Why I am voting for Ron Paul
August 21, 2007 7:26 amI have never considered myself much of a Libertarian. I certainly do not possess a strong affinity for a free-market economy, and I do not believe that the free-market can serve as a conceptual paradigm that is deployable for the resolution of every and any social problem. For example, the horrific display of inhumanity that transpired during Katrina was bungled by the Government to say the least, and private firms would most definitely have done a far superior job; or, I should say, done a job, because the Federal Government did relatively nothing. However, I fail to understand how incentives could have been created for private interests to interdict during the humanitarian crisis, because as far as I can imagine no profit incentive could have been present motivating private firms to do what the Federal Government appeared either incapable or so apathetic that it failed to do itself.
I should mention, however, that I am a Libertarian in respect to Civil Liberties, and, for this reason, I am naturally inclined to vote for an individual such as Ron Paul, despite his failure to consider female reproductive rights to be an aspect of the female body that is subsumed under the extension of the Right of Privacy. Abortion, nevertheless, is a tricky issue, and I am well aware that feminist groups would be up in arms over my relegation of abortion rights to epiphenomena. I will say, however, that all too often abortion is positioned in the advocacies of civil libertarians in the front and center - over and beyond other issues that should assume equal if not greater significance among the interests of those who want to prevent the expansion of government’s intrusion into our private activities. Case in point, anybody who has ever listened to the painfully pedestrian questions posed by Senator Feinstein during the Senate’s Judicial Committees hearings on prospective judicial nominees will be well aware that her only concern, regarding civil liberties, appears to be the preservation of Roe v Wade.
She will ask a judicial nominee, “Are you going to overturn Row?”
The nominee’s response will invariably consist of something to the effect, it would be inappropriate for me to answer such a question since it might be a consideration that arises from the deliberations I might make when adjudicating a future case.
Feinstein will then respond, “Okay, but are you going to overturn Roe?”
These instances where Feinstein demonstrates her lack intelligence would not be so disheartening if her concerns for civil liberties extended beyond merely matters related to abortion. However, let us not forget that she not only voted for the Patriot Act and its renewal, she was an outspoken supporter of the legislation. I suspect why the Portrait Act did not register in the civil libertarian sensibilities of Feinstein as an incursion to American Civil Liberties is it possess no contents related to Roe v Wade.
There are, of course, Democrats who are authentically concerned with American Civil Liberties, and, in fact, there are too many of them to enumerate in this context. Additionally, there are many Democrats who are sincerely working to end the ongoing debacle in Iraq. Nevertheless, it appears that none of the Democratic frontrunners are in possession of the aforementioned dispositions. Well, perhaps, they are. However, from listening to their public pronouncements, one would not be led into making inferences that any of the frontrunners, such as Hillary Clinton, would end the war immediately, and withdrawal American troops from parts of the globe where they have no business occupying, unless we are to openly and unequivocally declare America an Empire with imperial interests that stretch around the world.
Clinton, for instance, has stated on occasion that she wants American troops permanently stationed in Iraq in order to protect American geopolitical and economic interests. Even as we speak, America is in the process of building the largest embassy in the word that is, of course, furnished with all of the amenities Americans would need who are stationed in this embassy for long periods of time, such as fast food, bowling allies, and all of the rest.
These considerations have led me to depart from my routines of vote casting for candidates on ballots. In fact, I have never voted for a Republican for anything in my entire life: State, Local, or Federal. Nevertheless, at this point in time, I am strongly considering registering as a Republican simply to cast a vote for the Primary Candidacy of Ron Paul.
This has nothing to do with Ron Paul coming from the same neighborhood as me in Pittsburgh. Nor, does it matter that my now deceased grandmother was friends with Paul’s in-laws, who - according to my grandmother - always said that Paul was a nice guy, but he had crazy political ideas.
I am voting for Ron Paul because he exudes integrity, and when he says that he will end the war in Iraq I believe in the veracity of his statements. I also find myself in agreement with Paul on matters related to the finance industry - the parasites who shoot craps while standing on top of the world that is carried on the shoulders of the less fortunate, whose sweet and labor contribute to our economy through the actual production of goods, not simply speculations - as is the case with the finance industry - regarding the successes or failures of those who tangibly provide for America’s material conditions.
As far as ending Social Security, Ron Paul is at least honest about his intentions, and I believe him when he says that such Libertarian reforms are the least of his concerns, and would not acquire attention until more pressing matters have been attended.
