Topic: Ron Paul
Ron Paul, Michigan, and Jobs In a few days, Michigan voters will have their say. Ron Paul is what's needed in the Wolverine State.by DigitalBob
(Libertarian)
Friday, January 11, 2008
I've lived in Michigan most of my life. I graduated from high school and college here. My high school counselors told me to work hard and get out. In the 80s, the car companies weren't hiring, so I had to moved out of state. But I came back a few years ago because of family. I can make a living as a computer consultant just about anywhere. I met my wife at church a few years ago. I'll probably be here the rest of my life.
But I don't think my kids will or can. They have to follow the jobs, and jobs are going. I can hear that sucking sound that another Texan, Ross Perot, talked about years ago. NAFTA has been a raw deal. Toyota now sells more cars in America than does Ford. Chrysler is "operationally bankrupt". WTO and all the other multi-national treaties do nothing for the United States or Michigan. We just keep losing our sovereignty and our jobs overseas. Some of those jobs aren't coming back.
The winters here are tough. If I were to pick a place to start a technology company, I'd probably want to go somewhere a lot warmer, like Phoenix or Austin. The people who live here are tough too. We live for the days of lake-effect snow so we can try out our snowmobiles and our four-wheel drive trucks. It's those days which make me appreciate my Expedition.
What makes a tough man cry is getting his 60-day plant closing notice, knowing he will never find that same job again. In my town last year we had two plants close and over 1,000 people lost their jobs. I see For Sale signs blowing around in the wind, hanging half-mast in front yards. I hear the candidates talk about recession. But if you've lost your job, and next your house, that's depression.
Last year, when Michigan moved its primary up to Jan. 15, it was saying to the rest of the country that its problems were bad and no one was listening. The Democratic party, who has had the support of labor for years, decided that Michigan doesn't matter. It won't count the votes cast on Tuesday. None of their candidates will show. Obama and Edwards don't even have their names on the ballot. That shows you that they care about themselves and party rules more than the people of the Great Lake State.
That leaves Michigan voters with the Republicans, if they want any say at all. At least the Republicans will still give Michigan half the regular number of delegates. The west half of the state usually votes for Republicans and the east Democratic. With no impact on the Democratic races, eastern voters--Detroit, Jackson, Ann Arbor, Flint and so on--may sway this race. Michigan is a winner-take-all state. The top dog shouldn't represent business-as-usual.
Ron Paul is paying attention to Michigan. He's got offices in Flint and Detroit. His brother is a Lutheran minister in Grand Rapids. Dr. Paul believes in free trade, but not at the expense of America. His policy on immigration is pretty simple--follow the law. We're spending billions of dollars overseas, when that money could be spent right here. He wants to put an end to all foreign aid. He's got a plan to save social security and end inflation. He's not going to take your guns or make you buy government health insurance. He pretty much wants to leave you alone and lets you keep your money. Those are some of the things that are important to me. I don't want politicians promising to buy me gifts with my own money.
If we can put a cap on taxes, inflation and these bad trade deals, that would be a few steps in the right direction. I'm making my protest vote against business-as-usual Tuesday.
Did you like this article? If you did, Thumb It! 100 thumbs so far
2008 DigitalBob, all rights reserved.
Published: Friday, January 11, 2008
Last modified: Monday, January 14, 2008
The views expressed in this
article are those of DigitalBob only and do not represent
the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates. DigitalBob is
solely responsible for the contents of this article and is not an
employee or otherwise affiliated with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
Posted By: Howard Scott White
Date: 2008-01-11 23:05:09
You got it right, DigitalBob! I've been a Libertarian for years! The Establishment and their co-conspirators the Mainstream Media do not want Ron Paul and his Constitutional philosophy to upset their gilded apple cart. Once again they've managed to snuff out the candidate who bucks the Establishment agenda. To them we are enslaved sheep, and it infuriates them that anybody would dare come forward, with truth and integrity, and offer real solutions to real problems. Our government has been highjacked by an exclusive cabal of elitists, and We the People --the rightful owners of our government and our sacred Constitution-- must band together and wrest it back from them. Ron Paul, the ONLY candidate with integrity and wisdom guided by the Constitution is our only hope to get things right again. McCain says he wants to end "business as usual" in Washington DC. He's one of them! Look at his voting record! The NV's alone are startling! Evidently McCain views voting as an inconvenience!
Bottom line: Voting for ANY of the Establishment's candidates is a vote for "Business as usual." It's a vote for further usurpation of the Constitution, mindless foreign-aid giveaways, zero border control and full entitlement to illegal immigrants. It's a vote for American jobs out-sourced to the lowest bidder. A vote for the proliferation of China's economic juggernaut on the backs of struggling Americans. A vote for unprovoked war on foreign soil.
Look at them, people! Look at their faces, their phony smiles, their fake "patriotism". Look at their tears! Boo-hoo! Republican, Democrat; either way YOU LOSE! Ron Paul is a Republican, but the media has all but blacked him out. His own Party considers him a rogue because he doesn't walk in lock-step with their nefarious agenda. It's the same exact thing the Democratic Party pulled on Ralph Nader! Shouldn't this strange ostracism of viable candidates, the blatant negation of them-- shouldn't it all send up red flags?
Want to comment on this
article? Leave your comment here. Your email address is
required to track your comment. However, we will neither
publish your email address nor distribute it to other
organizations or persons. The only reason we might use
it would be if we needed to contact you regarding your
comment. All comments are subject to our
terms of use policy.
The winters here are tough. If I were to pick a place to start a technology company, I'd probably want to go somewhere a lot warmer, like Phoenix or Austin. The people who live here are tough too. We live for the days of lake-effect snow so we can try out our snowmobiles and our four-wheel drive trucks. It's those days which make me appreciate my Expedition. 
2008 DigitalBob, all rights reserved.