aknappjr
09-13-2007, 05:42 AM
Ron Paul Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, went to Gettysburg College and Duke S.O.M., served as a flight surgeon in the Air Force, moved to Texas with his wife Carol. Became an ob/gyn, delivering 4000 babies. Five children, 17 grandchildren. Serving 10th term in Congress. One of only 4 Republican congressmen to endorse Ronald Reagan for president in 1976 (when Ronald Reagan sounded more like a libertarian than just another statist...which he governed as.)
Possible objections from libertarians:
Ron Paul is THE modern day champion of freedom and libertarianism. He is the most high-profile libertarian in America today. He ran for president as the Libertarian Party candidate in 1988 and came in third in the popular vote, behind Bush and Dukakis. He's running now as the same defender of the constitution and individual liberty as a Republican, upsetting many pro-war neoconservative Republicans. He speaks for the importance of free markets, a limited federal government, states-rights, peace and free trade, and the importance of following the constitution that is supposed to protect our individual liberties. Despite his importance to the movement, some objectivists, anarchists and libertarians believe Ron Paul as President wouldn't go far enough. Such people have a few objections about his plan for America:
Ron Paul pro-life
“Libertarians believe, along with the Founding Fathers, that every individual has inalienable rights, among which are the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In abortion, the statists have found a most effective method of obliterating freedom: obliterating the individual. Abortion on demand is the ultimate State tyranny; the State simply declares that certain classes of human beings are not persons, and therefore not entitled to the protection of the law. The State protects the "right" of some people to kill others, just as the courts protected the "property rights" of slave masters in their slaves. Moreover, by this method the State achieves a goal common to all totalitarian regimes: it sets us against each other, so that our energies are spent in the struggle between State-created classes, rather than in freeing all individuals from the State. The more one strives for the consistent application of an incorrect principle, the more horrendous the results. Thus, a wrong-headed libertarian is potentially very dangerous. Libertarians who act on a wrong premise seem to be too often willing to accept the inhuman conclusions of an argument, rather than question their premises.”
As ob/gyn, Ron Paul saw abortion and has taken principled stance in favor of life and liberty. Even if you disagree that life begins at conception, better for the cause of liberty and liberty itself to err on the side of human life and the right of the unborn child to his life. To decide that life begins arbitrarily at birth or at present-day viability, weakens the argument for natural law that is the foundation of libertarianism.
Ron Paul anti-immigration. Some libertarians idealize open borders, as freedom to walk across the street is no different from freedom to walk across borders.
Ron Paul supports border security (rather than the border security of Iraq). He is strongly opposed to amnesty. He is even more strongly opposed to welfare programs that favor illegal immigrants.
Platform of LP: “The legitimate function and obligation of government to protect the lives, rights and property of its citizens, requires awareness of and control over the entry into our country of foreign nationals who pose a threat to security, health or property...Borders will be secure, with free entry to those who have demonstrated compliance with certain requirements...End federal requirements that benefits and services be provided to those in the country illegally. Repeal all measures that punish employers for hiring undocumented workers. Repeal all immigration quotas. “
Ron Paul “We must end welfare state subsidies for illegal immigrants. Some illegal immigrants – certainly not all – receive housing subsidies, food stamps, free medical care, and other forms of welfare. This alienates taxpayers and breeds suspicion of immigrants, even though the majority of them work very hard. Without a welfare state, we would know that everyone coming to America wanted to work hard and support himself.“
As an idealist, I favor open borders as freedom of human movement is essential to true freedom. Today, however, the state allows millions of illegal immigrants to come to America, pay less in statist taxes than the rest of us burdened people. The state has indeed created these classes: illegal immigrants and U.S. Citizens, just as it has created the classes of minority and the majority, the disadvantaged and the advantaged. But the only true class that needs protection is the individual. When we stop seeing people as individuals and start seeing people as members of classes, strife and conflict ensue instead of mutual cooperation created by freedom and capitalism. But before we can unite these groups together in peace and freedom, an end towards welfare for illegal immigrants is necessary.
Anti-war – apparently some libertarians call themselves pro-war, or claim that the “war on Terrorism” convinced them of need to interfere in other nations affairs. Why does the media use the word intervene when the word interfere is more appropriate?
1.Iraq war destroying lives and liberty. Destroyed lives of 3000 U.S. Troops, countless tens or hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, many of whom are innocent. Cost $700 billion. Spent more U.S. Blood sweat and tears (and labor) than Marshall Plan.
Ron Paul's steadfast principled opposition to the war is rooted in Libertarian beliefs that freedom is not spread through the barrel of a gun but that it is defended through the barrel of guns at times. His opposition to this costly war is both his biggest advantage in this election cycle but may also be his biggest weakness in the Republican party.
Let us remember, however, that Eisenhower the 5 star general/peaceful warrior was elected to “Bring our Boys Home” -
Iowians favor constitution (1st amendment, 2nd amendment, 16th amendment), but some favor the war
Tide of this war turning, even account for General Petraeus's report out on 9/11/07. The American people will increasingly see the futility of the idea of spreading democracy (as if that is a good in itself) through the barrael of a gun.
