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January 2, 2008 at 13:49:02

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Ron Paul: Not a Good Choice

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By Rowan Wolf (about the author)     Page 1 of 2 page(s)

opednews.com     Permalink

For OpEdNews: Rowan Wolf - Writer

Ron Paul is grabbing a lot of attention in this campaign season, from his vocal opposition to the Iraq war to his $6 million one day fund raising blitz. In fact, there is a lot to admire about Ron Paul. He sticks to his principles, he appears honest, and he is impassioned. Those qualities draw the disillusioned among both Democrats and Republicans, and Independents looking for a candidate. However, while his strong speech regarding Iraq is attractive, it is his principles that need examination.

On Ron Paul's Congressional Website, he lists some of his stances and a handful of organizational affiliations:

He was an unwavering advocate of pro-life and pro-family values. Dr. Paul consistently voted to lower or abolish federal taxes, spending, and regulation, and used his House seat to actively promote the return of government to its proper constitutional levels.


...

He continues to advocate a dramatic reduction in the size of the federal government and a return to constitutional principles.

...

He has been a distinguished counselor to the Ludwig von Mises Institute, and is widely quoted by scholars and writers in the fields of monetary policy, banking, and political economy. He has received many awards and honors during his career in Congress, from organizations such as the National Taxpayers Union, Citizens Against Government Waste, the Council for a Competitive Economy, Young Americans for Freedom, and countless others.


While Paul is a Republican, he is on the far libertarian end of that party. His stances on isolationism, small government and "pro-life," make him very attractive to the activist Christian Right (see also Christians for Ron Paul). Advocates for Self Government lists him as a Libertarian.

Let's take a brief look at the organizations which Paul honors with inclusion in his biographical sketch.

Ludwig von Mises Institute
The Institute's mission is to promote "libertarian political theory," and:
defends the market economy, private property, sound money, and peaceful international relations, while opposing government intervention as economically and socially destructive.


In short, the economic policy supported by Paul is an unfettered capitalism. Hence, his tantalizing stance of withdrawing the United States from NAFTA and the World Trade Organization (WTO). This is attractive to many across the political spectrum. However, Paul is not calling for "Fair Trade," but for the removal of all controls and oversights on international trade.

National Taxpayers Union (NTU)
The National Taxpayers Union is a co-organization with the National Taxpayers Union Foundation (NTUF) sharing facilities, staff, and board (Wikipedia. The People for the American Way lists NTU under its Right Wing Organizations. Grover Norquist was an early (1981-83) Executive Director of NTU. Robert Dreyfus labeled Norquist as Field Marshall of the "Bush Plan," and he is the source of the infamous quote of wanting to shrink government "down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub."

Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW and closely affiliates with Council for Citizens Against Government Waste)
While interestingly featuring "citizens" in its title, the funding for the organization largely comes from major corporations (Merrill Lynch, Exxon, Phillip Morris, RJ Reynolds/Altria, etc). In other words, CAGW is yet another corporate interest masquerading as a "citizen's" organization. (Michael Smith wrote a nice expose about them.)

Council for a Competitive Economy (CCE) now the Competitive Enterprise Institute
A Namebase.org search shows it highly linked to the Libertarian party, and to the right wing think tanks CATO Institute and the Reason Foundation. The CEI promotes itself as an independent think tank specializing in free enterprise, regulatory issues, and "ecology." CEI came under fire for misusing a climate scientist's work in an attempt to discredit global warming.

Young Americans for Freedom (YAF)
YAF is a "conservative" youth organization, which is now primarily a conservative Libertarian organization. Here is a brief summation of the current organization from Wikipedia:
On college campuses, the independent YAF chapters have been involved in activities including rallies supporting the armed forces, advocacy for strict control of illegal immigration, demonstrations against affirmative action and protesting liberal campus speakers. YAF has also organized protests against legislation enacting anti-discrimination protection for transsexuals.


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Rowan Wolf is an activist and sociologist living in Oregon. She is the founder and principle author of Uncommon Thought Journal, and a Senior Editor for more...)
 

