Ron Paul 2016? NOOOOOOO!

PAULITES! LET IT GO!

This was a big source of debate in my own house as my wife was quite the burgeoning Ron Paul supporter.

Admittedly, at first blush, some of the positions Ron Paul has espoused have sounded pretty good, even to those of us on the left:

1. Was against the Iraq War, wants to end (most**) military intervention
2. Wants to end the War on Drugs
3. Wouldn't support a Constitutional amendment banning gay marriage

Setting aside various criticisms involving his newsletter and involvement with white supremacists, there are quite a number of policy positions and opinions that are significantly less attractive:

1. Wants to repeal the Civil Rights Act of 1964
2. Doesn't believe in any federal safety standards or regulating bodies (FDA, EPA, FAA, etc)
3. Wants to do away with OSHA
4. Wants to do away with public education because "it's socialist" (aaaand?)
5. Anti-abortion
6. Believes there is a "War on Christmas"
7. Doesn't believe in evolution
8. Doesn't believe in global warming
9. Wants to repeal the Americans With Disabilities Act
10. Thinks interstate highways are unconstitutional

**wanted US to seize the Panama Canal

In Ron Paul's own words, "forced integration dictated by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 increased racial tensions while diminishing individual liberty." A mere 50 years ago, voting against all but one southern congressman, representatives of the rest of the country put an end to segregation and the systematic disenfranchisement and mistreatment of millions of Americans. That my friends, was a WIN for those who wanted to increase liberty.

Sure, there are some legitimate concerns over the EPA (authority to garnish wages, what?) but let's not kid ourselves into believing that corporations and even small/medium businesses can be trusted to police themselves. If anything, the EPA's authority should be expanded to encompass operations of the US government. What about the FDA? Who among us really trusts big pharma to rule on the safety and efficacy of their own product? Ridiculous! In Ron Paul's own words, "People weren't dying from bad drugs before we had the FDA." The FDA has been around since 1906. What bad drugs is he talking about? Pencillin for instance, one of the first drugs that actually treated a disease, wasn't even discovered until 1928.

I'm all for people, with the time and inclination, home schooling their children though I'm leery of nutters teaching their children that Nessie is proof that science is wrong about evolution. I'm all for reforming education but lets get real — left to their own devices, some of these morons, particularly in the more rural areas of the south, would do about as much for education as the Taliban. That's not going to help our nation compete and it's sure as hell not going to result in the sort of innovation that might stand a chance of reinvigorating our crumbling (crumbled?) manufacturing base.

If one assumes that smaller government translates to more freedom (and that's an assumption, the size of government should be exactly the size needed to efficiently provide the services deemed necessary by the people), there's better ways to do it than shooting ourselves in the foot.

I'm sorry folks, the guy is in fact a cantankerous KOOK. Please just let it go!

He's too old. It wouldn't be healthy for him to be in office. His time has come and gone. Gotta' move on to someone else. I agree.

a reply to: theantediluvian

Out of all of your "less attractive" points....I agree with most of them and what he stands for...Your wife is correct!

GO RON PAUL!!!

a reply to: theantediluvian

One man can't change the rot that has infested our elected officials of BOTH parties, UNLESS they ALL get tossed the hell out of the Whitehouse!

I like Ron Paul, but let's face it, taking an aspirin isn't going to cure a body filled with cancer!

It's got to start somewhere. If you really believe we should all just bow down and perpetuate the current paradigm of government, then we are destined to go by way of the dodo bird and Rome, to name a few. It's just unfortunate that only the silent majority/informed voters actually lean toward his policies. Alas, the other two parties cater to sensationalism, ignorance, politics and greed.

But sure, I'll vote for the next idiot like everyone else...unless I want to change the way we do business!

a reply to: theantediluvian

But...smaller government Rand has inherited the mantle and is suing the government for every crosswind Fart he doesnt like costing the taxpayer even more.

Totally agree. Both are right out.
The system is dead. The corporations won.

a reply to: theantediluvian
What is a Ron Paul bash thread? Let what go? He's not running in 2016, he's said it over and over again. He's old and he's retired. His son will be taking up the family legacy in 2016. Why not create a thread about that?

a reply to: theantediluvian

Who do you want in power...Hillary?
Palin?
Obama?
Another Bush?
Get real dude!!

Its no wonder I pity Americans...or in this case American'ts

Ron Paul was the only true guy.....guys like him are the solution...YOU are the problem.
But...that is just my opinion and you are (almost) free to have yours.(depending on what Government makes the new laws)
Most people laugh at America.....why dont you?

a reply to: theantediluvian

The fact is no party has a candidate that resonates for our next President.

Let's hope it isn't another "media" generated one next time.....

a reply to: nwtrucker


I predicted this garbage months before the election.
www.abovetopsecret.com...

Smells like poop to me.