Constitution– one of the more important documents that helped defend freedom for decades or more...rooted in natural law, and Ron Paul is a consistent defender of it. He reads every bill before he decides to vote on it, and then reads the constitution to determine if the bill is constitution. Most are not; hence his name Dr. No.
Has a chance
Increasing name recognition.
Winning straw polls (1st in Maryland, Allegheny County, Ronald Reagan Club in Washington, West Alabama, Gaston County NC, New Hampshire Taxpayers, and placed 2nd or 3rd in most others.
More money than John McCain. More military dollars than any other candidate.
More youtube views and meetup members than any other. Most # facebook and myspace friends than any other. Tremendous support on internet (digg, cnet, forums and websites), virtually every online poll (except aol). Memebers are increasing the size and scope of Libertarian Party and infiltrating Republican Party to restore it towards libertarian (and constitutional) ideas. Bringing democrats, independents, and greens on board the freedom train. Ron Paul is the reason that I am with you here tonight at the MLP working for freedom movement and freedom itself.
Other candidates will blow him away
Mitt Romney – socialized medicine. Govenor of Mass REQUIRED indivuals to purchase health insurance. WSJ article on Dutch healthcare. Mormon. Flip-flopper, pro war
Giuliani – anti right to protection/2nd amendment. Pro-abortion (personal beliefs), pro-war (more wars)
Fred Thompson - anti-1st amendment in support of McCain-Feingold, pro-war. Personal political issues (controlling trophy wife).
McCain – pro amnesty, raised taxes, pro-war
Ron Paul is more than Ron Paul.
Premise: Individuals can change the world. Ron Paul is one of those individuals. When one hears the words of socialism and South America, one thinks of Che Guevera, who was instrumental in moving whole countries towards statism, including Cuba. Individuals represent ideas. The face of OUR FREEDOM MOVEMENT movement IS Ron Paul. I'm a part of that movement. THOUSANDS of these lovers of liberty will get involved in politics and may someday run for office and change the political landscape for decades. TENS OR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of these supports are helping Ron Paul and the freedom movement. MILLIONS are returning towards the American and libertarian ideas of limited government and respect for the few laws that ought to exist. HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS will be exposed to these ideas for the first time. All from a single man and people like YOU who support him.
Even if you agree with only 90% I urge you not to let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
Such an opportunity comes along only once or twice in a lifetime. Let it not be said that we did nothing. Let it not be said that we refused to pick up the torch of freedom nearly extinguished and relight it and pass it on to our fellow men. Let it not be said today nor ever that we stood idle while politicians told us we need to sacrifice our liberty for our security. Let it not be said that we did not aid Ron Paul, the Thomas Jefferson of our day, in his quest to restore this country and its people to the land of the proud, brave, and FREE!
A toast to freedom!
Possible objections from libertarians:
Ron Paul is THE modern day champion of freedom and libertarianism. He is the most high-profile libertarian in America today. He ran for president as the Libertarian Party candidate in 1988 and came in third in the popular vote, behind Bush and Dukakis. He's running now as the same defender of the constitution and individual liberty as a Republican, upsetting many pro-war neoconservative Republicans. He speaks for the importance of free markets, a limited federal government, states-rights, peace and free trade, and the importance of following the constitution that is supposed to protect our individual liberties. Despite his importance to the movement, some objectivists, anarchists and libertarians believe Ron Paul as President wouldn't go far enough. Such people have a few objections about his plan for America:
Ron Paul pro-life
“Libertarians believe, along with the Founding Fathers, that every individual has inalienable rights, among which are the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In abortion, the statists have found a most effective method of obliterating freedom: obliterating the individual. Abortion on demand is the ultimate State tyranny; the State simply declares that certain classes of human beings are not persons, and therefore not entitled to the protection of the law. The State protects the "right" of some people to kill others, just as the courts protected the "property rights" of slave masters in their slaves. Moreover, by this method the State achieves a goal common to all totalitarian regimes: it sets us against each other, so that our energies are spent in the struggle between State-created classes, rather than in freeing all individuals from the State. The more one strives for the consistent application of an incorrect principle, the more horrendous the results. Thus, a wrong-headed libertarian is potentially very dangerous. Libertarians who act on a wrong premise seem to be too often willing to accept the inhuman conclusions of an argument, rather than question their premises.”
As ob/gyn, Ron Paul saw abortion and has taken principled stance in favor of life and liberty. Even if you disagree that life begins at conception, better for the cause of liberty and liberty itself to err on the side of human life and the right of the unborn child to his life. To decide that life begins arbitrarily at birth or at present-day viability, weakens the argument for natural law that is the foundation of libertarianism.
Ron Paul anti-immigration. Some libertarians idealize open borders, as freedom to walk across the street is no different from freedom to walk across borders.
Ron Paul supports border security (rather than the border security of Iraq). He is strongly opposed to amnesty. He is even more strongly opposed to welfare programs that favor illegal immigrants.