I am going to vote for Ron Paul because I think that democracy in America depends upon it. No other candidate in the Democratic Primaries, at least, has demonstrated to me that they have the character and courage needed to enact the reforms to which they allude. I shiver at the prospect of being a registered Republican. However, I will make the sacrifice just to cast my one - and to be perfectly frank, meaningless - ballot for Ron Paul.
Russell Cole
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14 Responses to “Why I am voting for Ron Paul”
It caught my attention that you are from Pittsburgh, as I am.
Do you still live in Pittsburgh?
My wife and I write books (and blog) for Christian married couples.
I recently posted my endorsement for Dr. Paul, titled, “Christians Can Vote For Ron Paul Without Holding Their Nose,” at:
http://www.achristiansexsite.com/?p=181
Because it is addressed to a primarily “traditional” Christian audience, it does focus a bit on Dr. Paul’s position relative to abortion.
I find his position on this issue (although many good/intelligent people will disagree) to be very sincere and (refreshingly) not couched in double-speak.
It comes down to “where you draw the line” on “who’s freedom” you believe you are protecting.
He sincerely believes that life begins at conception. Consequently, he feels that preserving this life is a foundational requisite for anyone concerned about liberty…our first fundamental right to liberty/freedom is our right to live.
More importantly, I find his opposition to the Iraq war and nation-building tendencies, in general, to be completely consistent with his position on abortion.
I can’t for the life of me understand the Christians that tell me they are (primarily) “pro life,” but are equally committed to blindly supporting our government’s lack of respect for life in pursuit of it’s so-called “national rights.”
Paul references Augustine’s principle of “just war” and contrasts it with our current policies of “preemptive war.”
It scares me that so many Christians have allowed themselves to do the “cafeteria” approach to policy (relative to Scripture) and that they (many times) come down on the side of aggression.
your vote would not be meaningless, it would be the will of the people… who will elect Ron Paul….
“as far as I can imagine no profit incentive could have been present motivating private firms to do what the Federal Government appeared either incapable or so apathetic that it failed to do itself.”
Actually, one of the first responders was WalMart. They didn’t need a cash incentive, their incentive was probably a mix of humanitarian, and good old fashioned PR (probably more PR, but does that matter?)
Love them, or hate them (and a lot of folks do), you have to respect them for jumping into that swamp, and I imagine that respect was incentive enough.
Americans are the most charitable people in the world statistically. There is a reason for that, because freedom creates charity, and true charity that comes from the heart can only exist in freedom. Look at the outpooring for the tsunami. Our great universities were founded by private institutions, churches. Before over regulation of health care, a person could go into any religious run hospital and get care for free. I have seen in history the more controlled a people are, the more they expect someone else to take care of the other, the more free a society is, the more we look after each other, and we do a much better job at it.
I am glad to hear about American propensities to give to charities. However, we must also consider first reponders to these types of tragedies. I cannot imagine how this service - the actual saving of lives from the conditions immediately brougth about by the natural calamities - could be performed without the funding of some governmental agency. If somebody could explain to me how this might be accomplished without the use of government I would almost be completely sold.
Russell Cole
I for one, am registered democrat, and only voted twice in my life, politics never really drew me in, till the current lunatic took power. I voted against him twice, but I think I might be tossing my vote Ron Paul’s way in the next election. I’ve never voted for a Republican before, in my mind, republicans represent, the wealthy. The democrats sell the pitch that they’re out for the little guy, but rarely are, and usually serve their own interests. So, for the early part of my life, I didn’t see a difference between a banker and a salesman. Both were selling what they thought I wanted to hear. With Bush, I saw a puppet on a string, that man’s the drunk guy, at any wedding you’ve been to, who needs to be walked outside for some fresh air. I didn’t want the jackals in the whitehouse. But now maybe it’s time, for a man, who seems to be worthy of the chair. Someone with a spine, and a moral code. I willing to agree to disagree with him, I don’t agree with all his beliefs, but he seems to be a reasonable man, and the only candidate I’ve ever seen, who might stand a chance to do some good. It’s always darkest before the dawn.
yarleybrown,
You are the exact type of American to whom we are attempting to appeal through the ongoing construction of this third party. I too was a Democrat, until I realized that the Congress and its members is controlled by the Party leadership, who sets the agenda, and the Party leadership is invariably concerned with appealing to those with resources - in the economy and elsewhere - in order to procure the necessary finances to protract the Party leaderships positions of power. I then became a Green Party member, until I realized that the Greens exhaust all of their time quibbling over bylaws and other concerns that are endogenous to the Party itself. I am now in the Populist Party of America, and for once I feel as though I am contributing to something that is transparent with respect to its ultimate agenda, and egalitarian in respect that anyone can join and assume a capacity where he or she feels that his or her talents are being taken advantage of. Please feel free to contact me or others, because you most certainly share in our sentiments.
