Who is Ron Paul and why in the hell is he a Republican?
I just discovered this guy today, and so far, I’m incredibly impressed and I haven’t the faintest idea why he’s trying to run on a Republican ticket. I don’t agree with 100% of what he preaches, but there’s some terribly refreshing ideas coming out of his mouth and I find myself nodding a hell of a lot more than frowning, which given the current state of affairs lately is somewhat of a miracle in and of itself.
I am not a Republican. Most people know this. I’d be happy to take you out into the backyard and beat you with a hose for calling me one, but this guy makes me want to vote for one. He is smart, articulate, straightforward, and answers questions he is asked!
He’s the first guy I’ve heard speak out violently against the war in Iraq. He’s not mincing words, either — he’s saying, “Bring the troops home, right away.” No bull. He voted against both the war and its funding bills.
My sentiments about attacks against our nation have always hinted at the fault being our own for attempting to be the world policymaker and stick our noses into everyone else’s business. Paul thinks the same way, saying that our shitty foreign policy is the reason we are in so many messes and have so many enemies in the world.
While debating in South Carolina, he got Rudy Giuliani in a gigantic huff when he suggested this, and I simply laughed at all of it, as Giuliani is a sour dick of the worst kind at his best and his only merit is his supposed “heroism” during the events of 9/11, which was only public relation masturbation more than anything else. He asked Paul to retract his statement that seemed to imply that 9/11 was brought upon by our involvement in the Middle East (which it did not even mention), and true to form, Paul refused to retract it, stating that the concept of “blowback” as described by the CIA is absolutely a reality and that’s exactly what we’re receiving due to our involvement.
He’s for the legalization of marijuana, or at least, he’s for the state-side regulation of it, equating the failure of its control as something akin to prohibition. I imagine the 1920s speakeasys would have been a mite more toned down if the hooch behind the counter was instead a box of fatties.
Paul likes the reduction of government, turning anything that the states can regulate themselves back to the states instead of insisting that the federal government keep its fingers in everything. He insists that anything that is currently being controlled at a federal level be turned back to the state level as soon as possible. This borders heavy on Libertarianism, and he apparently kept good friends with the L party, speaking at their conventions and so forth. I try to be normally cautious about Libers as they oftentimes turn out to be hippies bent on an idealism that isn’t in tune with reality, but so far, Paul hasn’t tossed on the rose-coloured glasses and grabbed his guitar for a sing-along.
He opposes federally-funded flood insurance in known flood plains because he feels it punishes those people who choose not to live in a flood plain. I think that’s fucking brilliant. Federally-funded flood insurance is like federally-funded lung cancer treatment for smokers. You do it, you take responsibility. If you’re an idiot and live under sea level in New Orleans, well — put on your waders and suck it up.
He also, interestingly enough, votes against farm subsidies, as he feels they end up going mostly to corporations and not to individual farmers. This will ensure his death in Iowa, because if you say anything against farmers here you are instantly ostracized for being a spitting on the “people of the land”, even if it’s for their own good. He insisted on paying all of his childrens’ ways through college without them taking part in the federal student loan program, because he felt people should only use those resources when absolutely necessary. He has never voted for a tax increase, a pay raise for Congress, or any bill he feels is unconstitutional.
Not All Rosy
Paul is against both globalization and the United Nations, which I’m not all terribly sure about. He’s correct when he has stated that the protection and safety of the US isn’t necessarily ensured by being a member of the UN, but I believe that our participation in a global round table is still essential to our interaction in the world. Globalization is an emerging reality and it all depends on how we react to it and use it to our advantage, not if we’re going to take part, because that’s a given.
The Information Age assures that we’re going to be going to a more global environment as time goes on. Paul seems to think that adopting the Monroe Doctrine again would be a pretty spiffy idea, which is avoiding the issue. To deny this change is to bury your head in the sand and hope it doesn’t happen, although I think Paul’s thoughts on this appeals a lot to his constituents who don’t want brown people near them and who still use the term, “Freedom Fries” with a straight face.
But with so much good…
Paul opposes illegal immigration and any form of amnesty for illegal aliens and especially children becoming automatic citizens when born to illegals, which I think is about the stupidest thing in the entire existence of man. The fact that this is allowed reeks of prima noctae and its supposed legislation against the Scottish people.
He also opposes the income tax and since I’ve been a pretty big fan of the Fair Tax, I think those two ideas could easily be compatible. Pro-life is also in his briefcase, which I heartily agree with.
Which only means…
All these points that I agree with and the fact that he is so violently outspoken and convicted means he will not get the nomination, as both major political parties in the States have become groups of wishy-washy, whiny, moody she-bitches, willing to pant and lick any boot that comes close enough to them just to get the wave. Not that I’m against Bush-bashing, but for the both parties it has become commonplace to call the president a moron at least once or twice in their speeches without substantial opposing plans and ideas. I will be the first to call Bush a gibbering idiot, but that doesn’t make me a good candidate just because I can state that he’s as nutty as a fruitcake.
In many ways, I’m sorry I found out about Ron Paul. I should just bury my head and keep on ignoring the headlines and news, because good things like this in government never make it to the forefront.
But trust me, Americans, you wouldn’t be very disappointed if the fairy godmother appeared for once and let it actually happen. You might truly be shocked and, dare I say it, pleased?
