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View Full Version : Paul's message: more liberty, less government from the Milwaulkie Journal




Geronimo
02-16-2008, 11:33 AM
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=718757

Paul's message: more liberty, less government

By ERICH RODEN
Posted: Feb. 16, 2008

Attempts to discourage moderate and independent ideology on the right side of the political spectrum continue to wane with the success of John McCain. Furthermore, it appears that a Republican win in November will plunge us further into the mediocrity of neoconservatism. Eight years of neoconservatism have brought us nothing but disastrous foreign policy decisions, a looming recession and a monstrous deficit.

Are these the acceptable consequences of a transformed political right? Not if you ask Ron Paul.

Running as "the true conservative" among the Republican candidates, he is a de facto libertarian. Unlike the competition, his message is clear and simple: more liberty, less government.

Paul blames our economic decline on the intrusion of government in the markets and foreign investment in our banking institutions. The Federal Reserve is dumping millions back into the economy, thereby weakening the dollar. China and Saudi Arabia are following suit by investing in our banks to give out more loans to fuel our runaway spending. Isn't runaway spending the same tactic we used to bankrupt the Soviets during the Cold War?

Paul takes an unpopular, Jeffersonian stance on foreign policy: Stay out of others' affairs. He acknowledges that Iraq is worse off and our focus in the war on terror is on the wrong country or countries.

A strict constitutionalist, Paul abhors the Bush administration's use of the United Nations to circumvent the Constitution to go to war. Moreover, he echoes the sentiment of military commanders that our military is stretched too thin policing the globe. Stopping just short of isolationism, Paul promises to protect the homeland first and foremost, including individual liberty.

Regarding health care, Paul, a physician himself, blames Congress for creating HMOs and government intrusion for escalating costs and the mounting number of uninsured.

There are some shortcomings however, in Paul's bid for the White House. Paul wants to abolish the Federal Reserve and the Internal Revenue Service. These ideas are too sensationalist for popular opinion and will undoubtedly result in comparisons to Ross Perot and Pat Buchanan. And his disapproval of political amnesty comes off as adversarial when our country was founded on freedom from persecution. This is a bit hypocritical, considering his passion for individual liberty.

But as an underdog in this year's presidential race, Paul deserves another look before voters resort to backing the sure thing. Since the conservative electorate is considering a moderate to lead the GOP, why not a libertarian who promises to govern by the Constitution?

Erich Roden of Milwaukee is a member of the Journal Sentinel Editorial Board's Reader Advisory Committee.

Sarge
02-16-2008, 11:42 AM
Thank you for that catch.

Bravo, a newspaper that is willing to speak up before it is too late.

There still might be hope yet.

Now for a couple hundred more newspapers willing to speak up.

NEPA_Revolution
02-16-2008, 01:14 PM
McCain's Message


Um..... well...... uhh...... WE NEED MORE SUNSHNE!!!!