Ron Paul took second place at the New Hampshire Republican primary. Second place. Um, I'm not exactly sure how to structure what I want to say, so I'm just going to dive right in and say: I don't understand.
I'm sitting here this morning, trying really hard to figure out what the appeal is with a guy like Ron Paul. Yesterday I was driving in downtown San Diego, and I saw Ron Paul signs posted in windows and a banner hung up on an overpass. I didn't see any signs for Mitt Romney or Jon Huntsman, or any other candidates. I know people who are Ron Paul supporters, and they are extremely devoted to this candidate. I remember during President Obama's campaign, there were a lot of wacko, undereducated, overly-devoted-without-understanding-why voters. A lot of people drank the Obama kool-aid without fully understanding who or what they were supporting, but the Obama zealots were nothing compared to the Ron Paul crowd.
So, let's take a look at what has Paul's supporters so fired up. First of all, he's a libertarian. Or he's a republican. I'm not sure. He's running as a republican, but he says a lot of libertarian stuff. In case you aren't sure what libertarianism is, it's a political philosophy that says that isolationism, individualism, and, above all, human greed and self-preservation are the fundamental principles that should guide government.
You may be saying, "Woah, now. Surely that's not what libertarianism is!" Or, if you are a libertarian, you may be saying, "Hey! That's not what I believe!" Well, allow me to look you directly in the eye and say, yes it is. Take a look at Ron Paul's political positions:
Smaller government. Reducing the size of the federal government is a no-brainer. Everyone can agree that it's not just a good idea, but a necessity. The problem with Ron Paul is that the federal government (imperfectly) serves a lot of purposes, and it would hurt a lot of people if the government was suddenly and drastically decimated. Any rational person recognizes that many of the currently existing federal organizations are basically essential, and just destroying them would be counterproductive.
Lower taxes. If you want to get elected, you have to promise to lower taxes. Um, I don't know if anyone is aware of this, but we are in debt. I mean, just a little bit. A little debt. It's cool, though. We can totally balance the budget and dig our way out of debt without tax revenue, right? Also, tax dollars do, in reality, help people. Do politicians fuck up in determining how tax dollars should be allocated? Of course. The government is imperfect...because it's run by human beings who are elected by morons like us. We The People are to blame. We The People dug the hole, and we (collectively) should have to pay for it. It sucks, but that's the way it is. It is morally irresponsible for politicians to promise (and sometimes deliver!) ridiculous shit that appeals to the selfish asshole in all of us. There is no politician today who has the integrity or character to stand up and demand that America act responsibly or be held accountable for years of failed, irresponsible policies. Ron Paul is no exception. His economic policies are an appeal to people who care only about themselves, and only in the most short-sighted way possible.
By the way, his proposed raises to the national sales tax would seriously harm lower- and middle-class citizens. He wants to abolish income tax, and raise the hell out of sales tax. Like, from 9% to 25%. Think about everything that you purchase being 15% more expensive all of a sudden, but not having to pay income tax... it doesn't seem that bad, until you realize how staggeringly unfair that is. Millionaires (like Ron Paul) don't have to pay tax on their huge incomes, and you are going to pick up the slack by paying more for EVERYTHING.
The All-Powerful Free Market! Libertarianism loves The Free Market! Unrestrained capitalism is the religion of the libertarian. Make money, yo. That's the bottom line. Ron Paul believes that The Free Market will regulate itself, which is so obvious you guys. I mean, just look at Wall Street. Those dudes have their shit completely figured out. Everyone knows that the pursuit of the dollar is the highest form of good, and that business owners will always act responsibly. Ron Paul doesn't think that evolution is a valid scientific theory (seriously.), but he believes that, economically speaking, survival of the fittest is the way to go. It's not like people's lives are affected by corporate greed.
So, while the corporations run shit, taxes are low, and the federal government is powerless to intervene... LET'S GIVE EVERYONE SOME MUTHAFUCKIN' GUNZ!!! Ron Paul is pretty much opposed to all forms of gun control. So, that's interesting. I really enjoy shooting. I think that it's fun to go to a range and have fun with some guns, but it would be extremely stupid for me to go "I enjoy guns, so they should be legal for everyone to have" like Ron Paul or the NRA crowd. I'm not everyone, and even if I can responsibly own weapons, that doesn't mean that EVERYONE can. I mean, DUH.
