spudea
05-31-2008, 09:58 PM
I have a chase mastercard and they have a facebook rewards group called Chase +1. Well I searched their store and I can get the Revolution for 10 karma points. I searched high and low for a way to add my review or respond in some way, but there isn't a way. In their store, underneath the book is a "customer review" that goes as follows:
The fact that our government has strayed so far from what was originally intended and moreover, that we citizens have let it happen and not question it is a hard pill to swallow, but needs to be acknowledged nonetheless. Ron Paul does an amazing job of outlining some basic principles our founding fathers built this nation on and shows exactly how much we've regressed. Very empowering read... question is what do you do after you've read it.
Brings up a lot of good information that should be brought up and a lot more often!
I consider myself a libertarian and I was very excited to read Dr. Ron Paul's book. The majority of the book is concerned with three basic issues.
1. The Constitution
2. Foreign Policy
3. Monetary Policy
The book starts out with the issue of Foreign Policy and advocates the United States stay out of other countries affairs. This includes staying out of their affairs militarily and also with foreign aid, but he does NOT advocate becoming isolationist. In fact, he makes very strong arguments for free trade and for diplomacy. I agree with his overall point, but he leaves a lot of questions unanswered. What if a country starts slaughtering hundreds of thousands of Jews or Tutsi? What if a powerful country unjustly attacks a weaker country? What if the rest of the world refuses to act? Dr. Paul did not provide strong (or any) answers to these types of questions.
The section of the book concerning the Constitution was excellent. However, Dr. Paul's solution as to how to restore the Constitution's original meaning, intent, and interpretation is rather weak. Although, I don't know that there are good answers.
The section on Monetary Policy was by far the weakest part of the book. As with all the other issues covered in the book, Dr. Paul is extremely good at describing the problem. His explanation of the problems inherent in the FED is very good. However, Dr. Paul advocates readopting the gold standard. Unfortunately, the gold standard has the opposite problem of our current system, the money supply shrinks in relation to a growing economy. This causes deflation, which is just as bad or worse than inflation. Would you build houses or invest in a business if it is likely that their value will decrease? The Great Depression was caused by spiraling deflation not inflation. Dr. Paul's book doesn't even address this common problem that occurs with the gold standard.There are other common problems with the gold standard as well, and Dr. Paul's book addresses none of them.
For the most part, this was a good book and I enjoyed reading it. However, it wasn't the great book I hoped it would be.
Item #1: "What if a country does something we don't like?"
The truthful case is presented to the people (remember goverment of, by, and for the people?) and through their representatives, CONGRESS shall vote and declare war. The president does not have the power or authority to attack other nations.
Item #2: "How to restore the rule of law?"
It starts with the people, it starts with this revolution. Elect statesmen, not politictians. A constitutional president can enforce the constitution, and abolish all that is unconstitutional.
Item #3: "Gold standard is deflationary and caused the great depression..."
Seriously? Go back and research the massive monetary inflation and credit expansion following WWI. THAT IS THE CAUSE. The great depression following the crash is the NECESSARY DEFLATIONARY CORRECTION of the business cycle cause by monetary manipulation! What? Are you advocating inflation could have stopped the depression? ARE YOU NUTS! If we had resorted to inflation in the 30's, we would be stuck 3rd world style with $1,000,000 loafs of bread. Restoring a gold standard would not be deflationary. The Monetary base would grow in line with the growth of the economy. I would much rather invest in a business that has STABLE value and the value increases based on real wealth. Oh.. and the fact that "ONLY GOLD AND SILVER SHALL BE LEGAL TENDER" so says the rule of law, the United States Constitution. I don't understand the contradictions and hypocrisy of this guy...
The fact that our government has strayed so far from what was originally intended and moreover, that we citizens have let it happen and not question it is a hard pill to swallow, but needs to be acknowledged nonetheless. Ron Paul does an amazing job of outlining some basic principles our founding fathers built this nation on and shows exactly how much we've regressed. Very empowering read... question is what do you do after you've read it.
Brings up a lot of good information that should be brought up and a lot more often!
I consider myself a libertarian and I was very excited to read Dr. Ron Paul's book. The majority of the book is concerned with three basic issues.
1. The Constitution
2. Foreign Policy
3. Monetary Policy
The book starts out with the issue of Foreign Policy and advocates the United States stay out of other countries affairs. This includes staying out of their affairs militarily and also with foreign aid, but he does NOT advocate becoming isolationist. In fact, he makes very strong arguments for free trade and for diplomacy. I agree with his overall point, but he leaves a lot of questions unanswered. What if a country starts slaughtering hundreds of thousands of Jews or Tutsi? What if a powerful country unjustly attacks a weaker country? What if the rest of the world refuses to act? Dr. Paul did not provide strong (or any) answers to these types of questions.
The section of the book concerning the Constitution was excellent. However, Dr. Paul's solution as to how to restore the Constitution's original meaning, intent, and interpretation is rather weak. Although, I don't know that there are good answers.
The section on Monetary Policy was by far the weakest part of the book. As with all the other issues covered in the book, Dr. Paul is extremely good at describing the problem. His explanation of the problems inherent in the FED is very good. However, Dr. Paul advocates readopting the gold standard. Unfortunately, the gold standard has the opposite problem of our current system, the money supply shrinks in relation to a growing economy. This causes deflation, which is just as bad or worse than inflation. Would you build houses or invest in a business if it is likely that their value will decrease? The Great Depression was caused by spiraling deflation not inflation. Dr. Paul's book doesn't even address this common problem that occurs with the gold standard.There are other common problems with the gold standard as well, and Dr. Paul's book addresses none of them.
For the most part, this was a good book and I enjoyed reading it. However, it wasn't the great book I hoped it would be.
Item #1: "What if a country does something we don't like?"
The truthful case is presented to the people (remember goverment of, by, and for the people?) and through their representatives, CONGRESS shall vote and declare war. The president does not have the power or authority to attack other nations.
Item #2: "How to restore the rule of law?"
It starts with the people, it starts with this revolution. Elect statesmen, not politictians. A constitutional president can enforce the constitution, and abolish all that is unconstitutional.
Item #3: "Gold standard is deflationary and caused the great depression..."
Seriously? Go back and research the massive monetary inflation and credit expansion following WWI. THAT IS THE CAUSE. The great depression following the crash is the NECESSARY DEFLATIONARY CORRECTION of the business cycle cause by monetary manipulation! What? Are you advocating inflation could have stopped the depression? ARE YOU NUTS! If we had resorted to inflation in the 30's, we would be stuck 3rd world style with $1,000,000 loafs of bread. Restoring a gold standard would not be deflationary. The Monetary base would grow in line with the growth of the economy. I would much rather invest in a business that has STABLE value and the value increases based on real wealth. Oh.. and the fact that "ONLY GOLD AND SILVER SHALL BE LEGAL TENDER" so says the rule of law, the United States Constitution. I don't understand the contradictions and hypocrisy of this guy...