Introduce yourself!

[JS4Pat]

Let's use this thread to get to know Ron Paul supporters in our area...

Tell us who you are?

Why you got involved?

How you got involved?

Issues that are most important to you?

[acejoca]

Let's use this thread to get to know Ron Paul supporters in our area...

Tell us who you you are? My name is Matthew Ellison and I am 21 years old. I got into politics about a year ago and heard Ron Paul's name mentioned on a radio station and after looking him up for two seconds I realized he is the man for me.

Why you got involved? Because I want to see him win and spread his message of freedom

How you got involved? found a ron paul meetup on meetup.com

Issues that are most important to you? Oh how there cant be only one, the big two for me is foriegn policy and super duper limited government.

[JS4Pat]

Tell us who you are?

My name is John Stevens. I am 37 years old. I was an active Republican from age 18 – to my late 20s. I began to become very upset with the big government, interventionist foreign policy direction of the GOP, so I decided to leave the party in 1999. I went to work for Pat Buchanan’s Reform Party Candidacy. I worked at the national level of his campaign and was responsible for the ballot access initiative to get his name on all 50 state ballots. From that experience - I learned just how much the deck is “unfairly” stacked against any candidate outside of the Republican or Democratic Parties.

Why you got involved?

I got involved with this Ron Paul movement first and foremost because I love this country and feel an obligation to do something to make it better. I believe that the message that Ron Paul is spreading (individual liberty, freedom and a return to constitutional government) is vital to saving this country. It might be too late – but I think it is worth making this last stand to Restore our Republic! I am attracted to people with principle, integrity and true leadership qualities. Ron Paul and many in this movement embody those traits.

How you got involved?

I got involved by finding the Jacksonville Ron Paul 2008 Meetup Group online. His writings on Lew Rockwell.com ( http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul-arch.html ) along with these two You Tube videos is what drove me to search for the Meetup Group.

Stop Dreaming
http://www.youtube.com/aravoth

Don't Tread On Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG_HuFtP8w8


Issues that are most important to you?

Right now the most important issue to me is this war. I get sick to my stomach thinking that I am indirectly supporting an effort that is resulting in the deaths of thousands of innocent people in a foreign country that never attacked us nor threatened to attack us. Constitutionally, morally and strategically this war was wrong from the start. I served in the US Military for 13 years and resigned my commission over the Iraq War.

Other issues of importance to me…

1. Ending (not flattening, not replacing, not reforming) the Federal Income Tax!
2. Returning to a non-interventionist foreign policy
3. Repealing the Patriot Act and restoring civil liberties
4. Reducing the size and scope of the Federal Government
5. Protecting the lives of developing human beings in the womb

There are many more and Ron Paul shares my position on all of them!

[Luke Hopper]

I am Luke Hopper and I'm 19 years old. I am a Classical Voice Major at UNF. Yes that is Opera. I am a Tenor (meaning my range is a higher guys range instead of a lower (baritone/bass)). I currently work at Staples in the St. Johns Town Center. I really love reading classic fiction like Bradbury, Wells, Verne, Orwell, Lewis, and Hemingway. I am a music fiend and I own probably around 4 or 5 hundred CDs. I also own all but one season of Star Trek the Next Generation on DVD. Haha I bet you are now thinking how awesome I am.

I had just been getting interested in Politics a few months ago when my friend Jeff Hunt started talking to me about the libertarian philosophy. The stuff he talked about really seemed to make sense to me and I started to agree with most of the things he said. I then just heard about Ron Paul a month or two ago and think he is awesome. If you had asked me 8 months ago about politics I would have said I could care less. But, now I am gung ho.

I think that if we don't get Ron Paul into office this country is going to gradually become worse and worse. Someday I want to have kids and I do not want to introduce them into a world where their liberties are taken from them. This Government was created to serve man not for man to serve it. Its like in science fiction when the robots man creates get to strong and take over man. They need to be pushed back down to the size they were meant to be. My main issue concern is making the federal government get back to doing the one thing it was meant to do protect me from legitimate foreign threats. The State governments were supposed to handle all the issues that politicians in Washington are battling over. This government has gotten out of hand and we need Ron Paul to whip it back into the shape and size it was meant to be for the good of the whole world.

[susan]

Thanks for the welcome!

I reside in the S. Western quadrant of St. Johns County.. I was introduced to Ron Paul by a poster friend on the local newspaper forum.

Ron Paul's platform is solid and he would like to protect our rights through the strict adherence of the US Constitution.

