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."
“You could cut (the military budget) in half and even (more) later on because there’s nobody likely to attack us.”
Ron Paul...the Libtard wing of the libertarians.
Yeah, ask him who flew planes into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. Go ahead.
Ridiculous. We should be giving American lives and giving away American taxpayer (borrowed) dollars all over the world! What a loon.
You said it
One thing the American people are not going to wake up to, is the building of a Victory Mosque on, or near ground zero. You can stuff that idea where the sun don't shine.
Why don't you all realize that Paul has the best shot so far at beating Obama. The polls even say so. If all the FReepers would just get behind him we could win. He won't have the power to do all the stuff he talks about - even he knows that, but it would be a huge step in the right direction for this country.
I know, I know...paultards this and stupid graphics that...
Many FReepers better clue in before it's too late. It's very frustrating to know that many conservatives are so afraid of the boogeyman terrorists, they are willing to let our country go broke.
Most of these folks are the same ones who own lots of guns and ammo and are always talking bout how so and so better not mess with them or they'd use it...so what are they so afraid of again?
Ah, yes...it is homosexuals. As long as we have massive military spending and no homosexuals it is fine if we go broke.
Yeah, ask him who flew planes into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. Go ahead.
Some might be willing to give up our freedoms because Chertoff profits and Schumer and the neocons lobby for more loss of liberty and neutralizing our Bill of Rights...I’m not.
We need a military that defends the USA, not the rest of the world. In that respect I agree with Paul. I also agree that while we get divided on less important stuff we forget about the big stuff like the future of our country.
When we were powerful and fiscally strong I could support agreements to defend other countries. Now that we grossly in debt any country that gets the benefit of our defense should pay for it. I’m for ending all foreign aid, and using it to nation build the USA instead of other countries too.
Military spending has nothing to do with being a "favorite," it is a simple necessity.
Why don't you all realize that Paul has the best shot so far at beating Obama.
Because it's not true.
The polls even say so.
Actually, they don't.
If all the FReepers would just get behind him we could win.
If FReepers had the power to decide the GOP nomination we would have never been stuck with McCain.
He won't have the power to do all the stuff he talks about - even he knows that, but it would be a huge step in the right direction for this country.
You mean all of the Ron Paul "Revolution" stuff was just fluff meant to get donations from basement-dwelling potheads?
I know, I know...paultards this and stupid graphics that...
It's hard to ignore the obvious.
Many FReepers better clue in before it's too late.
Yeah, yep far too many FReepers are Paultards and I don't think they will be around here for much longer.
It's very frustrating to know that many conservatives are so afraid of the boogeyman terrorists, they are willing to let our country go broke.
First of all, if the Paultards had a clue what conservatives believed they wouldn't support Paul.
Secondly, boogeymen are IMAGINARY (e.g. they don't actually exist), terrorists are very real and very dangerous. Or are you one of those who thinks that 9/11 was an "inside job"?
Most of these folks are the same ones who own lots of guns and ammo and are always talking bout how so and so better not mess with them or they'd use it...so what are they so afraid of again?
Yeah, because guns and ammo are so effective against hijacked 747s and dirty bombs.
Ah, yes...it is homosexuals. As long as we have massive military spending and no homosexuals it is fine if we go broke.
Yep, the Paultards love sodomy and killing babies.
Thanks for demonstrating how dangerous Paul and the Paultards are to America.
Because he doesn't. He's a liberaltarian not a conservative. There IS a big difference.
So who does poll best against obama then?
I see the purge of Paul supporters is on your mind...very disheartening to think FReepers can’t stand contrary conservative views.
I’ve come to realize FReepers are a fearful bunch.
Well said. I might have responded to mommya, but I was laughing too hard.
“I’ve come to realize FReepers are a fearful bunch.”
I served in the military, what have you done?
Soldiers get paid a pittance, we go out to protect the rights of those who HATE us and do we complin?
No.
We do it because we can and we want to, it is our duty.
But then YOU come along and complain, then you defame FR with the quote above?
GET OFF FR IF YOU DISLIKE US SO UCH.
Many of us here in forum have served, go back to your stinking troll hole!
Sure they are socially liberal, but fiscally conservative.
Right now we’re on the brink of fiscal collapse - so pick which is more important to you.
Collapse or gay marraige?
Going broke or potheads?
No jobs or no nanny state?
Easy.
I like Paul. Perhaps he goes overboard on some of his foriegn policy positions but I could live with that easier than the RINOism of most of the current Republican field. I do agree that we need to quit funding Middle Eastern countries and entities, including Israel. Israel can take care of itself.
“We’re going to go broke and part of the reason is military spending, “
So Obamacare and runaway liberal spending has nothing to do with it?
Orchestrated street theater takedowns of the U.S. economy isn’t an issue?
If you hate the miliotary so much, go somewhere where they don’t have one.
Which means they are NOT conservatives. You can't be a social liberal and conservative.
And our fiscal problems are not related to ANYTHING that you listed.
YOU were the one who said that moRon Paul has the best chance of beating Zero, that makes it YOUR JOB to back it up.
I see the purge of Paul supporters is on your mind...very disheartening to think FReepers can’t stand contrary conservative views.
They aren't "contrary conservative views," they are liberal views with a moderate dose of fiscal conservatism, that's what libertarianism is.
I’ve come to realize FReepers are a fearful bunch.
Are we back on terrorism?
You never did answer about 9/11. Do you think 9/11 was:
A. An act of war committed by terrorists (who you dismiss as "boogeymen").
B. An "inside job."
C. Something else.
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