The Way, It's Power, and Ron Paul

[CUnknown]

Has anyone else noticed the odd sort of similarity between Ron Paul's Libertarian philosophy and the Tao Te Ching?

In many ways I lean liberal. I want to help the less fortunate, so social security and medicare sound like great programs to me. At least they used to. Ron Paul has always stated that if you want to help people, you'll have government get out of their way. That by action, Big Government often reaps the opposite of what they intended, in fact hurting those they wanted to help. "Therefore, the Sage relies on actionless activity, Carries on wordless teaching..."

If there is someone in Congress who carries on wordless teaching, it's the man who refuses the Congressional pension, who has never taken a junket, who refuses to be funded by lobbyists...

Ron Paul is a Christian, obviously. But I still see him as a follower of the Way. Am I crazy or what?

[ronpaulhawaii]

The Way is not limited to Tao...

[Rhys]

yes, absolutely. the way is the tao or tao translates to the way.

however, the tao that can be spoken of is not the eternal tao

[driller80545]

right is right, regardless of the tag you prefer to put to it.

[CUnknown]

"He who by Tao purposes to help a ruler of men
Will oppose all conquest by force of arms;
For such things are wont to rebound upon him.
Where armies are, thorns and brambles grow.
The raising of a great host
Is followed by a year of dearth.
Therefore a good general effects his purpose and then stops; he does not take further advantage of his victory.
... Fulfils his purpose, but only as a step that could not be avoided. ..."

"...the Sage, in order to be above the people
Must speak as though he were lower than the people.
In order to guide them, he must put himself behind them.
Only thus can the Sage be on top and the people not be crushed by his weight.
Only thus can he guide, and the people not be led into harm."

Sounds like an argument for peace, prosperity, and small government to me. :)

[Rhys]

this is also the teachings where we get, "the sage who governs less, governs best."

btw, the Art of War by Sun Tzu is also Taoist.

[tnvoter]

His views are also like that of true Christianity.

[lynnf]

His views are also like that of true Christianity.


which was also called the Way by early Christians:


AC 9:1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.


lynn