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HOLLYWOOD
02-17-2011, 01:59 AM
http://www.dailycardinal.com/opinion/let-s-give-ron-paul-a-shot-1.1998062
Let's give Ron Paul a shot

Ron Paul is a unique candidate for the 2012 presidential election

By Miles Kellerman (http://www.dailycardinal.com/search?q=%22Miles%20Kellerman%22)
Updated: Wednesday, February 16, 2011 00:02

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Miles Kellerman

As the world turns past spring and 2012 approaches, bloodthirsty hounds wearing suits and ties begin to smell the meat around the corner. They salivate at the prospect of uncontested power and drool over the thought of rank and status. Out of a swirling dark abyss they come, sporting freshly sanded claws and sharpened spears in preparation for the ferocious battle that will be the 57th United States presidential election. It is a truly dark and gloomy assembly, this prospective set of Republican candidates. But within the vast expanse of black sky lies a beacon of hope: one candidate, who, like a dying star, grows brighter with age. He is Ron Paul, the only foreseeable GOP contender of any interest, and perhaps the last surviving member of the dying breed that is the radical thinker.
Dr. Ron Paul is an 11-time district winner, a two-time presidential nominee and a member of the House Foreign Affairs, Joint Economic and Financial Services congressional committees. But what really sets Paul apart from the mainstream political scene is his uniquely cult-like status among his diverse fan base. He may not boast Mitt Romney's superficial sense of superiority. He may not enjoy Rudy Giuliani's sly tongue or Donald Trump's bored wallet. He lacks Michele Bachmann's robot-like head and he certainly doesn't have the sex appeal of Sarah "Mama GILF" Palin.

But what Ron Paul does have is a truly unique legion of followers. They are among the most diehard political junkies, resembling what Hunter S. Thompson described as the "Freak Power Vote" of the 1960s and early ‘70s. Loyal Libertarians and old-school Republicans flock to his speeches and flood his websites. They read all of his books and plaster bumper stickers and flags on their cars proclaiming "Liberty, Freedom, Ron Paul Revolution."

To understand why Paul has such a motivated and reactionary fan base, one must understand what he stands for. For those not diehards, like myself, this proves a difficult task. Paul is a mix of extreme libertarianism, republicanism, constitutionalism and individualism, all poured into a blender with a bit of ice and milk. The resulting smoothie is refreshing and unique, but the drinker is left wondering why Ron Paul is this concoction in the first place.

Paul is first and foremost a supporter of economic and social liberty. He supports individual freedom, small government and the delegation of power to states—all pretty standard for the modern Republican. But things get interesting at the specifics. Paul supports the elimination of the IRS, the Federal Reserve and the Department of Education, among many other federal agencies. He believes in the elimination of Birthright citizenship, torture, a national ID card, military drafts and vehemently opposes the Patriot Act. And when it comes to issues like abortion and marijuana, Paul is opposed, but recognizes that as a potential president his personal feelings will be nullified. These issues, like so many others in Dr. Paul's mind, are individual choices and should be distributed to the will of each state.
Most refreshing, yet unfortunately not important to most American voters, is his stance on foreign policy. During the 2008 election Paul was the only candidate among the Republicans to avoid labeling 9/11 terrorists as hell-bent ogres of Hitler's satanic army, pursuing the destruction of all that is American and good. He had the insight then, as he does now, to recognize our international history of intrusion into the affairs of foreign countries contributes to anti-American sentiment, which in turn fuels terrorism. Not surprisingly, this was misinterpreted as "blaming" 9/11 on the United States—a gross exaggeration of his actual message.

Paul's position on international policy is a reflection of libertarianism, recognizing the importance of individualism (sovereignty) and an unhindered free market (elimination of tariffs and trade agreements). Naturally, he takes policy to the extreme, especially in his arguments supporting withdrawal from the United Nations and the elimination of all foreign aid, which he recently described during a CPAC speech as, "taking money from poor people of a rich country and giving it to the rich people of a poor country."
This list of positions is not even close to exhaustive. Every individual issue could fill out a column of its own. Yet this attention to detail is his greatest strength. He is a historian and a philosopher living in a 140-character world. Paul is misunderstood, loathed by his party and perhaps one of history's greatest victims of the two-party American electoral system. And while Esperanza Spalding's Grammy upset over Justin Bieber may have proven that we can still recognize substance over cheap gimmicks, the doctor of Libertarianism will likely fall to the sharp teeth of his Republican adversaries.

It also must be noted that his criticisms are vast and often worthy of consideration. To say that some of his ideas lack practical application is an understatement. His ideas are extreme, and his positions stubborn. And while he may never get the chance to run as the Republican presidential nominee, his contributions will not go to waste. He challenges us to think outside the box, to consider a third option, to ponder a new approach. And despite the fact that we'll often disagree, he'll have introduced a fresh new perspective to a world of politics already far too complacent and predictable. Perhaps simply contributing to the conversation is an accomplishment all of itself.
Miles Kellerman is a sophomore majoring in political science. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.