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Next up on my The Issues According To a Candidate’s Website is the staunch libertarian (though a member of the Republican Party) and internet darling Ron Paul. Though I used to identify as a libertarian, I’ve recently reevaluated my position. In theory it sounds great, but it may be completely impractical. Analysis of Paul’s stance on the issues should prove interesting and enlightening as to my own political persuasion. His website on the issues can be found here.
He does have one major strike against him right of the bat: He’s a Republican from Texas, *shudder*.
Debt and Taxes: It is telling that this is his first issue, considering this isn’t the first thing on most voters’ minds. Even more interesting is that he immediately compares a single mom saving $40 in taxes a month to a business owner saving thousands in taxes. But his point is that he is a fiscal conservative (real conservative as he puts it) who believes in lower taxes. He also notes that our government’s debt endangers our future and partially blames the Federal Reserve’s status as a private bank as part of the problem. Other than that, he just says that the Constitution should be used to prioritize our spending.
American Independence and Sovereignty: He opposes pretty much all involvement in international institutions, such as the International Criminal Court, NAFTA, GATT, WTO, CAFTA, and the UN because he considers them a threat to our sovereignty. He singles out the WTO and CAFTA as bad for alternative medicine! Good. Alternative medicine is mostly bunk and potentially dangerous. How odd that Paul would even mention it. The idea of joining these organizations is that they benefit America, either financially or by providing protection for captured soldiers, etc. They may impose very limitedly on our sovereignty, but our participation is optional and we can drop out anytime if unreasonable limits are imposed. Paul makes it sound as if these organizations are going to shred the Constitution tomorrow. Considering the economic benefits of free trade, I’m willing to conditionally be members of these organizations.