This is important to me as it puts our rights as citizens back where they should be.
In our hands..

Also the war in Iraq and our at home national security is very important to me.

Again thanks for inviting me..

[Roderick T. Beaman]

I waited most of my life to have a true conservative to get into the White House. When Ronald Reagan did he accomplished nothing. Ditto for Newt Goingrich's Contract With America. I would like to see true freedom in my lifetime and see no hope other than for a Pres. Ron Paul. I'm tired of paying nearly 50% of my income to have a bunch of government hired goons stomp on my political and economic liberties.

[Roderick T. Beaman]

I waited most of my life for a true conservative to get into the White House. When Ronald Reagan did he accomplished nothing. Ditto for Newt Goingrich's Contract With America.

I would like to see true freedom in my lifetime and see no hope other than for a Pres. Ron Paul. I'm tired of paying nearly 50% of my income to have a bunch of government hired goons stomp on my political and economic liberties.

[torchbearer]

My name is Brent, I'm 28 from Alexandria, LA. I'm the vice-chairman of the libertarian party of louisiana. I have ran for public office twice under the same message Ron Paul carries.
I am currently the vice-chair of the committee to elect T. Lee Horne III for governor.
I was born a politician and can help Ron Paul's campaign in many ways here in my homestate of Louisiana.
Laissez-faire !!!

[Poniolo]

Who Am I?
Name: Gary
I was born in East Lansing Michigan in 1952, and my family moved to Paw Paw Michigan in 1955. I spent my youth in Paw Paw, a farming community of/about 3,000 located in the “Fruit Belt” of south-western Michigan. Paw Paw is home to 3 large wineries, and a few smaller ones; a Coca-Cola plant that make “Hi-C”; and a Musselman’s (fruit and vegetable) processing and canning factory. During my youth I earned spending money by picking asparagus and various fruits, and suckering and tying grapes; all (according to G W Bush), “jobs that Americans won’t do”. I joined the US Navy in 1969 and spent more than 30 years on active duty, 22 of which were outside of the United States. I worked with the US Secret Service during the 1989 Presidential Campaign (87-89), helping to establish communications facilities for temporary command centers in support of candidate visits throughout the US, including both the Republican and Democrat Conventions. The highlight of my tour was attending the 1989 Presidential Inaugural Ball. Following my tour in DC I received orders to USS Sampson out of Mayport. I purchased a home in Jacksonville during this tour but departed the US again in 1992 for a tour in Japan. I returned to Jacksonville following my retirement in 2000, eventually moving back into the home that I had purchased in 1989. I have been married for 34 years and have 2 adult children.

Why Did I Get Involved?
Rocked in the Republican cradle from birth, I became disenchanted with the GOP in 2002, a couple of years after returning to live in the United States. The abhorrent socialist programs being embraced by the Bush administration and many Republicans in Congress showed me that the GOP was not conservative and did not represent my values. It was time to abandon the GPO and investigate other options.

How Did I Get Involved?
I looked into the Libertarian Party in 2003 and subscribed to an email news letter. One of the emails said that a Florida Libertarian Party Chair would be on a radio talk show that was accessible via the Internet, so I tuned in. The LP Chair was Doug Klippel, and the radio show was “Straight Talk” with Jerry Hughes. I was very impressed with both and joined the LP. I continued to listen to “Straight Talk” (I have missed 5 shows since 2003 – nice interview this week with Mr. Adam Guillette), and I absorbed an abundance of information, including information about Congressman, Dr. Ron Paul. When I heard that Ron Paul was forming an exploratory committee, getting involved was a “no-brainer”.

What Issues Are Important To Me?
Some of the many issues are: 1) Restoring limited government in accordance with the Constitution for the United States of America; 2) Eliminating or reducing corruption in government and the influence exerted by special interest groups and lobbyists; 3) Instituting a sound monetary system backed by metal; 4) Eliminating the national debt and obtaining and maintaining a balanced federal budget, and a significant reduction in taxes, fees; and “voluntary” contributions at all levels of government; 5) Expediting the return of control of the education system to the individual states; 6) Restoration of individual rights and State’s powers; 7) Repeal of the myriad of laws that violate the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

[Sam]

My name is Sam and I am in Jacksonville.

Why I got involved? Concerned about our country and the direction its headed.

How you got involved? Just by going to the website and went to the meetups.

Issues that are most important to you? Inflation, monetary policy, taxes, liberty, and freedom. The constitution is important. Inflation is one of the top issues that should be discussed in the 2008 campaign.

