Ron Paul has a huge cadre of believers. His followers are all "small - l" libertarians, but many, like Dr. Paul, are members of the Republican Party.
Ron Paul wants to change the Republican Party from within.
Ron Paul's desire to change the party is noble. In my opinion, and many others, it is futile. Look how he was treated by his party. He was shunned by the "powers that be." He is an outcast within his own party.
Why does he not re-join the Libertarian Party? (He ran as the LP presidential candidate in 1988).
Some suggest it is because Libertarians have zero chance of winning. Well, so did Ron Paul in the Republican Party campaign for President.
I'm not sure how far that argument goes in convincing anyone to stay in the Republican Party. In my opinion, it stands for the proposition that believers in liberty should leave the Republicans to the social conservatives and neo-cons and believers in big government like John McCain.
Believers in liberty are shunned by the Republicans. The Libertarian Party welcomes you.
If Ron Paul had run as a Libertarian, he would get a huge percentage of the vote in the upcoming Presidential race. (20%? More? Perhaps... but he would have made a huge difference.) As it is, he will get zero % of the vote.
Dr. Paul is on a mission beyond this election, I understand. I think all lovers of liberty and freedom are on that same mission. We have just chosen different ways of achieving those goals.
And if the Republicans return to the principles of Barry Goldwater, I'll join up.
I think that is about as likely as Tara Reid winning a Nobel Prize.
If all of Dr. Paul's supporters joined the LP, the LP would be formidable. It would wield power. It could change things. And success breeds success.
The most fertile ground for that success is in the LP. Dr. Paul is sowing the seeds of liberty on the asphalt of the Republican Party. Every time he plants a seed, the Republican elite say "kill it before it grows."
What Dr. Paul has done is tremendous. But even Napoleon had his Waterloo. Staying in the Republican Party is Dr. Paul's biggest mistake in my oh-so-humble opinion.
I hope I'm wrong, because we all want the same thing: Freedom.
I see Dr. Paul and many of his followers as akin to those suffering from "battered wives syndrome." They love the Republican Party they knew years ago, even though it has abandoned them, mocked them, cheated on them, treated them like dirt and belittled them. They know if they love their abuser enough, he will straighten up and it will be like old times.
It won't be.
Like Bobb Barr says, he did not leave the Republican Party. The Republican Party left him.
If any of you get tired of the abuse, you are welcome in the LP.
If not, good luck. We are all on the same side.
While I do agree the powers did undermine Paul's opportunity but it's still a two party system. Bob Barr will not be permited to in the presidential debate and neither will Chuck Baldwin. Remember, Nadar was not invited in the fianl debates.
ReplyDeleteHowever, this should give us no reason to give up the fight...
It boils down to just over 500 members of the congress and senate who need to be voted out of office.
Our numbers are strong in some states so it's possible to see a change of the old timers. Those who understood Paul's message will never return to the old line of voting for the lessor of two evils.
I must admit having studied some of the LP ideals my view of economics and state vs. liberty has improved so I support the works of the LP party but I have noticed the folks at CATO appear to be nothing more then caught up in who they should impress in DC. I suppose the beltway brand of any party is the most corrupt it will have to be up to the people to change things and it's possible....
Remember it only took one student from China to stop the tanks. It takes an infomored group of citizens to improve things as well.
If we changed only 25% of the seats in congress within the next 4 years major changes could be underway and I predict over 150 will run as Ron Paul Republicans and I noticed one from the left who is running on the same plateform to oppose Lindsey for his senate seat.y
The sadist thing I see shaping up in the coming election is that it looks like the libertarian vote will be split between two or more small-l libertarian candidates where Ron Paul Republicans are running against Libertarians. Also it looks like a number of people will write-in Ron Paul in places where those votes will simply end up uncounted.
ReplyDeleteThis situation emphasizes for me the importance of meaningful electoral reform. If people could rank their choices for candidates and have their votes counted by instant-runoff voting, it would eliminate the problem of voting for the lesser of two evils, as well as provide a truer indication of support for libertarian principles.
I know everyone is obsessed with the current election right now, but I urge you to get involved in the fight for instant run-off voting and proportional representation if you truly want to see liberty minded candidates win elections.
America, check your motives at the door. What you do, you must do quickly.
ReplyDeleteTruth will ultimately prevail from the inside out.