“because he is the only person with the record on wanting to reduce government.”
What Dr. Paul wants to do to shrink government would not only wreck our economy...would wreck that over other nations as well...his foreign policy would put in a more dangerous situation than Clinton put us in...not to mention leaving some of our most valuable strategic allies vulnerable to attack as well.
The shortsightedness of his policies and the willingness of his followers to ignore those shortcomings is nothing less than amazing.
Not since China is our most dangerous problem.
Cutting the size and scope of government will never wreck an economy. However allowing a government to grow endlessly with no reduction in site can surely wreck an economy. I’m surprised to be having to make this argument to a FReeper.
As to foreign policy, I think us having 700 military bases around the world and being in over 130 countries might just might have something to do with the hatred many people have against the US. If another country had a military base in our country, do you honestly think segments of our population wouldn’t be fighting them with guns and whatever other means they could think of?
First of all my condolences on the loss of your friend. I retired from the Army in 2000 and everyone I know from back then are either in Afghanistan or Iraq on their third tour by now.
“What Dr. Paul wants to do to shrink government would not only wreck our economy...would wreck that over other nations as well...his foreign policy would put in a more dangerous situation than Clinton put us in...not to mention leaving some of our most valuable strategic allies vulnerable to attack as well.”
Although Dr. Paul wants to shrink the size of the federal government his biggest obstacle may be Congress. I can see him getting the ball rolling but it might take several administrations to actually see the final result. The point is we should at least start the process. No other candidate is on board with this to the extent Dr. Paul is.
“The shortsightedness of his policies and the willingness of his followers to ignore those shortcomings is nothing less than amazing.”
The only counter I can make to that argument is look at where our post-WWII foreign policy has taken us. Our main focus was to contain and eventually defeat communism (the Soviet Union) and in that regard we were ultimately successful. However in that quest we supported governments who were “ABC” (Anything But Communist). In South America, South Viet Nam (Diem and Thieu) and Iran (the Shah) were governments that when we were allies oprressed their own people.
In the Middle East we have just gotten it wrong for the last forty-plus years in my opinion. Sometimes I think our elected “leaders” (and oftentimes non-elected advisors) think we can do anything we want, anytime we want, and anywhere we want just because we are America.
Dr. Paul is not an isolationist like some would claim and he’s not in favor of dismantling the military. I know that our forces are stretched precariously thin right now and there are several reasons why. Those reasons encompass the last three administrations.
Will Dr. Paul get the nomination? It’s possible but not probable. My hope is that he can strike a chord in enough people across the political spectrum who are fed up with “politics as ususal” and get those already in power to get their heads out of their butts. I view him as a necessary catalyst to much-needed positive change. Take care.