Glad to be a member and help in any way.
Sam

[jabbott0]

Tell us who you are?

My name is Jon and I am a 27 year old Florida-native. I have a master's degree in Industrial Engineering and work in the defense/aerospace industry to find ways to reduce waste and inefficiency. My current job is at Boeing at Cecil Field in Jacksonville. I enjoy music, motorcycling, traveling, philosophy, camping, and now supporting Dr. Ron Paul's campaign.

Why you got involved?

For many years I have been interested in (and some would say obsessed with) finding better ways to do things. When I look at what the federal government has become though, I see so much inefficiency and waste that it bothers me greatly. I know there is a better way to run government than buying $2,000 hammers and $700 nails. I believe that Dr. Ron Paul is currently our only hope we have to come in and "clean house" by restoring the federal government to more of its Constitutional roots.

Also, I am concerned with government corruption and lack of representation. I have visited a lot of the U.S. (33 states so far) and have a strong admiration of the people and the principles we have. We truly are a great nation. I get very bothered though when I think about how disconnected DC has become from the people of this nation. Many elected representatives in DC are simply self-serving and greedy with power, and each year it only seems to be getting worse. For example, warrant-less domestic wiretapping, imprisonment of U.S. citizens without due process, wars without Congressional declarations, blurring of Church and State, etc. are all very bad things that have happened lately but would not have happened if the Constitution and Bill of Rights were being followed.

How you got involved?

I've been a member of the Libertarian Party since 2000, and am now strongly behind the Ron Paul campaign for many of the same reasons. I had heard about Ron Paul a few years ago, and knew that he was a straight-forward U.S. House Representative from Texas who defended the Constitution, but I didn't know until a few months ago that he was running for President. I was so excited when I found out that I had to get involved in his campaign.

After following the first series of debates, I joined the Jacksonville Ron Paul meetup group and became one of the co-organizers. I am now letting as many people know about Ron Paul as I can. I have also sent many emails to people and organizations where he has been ignored or excluded, such as the Iowa Presidential Forum, media coverage of the NH Straw Poll, 2nd Qtr. fundraising results, etc.

Issues that are most important to you?

Reducing government size, inefficiency and waste. Eliminating government incursions on our personal and economic liberties. Stopping preemptive strike doctrine. Promoting free trade, practicing capitalism and preventing corporatism. Repealing ineffective and unconstitutional laws. Restoring the Constitution and Bill of Rights. And last but not least, getting Ron Paul into the White House next year.

[papajim]

Hi, I started with the LP back in '93 in Massachusetts, and went to the Harry Brown convention in '96. I tried to fit in with the JAX LP, but found them too authoritarian. Since 2002, I've not been active, other than contributing to Ron's Liberty Committee.

I like to put my time and effort into things that I might have some effect on, and not worry about the rest. I think Ron's campaign offers a chance to raise the visibility of issues that the American people have not been exposed to by the mainstream media, and I'd like to be a part of that.

[JS4Pat]

I like to put my time and effort into things that I might have some effect on, and not worry about the rest.

You have come to the right place!

Welcome Papa Jim!
Look forward to meeting you...

[papajim]

You have come to the right place!

Welcome Papa Jim!
Look forward to meeting you...

Thank you!

How can I find out what's being done locally, before the next meeting?

I have lots of questions - where / of whom can I ask them?

[JS4Pat]

Thank you!

How can I find out what's being done locally, before the next meeting?

I have lots of questions - where / of whom can I ask them?

Well we just had a jam packed weekend of events...

Road Trip to South Carolina to see Ron Paul
Gun Show
Republican Picnics

This week there is a lot of planning underway for the next two big projects:

1. Creating Banners and determining locations for the "Paint the town Ron" effort we are planning.

2. Setting schedules for Iowa Phone Banking

We are also in the process of setting up a schedule of sign wavings at intersections around Jacksonville.

This forum area is a good place to pose question and discussions:
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=59

You can also use the "e-mail the group" feature on our Meetup site or you can contact me (John) the Meetup Group Organizer directly.
http://ronpaul.meetup.com/166/messages/

[gaunt]

my name is chris, 21 im from jax but go to school at FSU. i will be going into the army after college

im tired of as southpark puts it "voting between a turd sandwich and a giant douche."

i just came across ron on youtube and he really is what i want

i believe in a small government with more power to the states. that the 10th amendment is actually held in the national government.