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Your 2 cents by Rowan Wolf on Wednesday, Jan 2, 2008 at 1:51:15 PM
huh? by Tom Davis on Wednesday, Jan 2, 2008 at 2:17:24 PM
RE: Is Ron Paul a wolf in sheep's clothing? by fuzzy wzhe on Wednesday, Jan 2, 2008 at 2:40:17 PM
End the war on drugs by Jeanette Doney on Wednesday, Jan 2, 2008 at 6:15:35 PM
I don't think you understand by Michael Twain on Wednesday, Jan 2, 2008 at 2:57:44 PM
This is a fair appraisal of Paul, who's not without his by Richard Mynick on Wednesday, Jan 2, 2008 at 3:04:48 PM
VOTE RON PAUL!! by aaron benfield on Wednesday, Jan 2, 2008 at 3:05:27 PM
Ron Paul is not a one issue candidate by Jeff Schwartz on Wednesday, Jan 2, 2008 at 3:17:25 PM
A well conceived piece, Ms. Wolf by ardee D. on Wednesday, Jan 2, 2008 at 3:41:28 PM
what better candidate by aaron benfield on Wednesday, Jan 2, 2008 at 3:54:10 PM
Paulistas? by Eric Wruck on Wednesday, Jan 2, 2008 at 3:59:47 PM
Dear Ardee and Ms. Wolf by Bob Tracey on Wednesday, Jan 2, 2008 at 4:51:20 PM
Hyperbole free zone? by ardee D. on Thursday, Jan 3, 2008 at 7:15:39 AM
Please don't vote by Mark Bennett on Thursday, Jan 3, 2008 at 11:35:53 AM
Thank you very much by ardee D. on Thursday, Jan 3, 2008 at 1:25:52 PM
Author forgot the rest of the title by Liberty in Law on Wednesday, Jan 2, 2008 at 3:44:08 PM
Disjointed unsubstantive article by Rich Lake on Wednesday, Jan 2, 2008 at 4:13:13 PM
It's Obvious by John Danforth on Wednesday, Jan 2, 2008 at 4:24:36 PM
Ron Paul - A one issue candidate. by ibrahim turner on Wednesday, Jan 2, 2008 at 4:58:30 PM
Ron Paul: Not a Good Choice" by dave stanley on Wednesday, Jan 2, 2008 at 5:19:52 PM
To those who are confused about my concerns by Rowan Wolf on Wednesday, Jan 2, 2008 at 6:18:34 PM
just some minor points by Ingrid on Thursday, Jan 3, 2008 at 7:48:16 AM
Unjustified Claims by John Danforth on Saturday, Jan 5, 2008 at 11:51:14 AM
What other choice have we been given! by Louis Tash on Wednesday, Jan 2, 2008 at 7:00:56 PM
Author of this Article is not well educated... by Liberty in Law on Wednesday, Jan 2, 2008 at 10:35:24 PM
You demonstrate nicely the blind arrogance of Ron Paul by Richard Mynick on Thursday, Jan 3, 2008 at 12:39:48 AM
Let them be, Rich by ardee D. on Thursday, Jan 3, 2008 at 7:20:26 AM
You call that fair and polite? by Ingrid on Thursday, Jan 3, 2008 at 8:01:36 AM
Ingrid, my friend - I admire Mike Whitney, who supports RP. by Richard Mynick on Thursday, Jan 3, 2008 at 12:02:10 PM
Rich, my friend by Ingrid on Thursday, Jan 3, 2008 at 2:34:40 PM
PS by Ingrid on Thursday, Jan 3, 2008 at 4:21:23 PM
THE WORST THING ABOUT RON PAUL by Joel S. Hirschhorn on Thursday, Jan 3, 2008 at 7:38:48 AM
Thank you for proving my point by Liberty in Law on Thursday, Jan 3, 2008 at 7:47:11 AM
Ah, so the "great period of US liberty" was during slavery. by Richard Mynick on Thursday, Jan 3, 2008 at 11:08:00 AM
Please explain... by RLAnchors on Thursday, Jan 3, 2008 at 8:03:24 AM
A Progressive Case for Ron Paul by James W. Harris on Thursday, Jan 3, 2008 at 12:17:43 PM

 
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