the United Nations can figure out that the Saudis are funding al-Qaeda, it has to be pretty damned obvious, yah?

[elhombrelibre]

What is the false statement? I never said he had repudiated Saudi Arabia. I don’t agree that Saudi Arabia, a country that has helped us many times, is a country that officially supports terror against Americans. I do know people living there do support it, as do people in many countries. Saudi Arabia worked with the US against the Soviets in Afghanistan and against Saddam’s take over of Kuwait and against Iran’s attempt to overthrow Saddam after he started a war with Iran. Run Paul would rather give into al Qaeda, and perhaps you would too, than push Saudi Arabia towards reform. Saudi Arabia’s got a mixed record at best, but it’s not as big of an enemy as al Qaeda no matter what you say.

[Lakeshark]

You quote something I never said, what's up with that?

Then you call me a "neo-con", recite moonbat talking points, and ask why I'm fussing about Ron Paul threads.......

It's all about his supporters I guess. They just seem so, well...............pathetic.

Now get that burrito for Allegra, okay?

[Petronski]

...a war-profiteer defense contractor.

Are you addressing someone in particular?

[elhombrelibre]

Why doesn’t Run Paul repudiate the skin head supporters he has? Why doesn’t Run Paul repudiate the Truthers he has? Two can play this game. See www.outlawjournalism.com for a good idea of the types of flakes who support Run Paul.

[George W. Bush]

This is not relevant to anything unless you're actually suggesting that soldiers must be told of all possible wars in advance when they sign up. Sorry, soldiers are grownups and they know (or should) that when they sign up for the military, military efforts requiring their participation might take place in the future. That's kinda the point, in fact.

No, they don't have to be told and they did sign up. Fine. But bringing them out of the Reserves when they've chosen to leave the military simply because we have failed to adequately enlarge the size of the military when it was so obviously necessary given the operations we'd already begun in Afghanistan and Iraq isn't exactly kosher either.

Our present situation is our own fault. Bush and Rumsfeld had years to increase the size of the military and they should have done it at least three years ago. I blame Rumsfeld for this planning and recruitment failure. We simply should have more troops given the size of our operations let alone our need to respond to other more significant military threats around the world.

[elhombrelibre]

Get Allegra her fries, you pompous little, Left wing defeatist, propagandists.

[elhombrelibre]

Why do you think we need more troops if you intend to surrender like Run Paul wants to do? You don’t need more troops to do that. You’re brilliant. Now, get Allegra her burrito.

[Allegra]

Some of these folks enlisted before the Iraq war. Some enlisted in National Guard, never expecting overseas duty since that's relatively rare for the Guard. Many have been recalled after leaving the military from the Reserves.

Yep...I know quite a few National Guardsmen and quite a few Reservists. And I never hear any of them complain, so they really wouldn't appreciate you anti-war types complaining for them. In fact, I can't put out on here what a lot of them say about Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Jack Murtha, etc. because JimRob has rules about language. They embrace the mission and I know some guys who switch units after being redeployed so that they can come back.

You knew what you were signing up for. And you have renewed (AFAIK) for a specific amount of time. And your obligation is, at most, a civil contract.

So? I honor it, no matter how frustrating it gets sometimes. I enjoy what I do. Being a part of this is an honor for me and the most fascinating thing I have ever experienced. And I have lived a pretty exciting life.

I was merely pointing out that your situation is different from that of many of the troops.

Never said it wasn't. Those guys who go out on patrol every day and engage the enemy in firefights have my utmost admiration and are my heroes as are all of these people here.

And I won't have them belittled by a bunch of anti-war types who don't have a clue about how things are here on the ground.

When you belittle my involvement here, it really doesn't bother me. I just consider the source. But when I see people disparaging our troops and their efforts, I'll bite their freakin' heads off.

[Allegra]

Get Allegra her fries, you pompous little, Left wing defeatist, propagandists.

YEAH! And be quick about it! There's football on! Time's a-wastin'!

[Equality 7-2521]

I never quoted you at all. If you can't follow threads on Freerepublic, that's your problem and there's no need to get your panties twisted.

Also, I never called you anything. For that matter, I've never noticed nor cared about your existence at all until you addressed me with your paranoia.

Finally, what the hell are you talking about? Burritos? I don't make burritos, I don't sell burritos, and I damned sure don't serve burritos. You have me confused with someone else--which simply amplifies your confusion in general.