I'm proud of the message spread by Paul supporters, freedom, personal rights, property rights, a humble foreign policy and more. Most importantly the renewed talk of the United States Constitution by csb
(libertarian)
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Is this where we are now?
I sit in sadness and disbelief. Not because of Congressman Paul's campaign, I'm proud of the message spread by Paul supporters, freedom, personal rights, property rights, a humble foreign policy and more. Most importantly the renewed talk of the United StatesConstitution. Something I don't remembered hearing for many years.
Mainly, I'm sad and in disbelief due to the tone of the of this election itself.
We are "spoon" fed our candidates and representatives by the media and swallow it down like its candy, all the while the bittersweet taste of death from the "Jim Jones kool aid" lingers in our throats.
The arrogance or ignorance of our elected officials reflects on our government and in the end ultimately falls upon the citizens of the United States of whom elect our "representatives". Arrogance or ignorance, I believe the moral compass on which the Constitution was written then handed down to it's citizens has been overlooked or misread for so long many no longer know truth from lies and in which direction to go. Most certainly the media in general are of no help, self-serving as they are ,we allow them to dictate to us the candidates they deem either "electable" or "qualified" even if none qualify.
The election process using primarily a two party system is a very divisive structure. While independents can make a "splash", it takes years of standing up and not going away for an independent name recognition to take hold. Not to mention the amount of money involved just to be heard. This can be seen in the Republican party as well in the Democratic party. The tally for the Dems are as split as is the Republican party's.
With politicians voting and changing positions as the polls blow or ducking votes to not make waves is inexcusable. Voting is their job. I mean that is supposedly what we pay them to do. To vote on the principles or platform upon which they ran for the position and were elected.
To choose a candidate on the ability to "unify" should not be founded on charisma, oratory skills, or being the first of anything, other than the first to stand for and vote with the Constitution. Truly that should be the great unifier.
This shows how far we have strayed due to the MSM's ability to deter us from the very basis of our country's foundation. We are no longer a "like minded" country.
When the country was founded it was a far smaller place with far fewer citizens and current information traveled via mainly, if not only, in 2 fashions, news papers or word of mouth, neighbor to neighbor, if you will. As it is now we have Television, news papers (MSM) , word of mouth and internet among others. The first 2 we have very little control over, but the last ones are now our voice. For this reason "The Revolution" will continue. For how long will certainly be decided by the amount of time it takes to find a candidate that has not lost his "compass" and has had the ability, moreover, the courage to stand on the principles upon which the Constitution was written along with the voting record to back it up like Congressman Paul has.
My apathy is in remission, although I can also see the symptoms returning for many, perhaps even me.
While we allow our elected representatives to march us lock-step towards the cliff of a North American Union, The Patriot Act and a foreign policy with the mindset of a grade school bully, I worry for our country, our sovereignty, our children and our respectable past among other nations we have long ago lost.
I can imagine a time when we as a country can become the "United States" we were long ago, but I'm also not sure how long we can hold up under these conditions. We are stretched well beyond our means mentally and financially as a nation and as individuals.
We have allowed our country to be taken over by the greed, vanity and arrogance or ignorance of our elected representatives. Many of them and us have certainly forgotten the pure genius of our founders words of freedom and prosperity for all.
I have spent alot of time trying to figure out what was the part of Congressman Paul's message we all felt or grabbed our attention. I feel it was freedom and hope. He said it many times "freedom is popular". I have also spent time trying to figure out what didn't resonate with the others. I believe it is "personal responsibility". Personal responsibility is the hard road. Few have the wish to be responsible for themselves or others. "We the people", I believe are now generally an unambitious or maybe even lazy , but certainly self-serving nation of people looking for the easy way out in any situation. There are many exceptions, but those seem to be a rare breed.
I have no idea how it can be fixed other than to teach your children well, teach them compassion, understanding, tolerance and above all personal responsibility. Until then we will continue to be helpless to truly change the course of our beloved nation.
side note: this is my first and probably last column. I'll be off practicing what I have been preaching.
csb
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Ron Paul's latest entry on his Web site includes a request that supporters not neglect his other "priority," which is making sure that the 10-term congressman remains in office.
This old guy has used the Internet to finance a campaign to keep his seat in Congress. That has been his “priority” all long. It’s unequivocally clear he’s worried about the Bush legacy ripping away his political career in Texas, and has used the Libertarians as a spare tire. That’s why he keeps saying, “I’m a Republican.” He wants nothing to do with a third party.
I say thanks for being there for the Libertarians, Ron Paul. As you know, Libertarians are like Moogles. While they serve no known purpose, they cause no real harm, and at worst amount to nothing more than a nuisance. Plus a few of them actually have jobs and help support Republican wars.
Bob, I find your comments disingenuous, alluding to an alleged fraud. Remember, it was not Ron Paul that used the internet, it was his supporters that of their own effort and determination raised record amounts - Ron Paul has said many times that he was surprised by the outpouring of support and that he had nothing to do with it.
As to your last comment - it points to the great truth that we are all complicit if we directly or indirectly contribute to the wars. The answer, and I direct it to CSB and the question of what to do. I suggest you and everyone read "Civil Disobedience" by Henry David Thoreau.
"Witness the present ... war, the work of comparatively a few individuals using the standing government as their tool; for, in the outset, the people would not have consented to this measure."
You can read the essay online.
You may find yourself to have dangerously misjudged libertarians, Bob.
"Ron Paul has said many times that he was surprised by the outpouring of support and that he had nothing to do with it."
One who believes that rhetoric is uneducated regardless of their education. In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. Since I like the founder of this website, I’m pleased he has been able to attract a stead stream of Ron Paul pack mules. In selling web page advertising you don’t have to certify the brain condition of the visitors, just the numbers of those who show up. Please invite everyone you know to send Ron Paul money, and to come to Walt’s page. In that way you can serve two masters at once, and don’t worry; Ron Paul will not drop out before milking this scheme for all it’s worth.
When I ran for a seat in the US Senate in 1992, I didn't ask for money, didn't want the money of others, and I returned thousands of dollars. The Election Commission in Washington can verify this statement.
The idea for money bombs that generated so much money were attributed to an individual outside the campaign. You did right to return the money, after all, you lost.
Stop insulting the intelligence of Ron Paul supporters who seek more freedom and less government intrusion in their lives. But you wouldn't know about that, would you, Democrat?
Posted By: Christine Smith
Date: 2008-02-10 13:20:27
To csb--I hope this is not your last column but first. I applaud you going off to practice what you preach, and can tell from your writing you do and will, but this was a very good article and one which you had the strength to share your observations and feelings. Please continue to share your awareness through your writing. Do not doubt that in doing so you are also affecting change because there will be readers who ponder what you share - that is powerful.
