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October 4, 2009 at 10:24:03

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Ron Paul is Wrong Paul

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By Steve Consilvio (about the author)     Page 1 of 1 page(s)

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For OpEdNews: Steve Consilvio - Writer

If there is one thing that is clear in the great debate about ObamaCare, it is that the Libertarians are now as strong a force as the recently discredited NeoCons. The Campaign for Liberty, and libertarians generically, are all enjoying a boon based on the fear of government.

It is worth noting an important difference between the NeoCons and the Libertarians. The NeoCons had a blind faith in the power of the American military and industry, whereas the libertarians have a blind faith in the free market. NeoCons did not really trust a free market. For them, the government was a tool of personal power by creating privileges for the oligarchy of banks, insurance companies and munitions manufacturers. It was a gravy train with a lot of boxcars.

Libertarians, in contrast, tend to be free-thinking individuals who are sensitive to the hypocrisy of both Democrats and Republicans. They do not trust any government program or statist control of their personal lives. What they do believe in is the old Adam Smith straw that the economy somehow magically ‘self-regulates.'


It is important that Progressives understand the differences between NeoCons and Libertarians. The NeoCons collapsed on their failures. Progressives did not win the political battle; cause and effect simply caught up with NeoCon idiocy. Progressives again seem to be losing the political battle, as the recent vote that excluded single-payer demonstrates. Progressives have been unable to draw a distinction between what the government can do well, and what the government should not do. The Libertarian position, fed by fear, principles, a general distrust of government incompetence, and a faith in free enterprise is where the policy debate is centered. Standing in the center of this debate is the unlikely hero, Ron Paul.

Compared to the NeoCons, Ron Paul appears to be a reasonable Republican. He has long made the Federal Reserve a target of his scorn. He sees the Fed as a power unto themselves with an unregulated monopoly on the creation of money. Ron Paul is a fiscal conservative. Attacks on the national bank have a long American tradition, going back at least until the days of Andrew Jackson. Jackson also attacked the aristocracy the the NeoCons represent in modern times. It is no surprise then, that libertarians refer to themselves as ‘patriots.' They believe they are fighting huge intrusive government in the likes of Sam Adams, Thomas Paine and other American revolutionaries. They want their guns, their money, their land, and they do not trust lawyers who disrupt the sanctity of the free marketplace.

If Progressives are to make any advances, then they need to make a better rebuttal against both the conservative Republican ideology (shared by many Democrats) and the Libertarians.

Dennis Kucinich has been correct in describing the reforms thus far as InsuranceCare. The questions we should be asking, and that Ron Paul should be asking, is ‘Why do we need insurance at all?' All insurance is a ponzi scheme. When Libertarians claim that they want the ‘right' to purchase their own insurance in the free marketplace, they are really saying that they want to join a ponzi scheme of their own choosing. Nobody can give you back more than what you gave them originally. Insurance, like taxes, is a system of redistribution with a huge overhead expense. The traditional complaint against government is that taxation is illogical and wasteful. There is a lot of truth behind this complaint. Taxes are also a ponzi scheme.

To pay one ponzi scheme to protect, promote and require membership in another ponzi scheme is totally absurd. Yet, that is exactly what government mandated insurance or government regulated insurance entails. Libertarians contradict themselves. They want to be free of contracts, but they also expect for the government to protect whatever contracts they make. They do not seem to recognize that part of the impetus for healthcare reform is that insurance companies cannot honor their contracts. No ponzi scheme can honor all their contracts. The ponzi scheme is maintained by adding new pigeons. Once you reach saturation point, there are no new pigeons to attract. Therefore, the system must collapse.

One good example of how absurd the InsuranceCare system has become is in regrad to childbirth. When I was born, my mother spent a week in the hospital, and the total cost was $150.00. Today, and Ob-Gyn pays in excess of $150,000.00 annually for insurance. In effect, we purchase insurance to pay doctors who then must also purchase insurance. We have insurance purchasing insurance!

The libertarians are having a tough time following the math. They are only looking are the dollars, and believe that their contract with the insurance companies represents a valid contract. They do not realize that all insurance is a ponzi scheme. We will not reform healthcare until everybody realizes that ponzi schemes do not work, and that all insurance is a ponzi scheme.

We need a system of healthcare delivery, from one citizen to another. We have made the number more important than people. When people say they trust the marketplace, they have unconsciously substituted real goods and services for imaginary numbers. This is the heart of Ron Paul's complaint against the Federal Reserve. He objects to their creation of imaginary numbers that we call money. Progressives need to educate Libertarians that their faith in actuarial numbers created by insurance companies is equally wrong.

