by Ed Klein, Peoria, IL
I wonder if those who are disenchanted with the Republican candidates for President and find a fresh voice in Ron Paul understand the consequences of the ideas he espouses. That is to say, an America free from all the onerous entanglements of government … a true Libertarian society where unlimited personal freedom is the goal.
It’s not that I fear a President Paul. What really bothers me is the thought that so many seemingly intelligent people apparently have not the slightest idea of what a country under Paul would be like.
Katha Pollitt, writing in the Nation magazine, points out that “Truthdig’s Robert Scheer calls Paul ‘a profound and principled contributor to a much needed debate on the limits of federal power.’ Further, John Nichols – himself a Nation contributor – praises Paul’s pure conservatism, values and principals. And Salon’s Glen Greenwald rails that progressives ought to have abandoned the warmongering-drone sending – indefinite detention supporting Obama for Paul, and accuses them of supporting the murder of Muslim children.” And there are others, including Jon Stewart, who surprisingly, refrains from asking Paul when he was his guest, any tough questions.
Paul admits he doesn’t see himself in the Oval Office. According to Charles Krauthammer, “Paul is less a candidate than a cause, to cite his election night New Hampshire speech. “Krauthammer says further, “Paul was genuinely delighted with his speech, because after a quarter-century in the wilderness, he’s within reach of putting his cherished cause on the map. Libertarianism will have gone from the fringes – those hopeless, pathetic third-party runs – to a position of prominence in a major party.”
If his supporters understand how his views would eliminate almost every power the federal government has and everything it dies, they either want to see an America heading toward Gotterdammerung … thrust back with the loss of centuries of progress and enlightenment.
Mr. Paul can be complimented for wanting to end the fruitless war on drugs – in fact – all wars – and the curtailment of civil liberties, in the war on terrorism and a couple of other proposals that would defend our rights. But can a few popular proposals make up for the wholesale destruction of America as we know it?
So, let’s take a look at what this is all about. The Paul people are looking at whether they know it or not.
No environmental protection No Social Security
No help for the poor No Medicare or Medicaid
No public education No Civil Rights laws
No anti discrimination laws No Americans with Disabilities Act
No laws ensuring the safety of food, drugs, or consumer products
No workers rights No Federal Aviation Authority
His answer to air controllers? Let the market handle it.
Consider also his connection with the Christian Reconstruction Movement whose objective is to scrap the Constitution and Bill of Rights and use the Bible to turn the U.S. into a theocracy. The Reconstructionists would execute gays, adulterers and insubordinate children. In short, Paul’s dream would, if carried out, means the end of the greatest nation in the world and make life unlivable. Let’s not even talk about Sharia Law!
Can anyone tell me how so many people who claim to love their country can support Ron Paul? All I can say is, they haven’t taken the time or made the effort to understand what he is all about, and that’s tragic.