Political Analysis: Explaining the Ron Paul Phenomenon

2.       Ron Paul is a classical conservative in a time when neo-conservatism has failed.

Patrick J. Buchanan might be the first person to remind the media that real conservatives, the classic conservatives, do not believe in foreign wars of intervention or big government spending. The Neo-Con movement, under President George W. Bush, has taken the traditionally conservative Republican Party in the exact opposite direction, much to the distain of “real” conservatives. (After all, Republicans haven’t been the liberal northern party since desegregation in the South caused party ideologies to flip.) Ron Paul is the only national Republican candidate who stands for classically conservative principals. He would make Pat Buchanan proud in many ways.

3.      Ron Paul is the ultimate anti-establishment candidate.

It is increasingly popular and fashionable for Americans, especially youths, to say of government that it corrupt and non-representative of the American people. Those same groups of people, the disenfranchised –  those who live on the frayed ends of society; the conspiracy theorists, the anti-tax advocates, the drug legalization proponents; they look at Ron Paul and say “he’s one of us.” With Ron Paul, for the first time a new segment of American’s feels inclusion in the political process, and that’s a good thing.

The Greater Good…

Ron Paul’s policies may not exactly be possible to implement, and it may not be possible for Paul himself to get elected. However, the more exposure the Texas Congressman receives the more legitimate his views become and the more viable a national Libertarian party is as a result. Bringing new ideas and new voters into the system is never a bad thing. Whether or not those newcomers will stay involved once their candidate loses the race remains to be seen, however. One can only hope.

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