 

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"Ron Paul is the Wrong Paul" you have his message wrong by spinnikerca on Sunday, Oct 4, 2009 at 11:21:13 AM
Sick people need healthcare by Steve Consilvio on Sunday, Oct 4, 2009 at 7:24:30 PM
False by T M on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 10:59:13 PM
The Constitution is a Libertarian Document by Darryl Schmitz on Sunday, Oct 4, 2009 at 11:48:27 AM
Ring the bell - Orwell wins again by Steve Consilvio on Sunday, Oct 4, 2009 at 7:32:45 PM
Very confused individual by T M on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 11:14:04 PM
Thank you for... by Starbuck on Sunday, Oct 4, 2009 at 12:05:11 PM
incorrect definitions by Patrick Henry on Sunday, Oct 4, 2009 at 12:31:45 PM
Actually by Mr Stq on Sunday, Oct 4, 2009 at 1:35:44 PM
Libertarianism and States' Rights by Jim Arnold on Sunday, Oct 4, 2009 at 1:44:12 PM
RE: Libertarianism and States' Rights by fuzzy wzhe on Sunday, Oct 4, 2009 at 8:43:26 PM
Your premises are incorrect by Janet Gifford on Sunday, Oct 4, 2009 at 2:02:16 PM
The purpose of business, the purpose of health care by Jim Arnold on Sunday, Oct 4, 2009 at 3:22:04 PM
"they make more money by denying health care" by T M on Sunday, Oct 4, 2009 at 3:41:04 PM
The purpose of business, the purpose of health care by Jim Arnold on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 4:12:54 AM
Not exactly by Starbuck on Thursday, Oct 8, 2009 at 8:31:46 PM
Re: Not exactly by Steve Consilvio on Thursday, Oct 8, 2009 at 10:13:52 PM
Therein lies the rub by Starbuck on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 12:42:28 PM
RE: Therein lies the rub by Steve Consilvio on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 2:03:09 PM
Your philosophy... by Starbuck on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 9:43:18 PM
Re: Your philosophy... by Steve Consilvio on Saturday, Oct 10, 2009 at 8:28:37 AM
Insurance as a Ponzi Scheme by Dennis Spain on Sunday, Oct 4, 2009 at 2:28:02 PM
Completely incorrect and absurd by T M on Sunday, Oct 4, 2009 at 3:26:20 PM
ron paul on insurance by joshuabrucel on Sunday, Oct 4, 2009 at 4:14:59 PM
Insurance as risk pools by Steve Consilvio on Sunday, Oct 4, 2009 at 7:50:32 PM
you have to think long term by Patrick Henry on Sunday, Oct 4, 2009 at 9:15:01 PM
If you can't kill the beast, starve it to death. by Steve Consilvio on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 12:00:22 AM
you're not making any sense by Patrick Henry on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 11:57:39 AM
It makes sense, but you don't see it yet. by Steve Consilvio on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 12:19:12 PM
You're not getting it. by T M on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 11:33:44 PM
The stupidity of Americans amazes me by fuzzy wzhe on Sunday, Oct 4, 2009 at 8:31:10 PM
Economics not politics by JohnPeebles on Sunday, Oct 4, 2009 at 8:34:53 PM
Austrian economics is Libertarian economics by fuzzy wzhe on Sunday, Oct 4, 2009 at 9:01:04 PM
Fuzzy Math by Steve Consilvio on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 7:05:40 AM
Honestly by T M on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 11:49:23 PM
Rebranding slavery as freedom by Dick Thomson on Sunday, Oct 4, 2009 at 9:08:07 PM
Re-rebranding by Robert Fritsch on Sunday, Oct 4, 2009 at 11:24:00 PM
Thanks by Dick Thomson on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 9:36:30 AM
Not sure I understand by Robert Fritsch on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 12:50:18 PM
Not quite by Dick Thomson on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 2:02:01 PM
Currency by Kyle Kearns on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 5:32:34 PM
Re: Currency by Steve Consilvio on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 7:41:22 PM
What is money? by Robert Fritsch on Tuesday, Oct 6, 2009 at 12:27:57 AM
Real Wealth by Robert Fritsch on Tuesday, Oct 6, 2009 at 12:50:44 AM
Trade redistributes wealth by Dick Thomson on Tuesday, Oct 6, 2009 at 7:40:10 AM
Re: Real Wealth by Steve Consilvio on Wednesday, Oct 7, 2009 at 8:10:11 AM
Real Wealth by Robert Fritsch on Tuesday, Oct 6, 2009 at 10:44:03 PM
Hayek by Mr Stq on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 9:36:06 AM
Oh but I have by Dick Thomson on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 11:47:08 AM
Henry George by Steve Consilvio on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 11:59:04 AM
Libertarians by Ty on Sunday, Oct 4, 2009 at 10:24:50 PM
