Your candidate's not winning so why are you grinning? by Gary Wood
(libertarian)
Sunday, January 27, 2008
The person asking this question was probably as confused as most political pundits regarding the on-going enthusiasm and support for Ron Paul. Checking with the media we find there is rarely a mention of his campaign anymore. Although he is still invited to most debates his name is rarely used before or after while the time he is given is limited during. It was clearly pointed out to me Ron Paul has not won a single primary, as if it was a news alert I hadn’t heard and it would somehow shock the grin from my face.
"I’m grinning because liberty and freedom are winning, one person at a time!" was my response. Those reading this far may already understand the motivation behind the smile. I’ve been involved in politics for over 36 years. My family knows I’m a true political junkie. I can get more worked up over watching a debate than most do watching a football game. For decades my team has been getting stomped in the political arena. Really, stomped, ignored, and forgotten. Every decade or so there’s been a glimmer of hope my team might make a come back but it slips away faster than lighting cracking the sky.
The team I’ve always rooted for has been the Constitutionalist. The foundational message is liberty and freedom isn’t easy, personal responsibility can be tough but it is far better than any other government experiment throughout history and can help us still today. Socialism under a corporate oligarchy is much worse and that is where the winning teams these past many decades has been leading this country toward. It doesn’t matter which of the two parties have been "in control" since neither really cares to return to the original concepts of the United States. The past century has been filled with a slow usurpation of power by the few while the people give up a little bit of liberty here and a little more there. We’ve given up so much of our liberty we are no longer truly living with the type of freedom envisioned for us by those founding this country. The unprecedented experiment launched over 220 years ago would have made John Locke smile yet today he would no doubt join together with many of the founders in tears.
This past year has been completely different. It was 8 months ago I first saw a sign along the side of the freeway that simply said "Ron Paul rEVOLution" on it. I thought a tent revival meeting was being held and Ron Paul was some kind of preacher. A month later I saw a group of Ron Paul supporters at a local county fair. I recognized the one sign but there was also a portrait of James Madison so I had to wander over as he’s one of my favorite among our founding fathers. Low and behold there were copies of the Constitution of the United States and a lot of literature about Dr. Ron Paul, the Congressman from Texas who was running for President. I spent the next month digging into all I could find out about this candidate as I was sure the team was going to be let down once again.
This year I’m finally working on a championship caliber team! The 2008 elections have been the best one ever because the team’s message is getting out to more people this year than it has in the past century! Sure, the pundits are ignoring Ron Paul, the Republican Party that should openly embrace him and his supporters for being true to the party beliefs and values hope we go away (be careful what you wish for, especially when the GOP may end up hearing good bye old party). It is not news to any of his supporters he’s not won a State primary nor will it be a major shock if he does not win the nomination for President. It will be a sad loss but not a shock. When the time comes if that is the result I’ll lose my grin for a moment yet then I’ll grin again!
Remember, the team of liberty and freedom is winning one person at a time. Our next focus is on local campaigns and Congressional candidates. Our team will be much stronger when we meet again in 2012! Oh, the person asking the Paultard question is now digging into all they can find out...soon they’ll be wearing a winning grin!
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2008 by Gary Wood - Permission to copy with attribution granted.
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I'm neither in the US nor a US citizen BUT believe that Ron Paul is the president the WORLD is waiting for. I have one concern that the word is simply not getting out to a degree where he will be nominated. Whatever the reasons, it seems his support is too thinly spread to make any impact and the trouble with all the websites is that they are preaching to the converted. Up until a few weeks ago I'd seen Ron Paul's name crop up on various European political commentaries and blogs but the impression I got was that he was being promoted by flakes, crazies, nuts. If I did not have an enquiring mind I would never have known anything about him. What I'm saying is that the mainstream middle of the road voter is not finding out enough of Ron Paul's SERIOUS credentials - all they know is that he has a kind of cult following on the web. This will not work! You've got to get out into the real world and spread your word! GOOD LUCK!
No apology necessary and your statement points to a key challenge with the entire usurped system. People are stuck on whether it is the Dems or Reps turn to win an election. For me I'll keep pushing hard toward a day when it is the PEOPLES turn but that will be up to enough educated people.
You've stretched from my comment on 'educated' to an extreme, or 'idiot' and that is not what I was attempting to say. Perhaps I should have said historically and politically educated enough to understand the difference between what the founders intended vs. what we are morphing in to. Also, there are some highly intelligent Democrats who are doing quite a lot to help move this country into a more socialistic corporatocracy. They are far from idiots, their agenda is simply not in step with the goals of the original experiment.
