Advice to Ron Paul Supporters From an Old Socialist
No, it's not me. The advice is from Eugene V. Debs and it's worth remembering by rtbohan
(libertarian)
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Ron Paul supporters this year should take some advice that Eugene V. Debs gave his supporters almost one hundred years ago.
That might sound strange since the differences between the two men are much more obvious than the similarities.
Gene Debs was a railroad worker and union leader,Ron Paul is an obstetrician and a Congressman.
Gene Debs was a Socialist, Ron Paul is a consrvative libertarian.
Gene Debs is dead, and Ron Paul is fortunately still with us.
Both men ran for President, Gene Debs in 1900, 1904, 1908, 1912 and 1920 as a Socialist, and Ron Paul in 1988 as a Libertarian and this year as a Republican. Given the difference in their politics that doesn't make them soul mates.
Gene Debs ran with the intention of bringing a basic change to American society. He was in a minority in his thinking, and the society as well as the government were opposed to him. He preached against imperialism in a country enjoying immensely its first experience as an empire. He preached in favor of a strong central government in a time when states' rights were at their strongest. He preached for the working class when capitalism was in its hey day. And he preached peace in a time of war. It was no surprise that he was never elected. His last presidential campaign was run when he was in the federal prison in Atlanta for opposing the draft. And yet, for better and for worse, much of what he fought for eventually became a part of the fabric of American political and social thought.
Ron Paul is running this year, as he did in 1988, with the intention of bringing about a basic change in American society. He is talking about being less agressive in out foreign policy to a government which is actively seeking to attack new adversaries. He is talking about smaller government and states' rights to a country which feels uncomfortable about any thing which is not regulated by the federal government. He is talking about self reliance and freedom to a society in which victimhood is a desireable role and people look to the government to decide what and how much they eat. He is talking about freedom to a society which is fleeing from the need to make a choice.
In his most strenuous campaign for the presidency, in 1912, Debs regularly said two things to his supporters:
"It is better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it."
"If I could take you by the hand and lead you into the promised land, I would not do it. If I could take you be the hand and lead you into the promised land today, someone else could take you by the hand tomorrow and lead you back out."
These are things people who are in favor of changing the society should keep in mind during this campaign and after it. Follow and support Ron Paul as far as he can go this year, whether that is the White House or the Republican convention Don't change to supporting someone who isn't what we want, but can win.
For now and for the future remember that you are seeking and working for change, not for an individual leader. A leader cannot do it for you. For the future it is important to work to bring about the changed and a better society. If you cannot find a candidate you want, run yourself. If you cannot do that, recruit someone to run who can. Remaking an era is not a job for one man or for one year. If you want a better world, you must create it
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I very much appreciate the thesis of this article and your insightful way of presenting it.
I would like to invite you to join the Nolan Chart Columnists Lounge. We are freely associating Chart authors who seek to help one another in our labors. Click the Lounge link on your authors' control panel page....
BTW, please take a few minutes to once more proofread this article - I spotted several typos which, if removed, will result in a very good article becoming excellent. :)
Hillary Clinton does not wants you to vote for Ron Paul.
Politics is crazy, Ron Paul has so much going for him. He is such a brilliant man.
I am sure that when he gets into office he will get everything that he wants done with no opposition or feedback.
Ron Paul appeals to everybody.
Ron Paul is the only hope for America and we need him to redo the constitution so that the media will let him tell the American people his plan.
We also need him to change the constitution so that he can garuantee freedom by becoming America's king. It would be so great to bow down to Ron Paul.
Ron Paul can not do any wrong.
I gave Ron Paul $25, did you know that $25 once bought you an ouce of Gold?
Under Ron Paul the dollar would be backed by hard money and Gas would be cheaper, Mexican Illegals would be deported and no one who doesn't apply and spend gobbs of money could get into this country.
What is wrong with you people we need Ron Paul.
With Ron Paul in office Israel would no longer exist and terrorists would not attack America simply because we would once again be respected arround the world.
You are not a libertarian unless you agree with Ron Paul on everything.
Neal Boortz sold out to BIG ABORTION and BIG WAR.
Ron Paul is such an Awesome guy.
With Ron Paul we wouldn't need prisons anymore, because noone would commit any crime.
I love Ron Paul. If we don't vote for Ron Paul, then the Chineese will come in and take over our country.