Russell Cole
Compilation of 13 Republican Straw Polls since June 1, 2007.
Results for Ron Paul:
FIRST (4)
North Carolina, Gaston GOP, August 13, ~ 1st 36.6% (NA)
New Hampshire Taxpayers, July 7 ~ 1st 61.9% (182/294)
New Hampshire, Stafford, NH, August 18~ 1st 72.7% (208/286)
West Alabama, August 18 ~ 1st 81.2% (216/266)
SECOND (4)
Utah GOP, June 12, 2nd 5.4% (70/1295)
LibertyPapers.org conference, June 16 ~ 2nd 16.7% (NA)
Georgia, Cobb Co. GOP, July 4 ~ 2nd 17% (42/247)
South Carolina, Georgetown Co., July 28 ~ 2nd 18% (40/223)
THIRD (2)
National Federation of Republican Assemblies, August 4, St. Louis, MO ~ 3rd 14% (NA)
Illinois, Springfield, August 16 ~ tied 3rd 18.87% (174/922)
FOURTH (1)
California Republican Assembly, July 1 ~ 4th 12% (NA)
FIFTH (1)
Iowa, Ames, August 11 ~ 5th 9.12% (1,305/14,302)
SIXTH (1)
Young Republican National Federation, Ft Lauderdale FL, July 8th ~ 6th 4.5% (11/247)
Sourced in part from:
http://www.freemarketnews.com/WorldNews.asp?nid=47579
Other data on 14 polls: http://isilion.blogsome.com/2007/08/19/85/
You make some thoughtful questions here about first responders. I would like to point out that without federal subsidized flood insurance, people might have thought twice about building so much inside a flood zone below sea level. It also appeared FEMA turned down help from various other federal agencies and private individuals willing to help. My final point is that life is never certain. We have to live a day or a minute at a time and some things are called acts of God for a reason - sometimes we have to accept our limitations. Due to our human limitations, I support Ron Paul and decentralized government power of the states.
Typo alert: “Portrait Act”
I make ‘em all the tmie.
>the actual saving of lives from the conditions
Most First Aid Squads and Fire Departments were volunteer. Some still are. In my town, in the past, once a year they’d pass the hat and ask for a donation. Over the years, as the taxes rose, they were squeezed. Fewer volunteers had the time to donate. Everything cost more, so everyone was working more and making less. Then there were all sorts of laws, regulations, and diktats pressed on them by Municipal, County, State, and Federal bureaucrats. Eventually it became a tax. And, it’s an example of how gooferment is like the Blob. It takes over everything. Some wag described gooferment as the only organization that can force you to pay exorbitantly for services that you neither asked for or want and then deliver them in the worst possible manner. I’ll take my chances on the marketplace. As a footnote, in the “old days” response times were better, but now three vehiciles show up at every call (i.e., police, ambulance, and paramedic). And, they send you a bill for the service in addition to the taxes. Argh!
I understand exactly where you are coming from. I live in Biloxi, where Katrina actually hit full force.
FEMA screwed so much up. If we were a wealthier nation I would count on volunteers before I would ever trust the Gov. again. The states have to ask for federal assistance before they could come in. Luckily, the National Guard responded immediately and saved lots of lives without asking permission.
It took Dubya three days.. THREE DAYS.. to fly over and only then he realized that more needed to be done. He hired a lackey with no experience to run FEMA and it showed. FEMA turned away fuel and water to the local police that desperately needed it. The National Guard took law abiding citizens guns in New Orleans. Those four things alone made me come to dispise the leadership from the top down.
Bush has none of his cohorts left. Everyone has left his side.. Its so obvious that we need change in America.
I dont agree with Ron Paul on everything. Thats not the point though. I believe in Ron Paul. A humble leader and the only voice of reason I hear on the presidential race.
Lets hope we get a Dr. instead of a lawyer this time around.
Go Ron Paul! Also, if you agree with Ron Paul please sign the petition to Abolish the Federal Reserve.
Now in August 2007, the world financial systems and investment markets, real estate and the availability of credit are all under direct assault due to past actions of the Federal Reserve in the United States.
Read and sign the Ron Paul Is Right – Abolish the Federal Reserve Petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/fed/petition.html
Please link to the petition and forward this message to your friends and help the general public wake up during the current financial panic conditions to the problems we face from the Federal Reserve and Ron Paul’s solution.
Also read comments from hundreds of signers who aren’t shy in saying what they think of the FED.
Amen we need plenty of people to vote for Ron Paul because he is the Republicans last chance.
Care to comment?