So I received an email yesterday saying that Ron Paul would be speaking at Southeastern LA University. I just got back from attending and am adequately enthused. Of course, given the reality of the times, Ron Paul has very little chance of being elected president. It seems that we are destined to have the choice between a big government-liberal Republican versus a big government-liberal Democrat, but the Ron Paul candidacy has always been more of a movement than anything else.
Having followed him for sometime, I was surprised to hear his focus on the middle class. His presumption is that the middle class has really been screwed in the last 100 years. And really, we have taken a beating. The middle class is attacked by a double whammy - taxation and devaluation of their currency. All to often, our vote is for someone who has already been purchased by special interest.
He then extolled the virtues of personal freedom saying that at one time we were the most freest, most wealthy people in the world. Our liberties are being taken away from us at all sides. Recently, the Congress has passed laws that make it legal for the military to arrest American citizens and the patriot act makes it much easier to spy on Americans. Dr. Paul stated that this was the very reason that the American revolution was fought - that a British soldier should not be able to come in the home of an American and arrest him without cause.
Of course, one of the important planks of the freedom movement is the end of the fed's control of the currency. He said that 1913 was a really bad year for Americans. The 16th amendment was passed which made the income tax legal and the federal reserve was created to promote a sound currency. A dollar in 1913 is now worth 3 cents. His response was that they are doing a horrible job and should be fired. This brought raucous chanting of "End the Fed". I like the way Jack Spirko puts it. In 1960 a quarter would by a gallon of gas and today a 1960 quarter (in the early 1960's quarters were made of silver and copper; the last time the American coinage had intrinsic value - thanks JFK) and today that same quarter would buy a gallon of gas today.
Now one of Paul's main positions is that America should not be involved in foreign entanglements while maintaining a strong national defense. He made an assertive point that wars are just another way for the government to steal American's wealth, freedom, and lives.
He ended with the notion that this movement does not have to obtain a majority to win. He quoted Samuel Adams who said "It does not take a majority to prevail but rather an irate, tireless minority keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men". While we are no doubt left with the choice of the lesser of two evils in November (or not if you vote third party), I urge you to make a stand and vote for individual freedom, sound currency, and small government.