Everything is messed up in America because we don't have Ron Paul in the Whitehouse.
Re: Statist.
Wow, instead of hysteria over the fact that paul continues to grow stronger, maybe you could address some of the issues. Seems like you want people to just believe that what you say is the "gospel truth" instead of actually seening what the stands on the issues are. you my friend are a liar, but luckily you are bad at it. If you were a little more smooth with your accusations you'd be an easy mark for a suit for libel.
The above rant is signed in the name of "the statist".
Statists support far less individual liberty than any other political ideology. Statists tend to distrust the free market, advocate centralized planning of the economy (including high taxes, strict regulation of business, and even government ownership or control of major industries)
It's not really surprising he doesn't like Ron Paul, and what he represents, is it?
    Everybody knows that all you are is an enlisted nobody in the Military who doesn't have a degree in anything, nor a candidate that you are willing to admit supporting. What you do have, is a pathetic and deranged obsession with Ron Paul and a need to spend all day on the net, writing about how you "hate" him. I'm starting to suspect that Ron never responded to creepy homosexual love letters, or some other such thing that's motivating you. What else would?
I like the insights presented in this article. Â I do believe that, regardless of the election results, a number of favorable dynamics will occur for the known Libertarians and the many "closet" Libertarians among the population. Â It really depends on the "epiphany" factor as to when these realizations will occur. Â There is a time lag between the distribution of the message and its understanding. But, as the juggernaut of big government continues to bear down on us, the economy slides, politicians prattle on about less than nothing, and more Internet-savvy users come of age, the potential for change is huge. Â Maybe not now--the TV media still control a lot of deadhead space. Â
The real power of political activism is emerging, through sites like this, because interactive communication among the populace represents an affront to the designs of the "elite" establishment. Namely, as Noam Chomsky describes it, the establishment organs (business, political, big media, etc.) are trying to "atomize" the populace and their various wills for change, voice in government, and representation. Â Put another way, the structure we see now in politics is essentially comparable to a honeycomb, where the diverse interests are segregated into their tiny little cells; only a few anointed drones (politicians, "leaders", etc.) are capable of interacting with the Queen and among the various interest groups that are cloistered in their little cells. Â Â
Patience, commitment, understanding and spreading the message of change, can work wonders as the exterior dynamics force change on the system. Â Then, those who are ready for the change will outpace the authoritarian forces that cannot maneuver within its new paradigm. Â The authoritarians will only look like fools; their leadership karma, the ability to convince and sway people, will lose its effect on the masses. New ideas and new people will have to emerge.
The author wrote, \"Ron Paul is running this year, as he did in 1988, with the intention of bringing about a basic change in American society.\"
Actually, Ron Paul is running this year with the intention of bringing about a basic change in American government, not society. There is a huge difference. They are not the same thing. If anything, he specifically does not want to run people\'s lives.
In his pamphlet, \'Common Sense.\' (1775) Tom Paine said, \"Some writers have confounded society with government, as to leave little or no distinction between them; whereas they are not only different, but have different origins.
Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one.\"
Great article. Even though I think in our current politcal climate, we need a libertarian to undo what's been done, I think Debs was somewhat like a Kucinich, in that he's anti-establishment, anti-war, pro-people power. Someone you can trust and someone who truly wants the best for the people, even if I disagree with how to go about accomplishing this. Ron Paul wants these same things but I think he brings the most wisdom to the table. His goals in politics are realistic. He's not promising welfare we cannot afford, but he is saying that we can at least get the government to stop stealing from you. Despite the media's attempts to shut him out, Ron Paul has had a major influence in the arena of ideas. In fact, he's basically the only one with real ideas that are resonating with the masses, because almost everyone else is just spewing typical political speak. This gives me immense pleasure and hope, that no matter the outcome of this election, the message is being heard, even through the earplugs provided by our media masters.
Posted By: Davy C Rockett
Date: 2008-01-24 08:58:51
I think Statist is a little kid. If he isn't he's one very stupid adult.
If he knew anything about US foreign policies he would know our current government is funding Israel's enemies. Paul says enough of the stupid sh!t, let Israel protect themselves and we should not give weapons to Israel enemies in the middle east region.
No more nation building for the racist United Nations.
Vote Paul 2008.