That Ron Paul is a kook, doesn't he know personal responsibility is not cool and hip? Geezer.
...and that "Constitution" thing he keeps trying to push down everyone's throats is like over 200 years old!
I'm with theantediluvian we need to hold out for an Hamas candidate.

originally posted by: theantediluvian
PAULITES! LET IT GO!

This was a big source of debate in my own house as my wife was quite the burgeoning Ron Paul supporter.
...
I'm sorry folks, the guy is in fact a cantankerous KOOK. Please just let it go!

And the alternatives are better how? Please, please, please tell me how the alternative candidates are actually better than Ron Pau!

originally posted by: seeker1963
a reply to: theantediluvian

One man can't change the rot that has infested our elected officials of BOTH parties, UNLESS they ALL get tossed the hell out of the Whitehouse!

I like Ron Paul, but let's face it, taking an aspirin isn't going to cure a body filled with cancer!

I agree, both parties are so bought and paid for and caught up in political gamesmanship that they're running us into the ground while they have us at one another's throats over partisan propaganda.

There is no denying the reality that we're dealing with. The middle class is shrinking and we currently have no viable plan to replace the good paying manufacturing jobs that for so long made our economy strong. The misconception that Republicans push is that wealth trickles down from the top but I'd argue it radiates from the middle! Democrats on the other hand seem to think that targeted subsidization and a host of even less effective initiatives are an answer.

At the end of the day, both parties promote policies to insure that the wealthiest people will continue to get richer. Unfortunately for those supporters of the "third party" LP, they're deluding themselves as well. If you look at all their policy propositions as a whole, it reads a lot like a recipe for generating jobs.. in sweat shops!

We have to start demanding that our politicians stop having these grandiose fake debates and we need to drastically reform the election process.

Why is "pro-life" or "pro-choice" a qualification? Who really believes that we're going to legislate abortion out of existence? Republicans, hang it up. It's NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

Why do we keep having these gun control "debates?" There's nothing approaching popular support for heavily restricting gun ownership. Personally, I wish Democrats would just STOP F'ING TALKING ABOUT IT.

Illegal immigration? Why is this really a problem? We do need border security but we should also not have such a s# economy that we are turning away good, honest, hard working people who want to contribute to our country. We can come up with trillions to spend on wars but we're "too poor to take care of those already here."

More military intervention? WTF. We had to be drug into WWII but these days, despite a very LONG list of failed interventions, we can't get enough of throwing trillions of dollars down a pit to "liberate" people who end up worse off than when started and the net result is a huge loss of life and money and an increase in the threat of terrorism?

Religion? No place in politics. If some kid wants to read the bible in free reading, LET HIM READ IT but at the same time, let's stop talking about Sharia law like it's a REALLY A THREAT.

We need to fix the trade deficits we have with EVERYONE and reverse the staggering growth of income inequality (and everything these things entail). All other issues are secondary.

/rant

The fact is no party has a candidate that resonates for our next President.

Let's hope it isn't another "media" generated one next time.....

Exactly. Our prospects all pretty poor. There's nobody that I feel inclined to support that I've heard mentioned as a prospective candidate.

And the alternatives are better how? Please, please, please tell me how the alternative candidates are actually better than Ron Pau!

Ron Paul isn't running, I'm seeking to discourage people from beating that drum or worse, transferring their Paulite love to his son.

a reply to: theantediluvian

Yah youre right, Ron Paul is a "kook".

Who the hell needs peace, fiscal responsibility and freedom.

On to more wars, more debt, more inflation and a bigger police state!

He wont run again but dayam do we need him.

I really don't care if he believes the earth is 6,000 years old or 6 minutes old, as long as he doesn't force it down schoolchildren's throats I could care less of what the man believes.

a reply to: Swills

Yeh, maybe a discussion on Rand Paul's platform might be discussed.

I don't know if he would be running for President in 2016.

a reply to: SoldierCarryingHashbrowns

originally posted by: SoldierCarryingHashbrowns
I really don't care if he believes the earth is 6,000 years old or 6 minutes old, as long as he doesn't force it down schoolchildren's throats I could care less of what the man believes.

Thats why its so funny when they attack his personal views/beliefs.

The man's whole libertarian philosophy is about people doing or believing in whatever they want so long as they dont infringe on or hurt others.

People are so used to politicians shoving their beliefs down our throats, they no longer understand the idea of freedom or the limited role of government.

a reply to: TheCounselor

It doesnt matter if he runs.....the voters are not in control and neither are the candidates running or winning.
I wish people would figure that out and knock the charades off.
Ron Paul CLEARLY won the last debates....yet,the news blackballed him and here we sit.


If i wanted to play charades....Ill get a child to do it with me....i think that says a lot about our society we live in.
Ahem.

a reply to: gladtobehere

Meaningless statements and a goofy picture make for pretty thin and unconvincing argument.

Everyone wants all of those things. All politicians promise to preserve them.