According to a
Salon column written by Robert Reich:
The Republican right thinks Paul’s views on the economy are
responsible for this fire among the young. Tuesday evening, on Larry
Kudlow’s CNBC program, I squared off with Larry and the Wall Street
Journal’s Steve Moore. Both are convinced young people are attracted by
Paul’s strict adherence to the views of Austrian economist Ludwig von
Mises, and Paul’s desire to move America back to the gold standard.
Baloney.
The young are flocking to Ron Paul because he wants to slice military
spending, bring our troops home, stop government from spying on American
citizens and legalize pot.
As a young Paul voter, I think it is all of the above. My personal reasons are all of the above (except the legalization of pot, but that isn't really an adequate definition of Paul's belief on decriminalizing drugs, ending the war on drugs,
ReplyDeleteand being in favor of it being a state by state decision).
Among my fellow Paul supporters, I've heard quite a variety of reasons people are voting for him. He has a much broader appeal as a result and a broader coalition of voters than most of the other candidates.
When I vote for Paul, I'll be voting among drug legalization advocates, anti-war advocates, those concerned with the economy and debt, homeschooler advocates, states rights advocates, those pro-homosexual marriage, and those pro-life, Democrats who aren't happy with Obama, strict libertarians, conspiracy theorists, and a whole lot more. Paul voters are definitely not all from the same mold.
At this point I don't care if he's Libertarian or Communist or Pastafarian, Paul's the only one who has a track record of actually believing in and working towards what he says. Everyone else is just trying to say what we want to hear while being completely controlled by big business.
ReplyDeleteVote third party. 'Nuff said.
He also wants to make abortion illegal, doesn't believe in evolution and was quite happy to let severely racist remarks be posted under his name for years.
ReplyDeleteHe's scum too.
It's nice to see someone who both believes what he says, and works towards it, Mel V. I do appreciate the integrity. That's about all though, because what he believes in will not be beneficial to people or the planet, and I don't know how he has gotten away with it for so long, since it doesn't take much thinking to realise this.
ReplyDeleteThey like Ron Paul for the same reasons that young people think RUSH lyrics are deep, and imagine themselves as characters in Atlas Shrugged. Most grow out of it......
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ayoshe, the Rat King and Steve. Fortunately, in the very unlikely event that Paul were to be elected, he could never get his extreme program to pass congress.
ReplyDelete@Steve - By that logic, it's no wonder people are happy to see their democracy "outgrow" its Constitution, eh?
ReplyDeleteFor their own good, U.S. voters should try to care a little less about their candidates. The U.S is so politically polarized today that people like Ron Paul are treated with far more significance than is warranted. If he were elected, whoever he is, U.S. voters would almost certainly discover that he does not provide nearly as many solutions as they hoped he would. A deep breath, and maybe a bowl of Jello and a cookie, would serve voters as well as hoping that their votes would make them feel any more secure than they feel right now.
ReplyDelete- Not an American, but I care about you guys
@Steve - By that logic, it's no wonder people are happy to see their democracy "outgrow" its Constitution, eh?
ReplyDeleteYour comment makes no sense. Care enough about your opinion to create a real account and maybe we can discuss it.
With Paul I say yes, yes, yes. But then as he keeps talking I say no, no, no. Unfortunately the nos are what he probably could get with Congress.
ReplyDelete> I don't care if he's Libertarian or Communist or Pastafarian, Paul's the only one who has a track record of actually believing in and working towards what he says
ReplyDeleteMel V, seriously? it doesn't matter to you what the views of a candidate are, you'd vote as long as the candidate is sincere in those views and stays true to them, unwavering?
I mean, does that go to fascism? Totalitarianism?
It's ok to to say you would like your politicians to tell you what they stand for (not what they think they must tell you) and it's ok to admire those who stay true to their beliefs, but
(a) you *must* support those who stand for what you believe is right
(b) you must demand intelligence and courage over charisma; detailed strategies over easy feel-good generalities; great leadership over great speechifying
(c) you *must* encourage them, in word and act, to believe you will stand behind them rather than punish them when they speak hard truths, when they make difficult decisions, decisions that may be rough in the short term but are right and good in the long - especially when those decisions are hard on you personally but are for the greater good
(d) you must think long and hard about what your principals are so *you* can make thoughtful and informed decisions in the voting booth