Ron Paul talks about personal freedom a lot. He has spoken about how he thinks that heroin and prostitution should be legal, because in his mind no rational person would just run out and take a bunch of drugs and indiscriminately bang prostitutes. Good thing everyone is rational and good-natured. In Ron Paul's imaginary Leave It To Beaver version of America, everything is legal (except abortion), the government is tiny, and people don't do drugs... well, just because.
Finally, Ron Paul's foreign policies can best be summed up in one statement: If you aren't America, then you can go fuck yourself. He is against all foreign aid. He doesn't believe that we should be worried about anything that is happening outside of our borders.
So, to recap, if you... don't directly need the federal government to help you with anything, hate paying taxes, think that guys like Bernie Madoff are admirable free-market opportunists, want to expand your arsenal of assault weapons, and would enjoy unrestricted access to drugs and whores, then RON PAUL IS THE CANDIDATE FOR YOU.
Seriously, America? Seriously, New Hampshire voters? Seriously? This guy? Glenn Beck said yesterday that this guy is a "solid" candidate, but that Ron Paul is damaged by his "crazy" supporters. Glenn Beck said that. The guy who says that he is sick of hearing 9/11 victims "complaining" and that President Obama is a racist. The conspiracy theorist who thinks that Obama funding stem cell research is the same as Hitler exterminating Jews in an attempt to create a master race. That guy thinks that (1.) Ron Paul is a "solid" candidate, and (2.) Ron Paul's supporters are crazy.
We're in trouble, America. If we can't get beyond the pursuit of our own selfish interests and start looking into the collective welfare of our nation, we are in for some very rough years in the near future.
thanks for saying everything about Ron Paul that I couldn't put into coherent thought myself because I'm too busy being baffled by all the Ron Paul fanatics. <3
ReplyDeleteDearest Big Ken and his current 1 followers that so far do not appreciate my humor:
ReplyDeleteThe one think I can appreciate about Ron Paul is this...he takes the same position toward most laws, gun control, and things of this nature as I do, which is that the laws should basically just be a way to control poor people. Let me expand.
So, I get pulled over the other day doing some ridiculous speed at 0445 in the morning on the way into work. Okay, it was not that early, but for effect, let's imagine that I actually got up that early. You know what, forget that, it was about 0900.
Anyway, I get pulled over. Now, to understand the situation, I am driving an almost $80k car in a small town where I live on a Country Club, and of course I have a concealed weapon in the car. So, he approaches, I had him my license and my concealed carry permit and inform him (while both hands remain on the wheel) that I intact do have a H&K .45 with threaded barrel in the glove compartment. While this has no bearing the story, it was odd that he asked to see it. I asked him if he was sure, and he said yet, as long as I did not mind. I very carefully and very slowly reached in, smiled very big and slowly removed the magazine and the HP round from the weapon and handed it to him. He looked it over, said it was very nice and handed it back. I put it away quickly.
We finally got around to the task at hand and he mentioned that I was clocked doing 77 in a 55 and I may or may not have allegedly rolled through the stop sign.
At this point I began my defense.
I proceeded to explain to the very nice officer that I believed traffic laws were a way to control poor people. I explained that when the country was founded, the rich needed a way to keep the poor in line, so following the ever popular idea of the Bible, they decided to come up with a bunch of laws to make poor people stay in line and act like normal members of society.
I went on and on for about 15 minutes on my theories, then explained to him I was obviously not a poor person and should not be subjected to these current issues. He smiled politely, almost patronizing and walked back to his car.
A few moments later he returned and handed me my license back. He gave me a warning and a 5 minute speech explaining that he felt I should not repeat this theory ever again. I thanked him and went on with my day.
The point of the story is that Ron Paul feels the same way, which is the only reason I kind of like him. For all the other reasons, he is like 5 steps over the line and crazy as bat shit, which I hear is pretty crazy.
In the end, we do need government to keep an eye on those tricky poor people, while still taking money from the ultra rich at the same time (Not to give to poor people, but to pay for roads and things). I like poor people, and in a dualistic society we absolutely need them for balance.
We also need them to pick up trash on the side of the road when other people litter and do not recycle, but that is another story completely!