Platform of LP: “The legitimate function and obligation of government to protect the lives, rights and property of its citizens, requires awareness of and control over the entry into our country of foreign nationals who pose a threat to security, health or property...Borders will be secure, with free entry to those who have demonstrated compliance with certain requirements...End federal requirements that benefits and services be provided to those in the country illegally. Repeal all measures that punish employers for hiring undocumented workers. Repeal all immigration quotas. “
Ron Paul “We must end welfare state subsidies for illegal immigrants. Some illegal immigrants – certainly not all – receive housing subsidies, food stamps, free medical care, and other forms of welfare. This alienates taxpayers and breeds suspicion of immigrants, even though the majority of them work very hard. Without a welfare state, we would know that everyone coming to America wanted to work hard and support himself.“
As an idealist, I favor open borders as freedom of human movement is essential to true freedom. Today, however, the state allows millions of illegal immigrants to come to America, pay less in statist taxes than the rest of us burdened people. The state has indeed created these classes: illegal immigrants and U.S. Citizens, just as it has created the classes of minority and the majority, the disadvantaged and the advantaged. But the only true class that needs protection is the individual. When we stop seeing people as individuals and start seeing people as members of classes, strife and conflict ensue instead of mutual cooperation created by freedom and capitalism. But before we can unite these groups together in peace and freedom, an end towards welfare for illegal immigrants is necessary.
Anti-war – apparently some libertarians call themselves pro-war, or claim that the “war on Terrorism” convinced them of need to interfere in other nations affairs. Why does the media use the word intervene when the word interfere is more appropriate?
1.Iraq war destroying lives and liberty. Destroyed lives of 3000 U.S. Troops, countless tens or hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, many of whom are innocent. Cost $700 billion. Spent more U.S. Blood sweat and tears (and labor) than Marshall Plan.
Ron Paul's steadfast principled opposition to the war is rooted in Libertarian beliefs that freedom is not spread through the barrel of a gun but that it is defended through the barrel of guns at times. His opposition to this costly war is both his biggest advantage in this election cycle but may also be his biggest weakness in the Republican party.
Let us remember, however, that Eisenhower the 5 star general/peaceful warrior was elected to “Bring our Boys Home” -
Iowians favor constitution (1st amendment, 2nd amendment, 16th amendment), but some favor the war
Tide of this war turning, even account for General Petraeus's report out on 9/11/07. The American people will increasingly see the futility of the idea of spreading democracy (as if that is a good in itself) through the barrael of a gun.
Constitution– one of the more important documents that helped defend freedom for decades or more...rooted in natural law, and Ron Paul is a consistent defender of it. He reads every bill before he decides to vote on it, and then reads the constitution to determine if the bill is constitution. Most are not; hence his name Dr. No.
Has a chance
Increasing name recognition.
Winning straw polls (1st in Maryland, Allegheny County, Ronald Reagan Club in Washington, West Alabama, Gaston County NC, New Hampshire Taxpayers, and placed 2nd or 3rd in most others.
More money than John McCain. More military dollars than any other candidate.
More youtube views and meetup members than any other. Most # facebook and myspace friends than any other. Tremendous support on internet (digg, cnet, forums and websites), virtually every online poll (except aol). Memebers are increasing the size and scope of Libertarian Party and infiltrating Republican Party to restore it towards libertarian (and constitutional) ideas. Bringing democrats, independents, and greens on board the freedom train. Ron Paul is the reason that I am with you here tonight at the MLP working for freedom movement and freedom itself.
Other candidates will blow him away
Mitt Romney – socialized medicine. Govenor of Mass REQUIRED indivuals to purchase health insurance. WSJ article on Dutch healthcare. Mormon. Flip-flopper, pro war
Giuliani – anti right to protection/2nd amendment. Pro-abortion (personal beliefs), pro-war (more wars)
Fred Thompson - anti-1st amendment in support of McCain-Feingold, pro-war. Personal political issues (controlling trophy wife).
McCain – pro amnesty, raised taxes, pro-war
Ron Paul is more than Ron Paul.
Premise: Individuals can change the world. Ron Paul is one of those individuals. When one hears the words of socialism and South America, one thinks of Che Guevera, who was instrumental in moving whole countries towards statism, including Cuba. Individuals represent ideas. The face of OUR FREEDOM MOVEMENT movement IS Ron Paul. I'm a part of that movement. THOUSANDS of these lovers of liberty will get involved in politics and may someday run for office and change the political landscape for decades. TENS OR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of these supports are helping Ron Paul and the freedom movement. MILLIONS are returning towards the American and libertarian ideas of limited government and respect for the few laws that ought to exist. HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS will be exposed to these ideas for the first time. All from a single man and people like YOU who support him.
Even if you agree with only 90% I urge you not to let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
Such an opportunity comes along only once or twice in a lifetime. Let it not be said that we did nothing. Let it not be said that we refused to pick up the torch of freedom nearly extinguished and relight it and pass it on to our fellow men. Let it not be said today nor ever that we stood idle while politicians told us we need to sacrifice our liberty for our security. Let it not be said that we did not aid Ron Paul, the Thomas Jefferson of our day, in his quest to restore this country and its people to the land of the proud, brave, and FREE!
A toast to freedom!