How would a stock market crash affect Ron Paul's candidacy?

[Tim724]

Anyone who follows the stock market knows it has been selling off big time for the past several trading days. It seems to be mostly the result of the housing market beginning to implode. Two of Bear Sterns' hedge funds went bankruptcy last month (they were heavily invested in mortgage-backed securities that were defaulting) and today Bear Sterns had to block investors from removing their money from a third hedge fund that also invests in mortgage-backed securities.

All us hard-money folks know that the crash is a result of a fiat money system and artificially low interest rates set by the Fed (as opposed to market-driven rates, where interest rates reflect the actual opportunity cost of loaning out money).

I'd hate to see the stock market totally crash since I'd have personal losses and it would damage the American economy. However, a major crash would have a significant impact on the election. It might even make voters open their ears a bit to Dr Paul's economic views. He has repeatedly warned about the boom and bust cycles that our monetary system causes.

[dspectre]

I think a Stock Market Crash is a real wild card. It all depends.

I think people would be clamoring for change, but would Constitutionalist ideas like Ron Paul's win the day? It could happen, but then again, we could have a repeat of the 30's where people buy into Socialism.

The market is down, but I'm not so certain of a crash like other people think. Of course, I never try to predict the market because it is like the weather. Historically speaking, some of the biggest bull runs happened right after the market was down a lot. So volatility is kind of the key before a big bull run.

If the sub-prime problems pass over without real problems, people will use it as an excuse to buy on the cheap. It's hard to say where this is going to go since there is so much uncertainty.

[BarryDonegan]

ron paul himself predicted that his message will become mainstream after a stock market crash :(

its unfortunate, but this may be true. ron paul hints in interviews that he believes this will happen BEFORE the elections. he doesn't directly say it, but many times hes implied that he sortof feels that it may, and that that may be a huge factor in him being a force.

[LibertyEagle]

I just hope we aren't attacked again, because that will swing the pendulum the other way. It shouldn't, because following the NAUserates' plan is what has gotten us into this mess, in the first place. But, you know how people are when they get scared.

[Kregener]

A crash will affect everybody more than they can even dream of, let alone a "campaign".

[tiznow]

well a crash would most certainly help him. People will finally wake up from their slumber and be like wtf happened, and Ron Paul will have all the answers as to why it happened and how we can change the system (federal reserve) to prevent this boom/bust cycle from happening in the future.

[tiznow]

ron paul himself predicted that his message will become mainstream after a stock market crash :(

its unfortunate, but this may be true. ron paul hints in interviews that he believes this will happen BEFORE the elections. he doesn't directly say it, but many times hes implied that he sortof feels that it may, and that that may be a huge factor in him being a force.

I believe the same thing but than again I've thought a crash was coming for the last 3-4 months, hard to predict a crash. That said I think the markets are topped out at this point, and volitilitile downswing is in store at minimum.

[Wyurm]

well a crash would most certainly help him. People will finally wake up from their slumber and be like wtf happened, and Ron Paul will have all the answers as to why it happened and how we can change the system (federal reserve) to prevent this boom/bust cycle from happening in the future.

Its going to happen. The dollar is going to drop drastically as well. Its a definite because of the nature of fiat currency combined with the excessive printing to cover the war. The question is when.

So, personally I'd like to see it happen soon. I know that sounds horrible, but think about it, if it is definitely going to happen, wouldnt you rather see it happen at a time that can benefit Ron Paul?

[EvoPro]

I just hope we aren't attacked again, because that will swing the pendulum the other way. It shouldn't, because following the NAUserates' plan is what has gotten us into this mess, in the first place. But, you know how people are when they get scared.

I hope to god we aren't attacked, but we could use it to our advantage. By saying that this war in Iraq has only made us more vulnerable and only created hatred for America. We need to capture terrorists involved, bring our troops home, secure our borders and strengthen our international intelligence.

[BarryDonegan]

if we're attacked again, i feel people will see it as a failure of our current strategy. we don't have more troops to send at invisible enemies.

i think the straussian fearmongering from pearl harbor type events thing is still too fresh on everyones mind to fall for again.

[Roxi]

i would worry that either a stock market crash or a new attack would cause bush to go into martial law mode, then the election wont matter because not even congress could stop bush for at least 6 months