Posted By: Ivan from Oregon
Date: 2008-01-27 19:21:21
Gary, I like your articles, especially the one on your observation that young people seem to be less "racist" these days. One of the problems with ultimately changing our collective attitudes is that we have reached the point of no return (?) with the amount of bureaucracy, government created as well as the institutions created by scam artists of the like of Jesse Jackson and the MSM. Unfortunately we have come to the point that more people in this country work for the government than work in manufacturing. In the "bureaucratic" organizations, there are no incentives to "solve" the problem that is their "mission". Their livelyhood depends on the "problem" getting worse, not better.
Thus, our current structure (of society) is at a point where very many don't want the system to change because it would eliminate their reason for existence, and the rest fear that their pittance they get from the "system" will go away.
I agree with Ivan. You will not change this system because the Demogog's and Repugnant's have done a marvelous job of removing the independent spirit from the American people. I firmly believe our western frontiers would never have been settled with todays "oh please protect me attitudes in this country"
Ivan, I agree with your assessment ~ we have truly reached a point of no return. The beauty behind this past campaign season is more people who were either apathetic or younger and previously not involved are getting more interested in the system. The challenge will be to capture a percentage of those with a focus on restoration of rather than continual reliance on government. The key factor many still seem to not understand is the tremendous force against restoration of the experiment of liberty for the people and government by the people.
A microscopic view can be observed just by looking at eliminating the IRS and income taxation. You talk to most citizens and the idea sounds extremely plausible. So why can we not simply get it done? The IRS is a $12 billion a year bureaucracy employing more than 100,000 recieving their pittance. The cottage industries existing only due to the IRS and income taxation are enormous and quite profitable. I'm talking the likes of H&R Block, Jackson Hewitt, tax accountants, tax attorneys, and more. This doesn't begin to compare to the large dollars made by financial planners and planning companies who enjoy the complex, ever-changing nature of the tax code. Then we look at our government representatives and to end the IRS and income taxes means to end the easiest way to manipulate the population and keep hidden a great many of the ways we are taxed. Quite complex and only a single aspect.
This is not going to be easy, quick, or pain free. Yet, in one form or another, on one scale or another, its going to happen because there are more and more learning and preparing for involvement. Its a long haul yet worthy of all efforts, IMHO.
Nice story, I am glad you are so hyped about the movement. However, I have had a chance to meet a lot of Ron Paul's supporters; if you are counting on them to help restore the Constitution you are sadly mistaken.
Ron Paul is a great man, but he doesn't seem willing to call his supporters on their foolish, hateful behavior, or even ID the racist writers that slandered gays and black under his name.
I don't see that type of Revolution going anywhere. Such a pity too, I think we shall have to wait for another leader, one who is willing to match character with ideas.
Its probably one of the most frustrating aspects of the Ron Paul campaign. Its OK, there are more involved who don't participate nor condone the improper behaviors and even some that did have stopped. There will always be a few since that is the nature of society but that won't stop many of us from staying positive and focused. I share your hope for other leaders, in the mean time we can all keep studying and getting involved on many levels. The areas you outlined are no reason to stop a march toward libery and personal responsibility.
Gary - Dr. Paul's Revolution is curing the political apathy of hundreds of thousands of Americans. It may not be enough to win an election this time around, but the legacy will live on. As we have all seen this time around, freedom is contagious. Also, Ive learned that Americans respect the constitution. Whether he runs as an independent and helps foster a 3rd Party or simply has helped us to make more informed political decisions in the future, I congratulate his efforts.
World, I agree with your comments. Personally I hope he doesn't run Independent or attempt to develop another 3rd Party. I hope he wins reelection to Congress and continues to work at improving the voice of the Republican Liberty Caucus. Hopefully his supporters will send him some new members by focusing on local elections once the primary dog & pony show is behind us. It is exciting to see a resurgence of focus on the issues near and dear to him and so many of us.
Posted By: patrick henry
Date: 2008-01-28 15:01:12
STATIST
Yes all who vote democrat are idiots, socialists and statist.
This is a REPUBLIC not a Democracy. Learn this simple fact why don't you please so we are no longer subject to your ignorant rantings.
My granfather used to say; "It is better thought a fool then to open ones mouth and remove all doubt" try that on for size