"...libertarians have a blind faith in the free market." by Henry Miller on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 3:37:30 AM
Pay no attention to the corporation behind the curtain... by Jim Arnold on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 5:13:49 AM
Of the government... by Mr Stq on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 9:24:45 AM
Sorta, but not really by Steve Consilvio on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 9:39:28 AM
Somewhat true here. by Mr Stq on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 10:25:47 AM
Metal backed currency? by Steve Consilvio on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 10:48:38 AM
Success? by Robert Fritsch on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 12:25:52 PM
re: Success by Steve Consilvio on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 12:36:18 PM
Money as waste by Robert Fritsch on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 2:17:18 PM
Two games at once by Steve Consilvio on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 2:35:36 PM
Exchange by Robert Fritsch on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 3:17:09 PM
Re:Exchange by Steve Consilvio on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 4:38:15 PM
Freedom to be greedy by Robert Fritsch on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 10:38:08 PM
Re:Freedom to be greedy by Steve Consilvio on Tuesday, Oct 6, 2009 at 7:11:05 AM
finally, you made sense by Patrick Henry on Tuesday, Oct 6, 2009 at 7:04:17 PM
Re:finally, you made sense by Steve Consilvio on Tuesday, Oct 6, 2009 at 9:03:20 PM
we're making progress by Patrick Henry on Tuesday, Oct 6, 2009 at 10:47:23 PM
Buying political influence is fascism... by Robert Fritsch on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 1:51:23 PM
Re: Buying political influence is fascism... by Steve Consilvio on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 2:15:34 PM
What about the Federal Reserve by Robert Fritsch on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 2:26:35 PM
Author is the Wrong Author. by Kyle Kearns on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 5:08:28 PM
Re: Author is the Wrong Author. by Steve Consilvio on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 5:20:07 PM
Libertarianism varies by Mr Stq on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 8:25:15 PM
Aha by Robert Fritsch on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 10:44:56 PM
Aha by Robert Fritsch on Monday, Oct 5, 2009 at 10:57:58 PM
Re: Aha by Steve Consilvio on Tuesday, Oct 6, 2009 at 7:52:37 AM
Why, oh Why by Mr Stq on Tuesday, Oct 6, 2009 at 12:33:17 PM
Re: Why, oh Why by Steve Consilvio on Tuesday, Oct 6, 2009 at 1:01:50 PM
Responsibility is the flip side of Rights. by Mr Stq on Tuesday, Oct 6, 2009 at 7:40:30 PM
Re: Responsibility is the flip side of Rights. by Steve Consilvio on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 2:16:58 PM
Inflation by Robert Fritsch on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 4:25:32 PM
Re: Inflation by Steve Consilvio on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 6:22:10 PM
Inflation by Robert Fritsch on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 11:54:08 PM
Re: Inflation by Steve Consilvio on Saturday, Oct 10, 2009 at 8:41:44 AM
Nope by Robert Fritsch on Saturday, Oct 10, 2009 at 6:20:39 PM
give it up by Patrick Henry on Saturday, Oct 10, 2009 at 8:00:51 PM
Re:give it up by Steve Consilvio on Saturday, Oct 10, 2009 at 8:18:47 PM
you're still totally missing everything by Patrick Henry on Sunday, Oct 11, 2009 at 9:57:11 PM
Re; you're still totally missing everything by Steve Consilvio on Monday, Oct 12, 2009 at 12:23:46 AM
Re: Nope by Steve Consilvio on Saturday, Oct 10, 2009 at 8:05:02 PM
Why Gold? by Robert Fritsch on Sunday, Oct 11, 2009 at 1:59:47 PM
Re: Why Gold? by Steve Consilvio on Monday, Oct 12, 2009 at 12:08:14 AM
money represents transaction, not wealth by Patrick Henry on Sunday, Oct 11, 2009 at 10:15:12 PM
re: money represents transaction, not wealth by Steve Consilvio on Monday, Oct 12, 2009 at 6:55:10 PM
c'mon Steve by Patrick Henry on Monday, Oct 12, 2009 at 10:53:46 PM
Re: c'mon Steve by Steve Consilvio on Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 12:40:10 PM
I am ... by Patrick Henry on Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 10:06:10 PM
congrats Steve by Patrick Henry on Tuesday, Oct 6, 2009 at 7:14:24 PM

 
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