Well, guess what? That means as society becomes more technologically savvy a growing amount of the population is becoming more enlightened towards libertarian ideals.....particularly the young and (currently) disenfranchised. Something any smart politician should realize.
A link to the writings of Ron Paul. Anyone thinking Ron Paul is an intellectual lightweight should give these a look. FREEDOM UNDER SIEGE Here is Ron Paul's political manifesto, a courageous book on civil liberties and the rights of Americans that are relentlessly under assault from government. It was written in 1987, on the 200th anniversary of the Constitution, and is back in print for the first time. It is here that Dr. Paul provides his most extended thoughts on what it means to be a constitutionalist in the tradition of Thomas Jefferson. He connects violations of individual rights to an interventionist foreign policy and the supposed needs of national security. Here he blasts the draft and draft registration, impositions on the right of individuals to own guns, restrictions on the freedom to speak and write, and draws out the links between all these policies. Paul further discusses the tie between individual liberties and sound money. Other issues discussed include the true meaning of patriotism, the moral law as it applies to politics, the meaning of leadership in a free society, the nature of the state in light of his experiences in Washington, and the historic and ever-lasting conflict between the individual and the state. 174 pages, paperback FOREIGN POLICY OF FREEDOM There is one and only one voice in Congress for a foreign policy of freedom, and it belongs to Ron Paul, who has stood alone for freedom for many years. Ron is the seemingly impossible: a voice for reason and truth in a den of thieves A Foreign Policy of Freedom is his 372-page manifesto, a collection of inspired statements to the House of Representatives that show him to be the most consistent and morally responsible politician, perhaps, in the whole of American history. This book takes on a special significance with his 2008 run for the US presidency. Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr., writes the introduction. Recently, you might have heard Ron condemning foreign aid, the Iraq War, our vast and needlessly growing military budgets, bombings of this country and that, troops in most all countries in the world, and all the other meddlesome activities of the US empire. This foreign policy, Congressman Paul has pointed out, is contrary to American ideals, diminishes American liberty, and ends up making worse the very problems it seeks to alleviate. This book makes Ron Paul's place in history. There has never been anything so forthright, truth telling, and ultimately devastating from a US politician. Not since Taft has there been a book like this, and this one makes Taft's own classic seems vague and abstract by comparison. GOLD, PEACE, AND PROSPERITY Ron Paul has been the leading champion of sound money in the Congress. Here he explains why sound money means a new gold standard. The monograph is written in the clearest possible terms with the goal of explaining the basics of paper money and its effects of inflation, business cycles, and government growth. He maps out a plan to bring about a dollar that is as good as gold, one that would be protected against manipulation by government and central bankers. Part of that strategy is the minting of a new gold one but the more far-reaching plan involves a redefinition of the dollar and complete monetary competition. This monograph first appeared in 1981, and it has been in wide distribution ever since. Henry Hazlitt writes the introduction, and Murray Rothbard writes the preface. 57 pages, 6" x 9", paperback THE CASE FOR GOLD In 1982, Ron Paul served on the U.S. Gold Commission to evaluate the role of gold in the monetary system. In fact, the Commission was his idea. It was carrying forth a promise made in the Republican platform. Ron couldn't pick the members, so from the beginning, the deck was stacked. The majority was dominated by monetarists, who saw gold as too scarce and paper as just fine. Ron Paul's team was ready, however, with this marvelous minority report. Rarely has a dissent on a government commission done so much good! The result was The Case for Gold , and it was the greatest result of the commission. It covers the history of gold in the United States, explains that its breakdown was caused by governments, and explains the merit of having sound money: prices reflect market realities, government stays in check, and the people retain their freedom. The scholarship and rigor impressed even the critics of the minority. Ron and Lewis Lehrman worked with a team of economists that included Murray Rothbard, so it is hardly sup rising that such a book would result. It still holds up as an excellent blueprint for moving beyond paper money and into the age of sound money. In particular, Ron favors complete monetary freedom to use any commodity as money, to make contracts in any money, and an end to the monopolization and printing power of the Federal Reserve. There is a strong piece of history in this book. Not since the 19th century has a political figure made such a sweeping and devastating case for radical monetary reform. This congressman ran circles around even the experts at the Fed. A dazzling performance indeed, and an inspiring and learned book.- 245 pages, paperback MISES AND AUSTRIAN ECONOMICS: A PERSONAL VIEW Ron Paul deserves a high place in the history of liberty for being the only seriously principled statesman to serve in the US House of Representatives in the last quarter of the 20th century. It should not be a surprise to discover that Ludwig von Mises had a huge impact on Congressman Paul's view of statesmanship. This essay is a moving tribute to Mises and a look into the mind of a remarkable politician. http://www.mises.org/store/search.aspx?keywords=paul
There is another one brewing for Novemebr 11th, but I am waiting for the next one soon to come. It will be on Decemebr 15th or 16th, possibly a 2 day money bomb. We'll just keep dropping bombs and the MSM can call it how they want it. The american people are catching on and catching on fast after yesterdays blow out. I beleive in the American people so much I am maxing out my donation limit as a holiday gift to America's freedom on the soon to be determined December date. This next one should be even a bigger shock.
Isn't that kind of the point? They aren't exact opposites. They are opposites on a few big issues. I think that is a good thing. I love RP, but I'm not sure I would want to turn him loose to tear things apart within a very short few years. I think they would balance each other well.
Ron Paul was on Leno a week or so ago, and Leno asked him about the possibility of joining with another candidate as his running mate. Ron Paul said that he wouldn't be interested because his views are in such conflict with the other republicans and he wouldn't be willing to make such a big compromise. Something along those lines... to me it seemed pretty clear that he wasn't interested in anything except the presidency. The Leno interview is all over on YouTube if you're interested in his exact words, maybe my interpretation is off.
I tend to agree with this, but one thing politicians and the media respect is money. Paul has enough to stick around to the end. He has been marginalized in the early debates, but that will be harder to do if he is one of three or four candidates left. The American people respect integrity, character and principles. They despise Washington insiders. This could get interesting.
If Ron Paul gets shunned out of the primaries, can he still run in the big race as an Independent? I'm no political science guru, so I have no idea.
Ditto, all my profits on Monday went to Ron Paul. I do not agree 100% about foreign policy ..... but all the other candidates are asleep to economic issues. Where will the USD head if Ron Paul is elected vs. any of the other empty stuffed suits?
I wasn't implying that he would be willing to do it, just that I think it would be a good situation. Having him in as VP would also lengthen the amount of time that he might be able to influence things. Think about him getting into office as VP and building more support amongst the people who matter. Then he has the option of running for president again if he'd like. It seems like he is completely different than the other candidates because people emphisize the differences. Those differences account for only a portion of the many conservative opinions that each candidate holds. In any case, the fact that he is unwilling to compromise is precisely why he won't get elected. And if he did, nothing he wanted would go through. It would be complete gridlock.