Poll: Ron Paul in third with 14% nationally

Yes, it does !! Have a good one.

 

I think you need to be concerned about that regardless; it's already happening.
If you think *that's* bad, imagine how much worse it will be when the dollar collapses. There won't be any austerity programs or reductions in welfare. There will be a complete and sudden absence instead at the very same time the infrastructure stops.
You're not looking at rioting/ looting/ arson then. You're looking at mass starvation and pitched battles over basic necessities.

You see... when something is "unsustainable" (which everyone agrees is our current economic course), that means that it *will* stop. Your argument supporting the current fiscal policy is essentially moot, because the social spending is going to stop one way or the other.
The car is careening towards the washed-out bridge. It *will* stop. Maybe it'll skid to a halt at the edge and maybe it'll come to rest in flames at the bottom of the ravine.
The question isn't whether you want to stop, but rather which braking method you prefer.

 

I live on the Mississippi Coast and have been through 2 major hurricanes (Camille and Katrina). They offer a preview of what might happen when things get bad. Having the lights go out, the stores closed and no water to drink will make some people desperate QUICK!! While some will pull together, there is a segment that seeks the easy way out by plundering from others. Civilized society is held together by a thread finer than many think. Bad times will bring out the best in some and the worst in others.

 

None of the effects on society you described happened in Japan. At least not in the majority of those affected, and the devastation was far worse. It's not human nature to want to plunder, or to not want to. Both are learned behaviors.

Americans need to change their thought processes. Someone will always suffer as a result of the status quo.

 

Japan is a homogeneous culture. Big difference there. We have a mix of races and cultures. Also, we have some that are 3rd generation welfare cases that choose to suck off the teat rather than make their own way in life. Just what do you think they will do when the teat is no longer there? Civilization is a veneer that is easily stripped away. You can guess what lies beneath.

 

As I said we need to change our thought processes. Culture has developed the ideas of taking from others, war, and power. It has been instilled into people for millennia. People need to realize it's wrong, teach their children its wrong and things will change, otherwise it will continue for mellennia, that's all there is to it.

 

This is indisputable, given the recent events in the UK.

 

Go Ron Paul.

 

yes, 'cause you're swaddled in so much financial security now, that one can't help but feel warm and safe.

 

I'd much rather take whatever risks are attendant to Ron Paul in the White House than Obama in the White House.

 

... and I wouldn't. If he gains the oval office as a powerless figure-head in the middle of the very economic catastrophe he warned about, it will undo everything he's worked to build.
/agree to disagree

 

Are you not going to vote for him? You're from Iowa. Did you vote for him at Ames? Quite frankly, I think your "strategy" of keeping the Establishment in power until it destroys everything in hopes that it's totally discredited is extremely reckless. Yes, it's true that 75 years of Soviet Communism discredited it for all sane people, but do you really think that's necessary?

And the US President is the farthest thing on Earth from a figurehead. Among the things Ron Paul could to immediately, without Congress's approval:

1) End the wars and bring all the troops home, close the basis, end meddling by the CIA around the world.

2) Veto ANY unconstitutional or anti-freedom bill. Such bills would immediately have a two-thirds supermajority hurdle to pass, while pro-freedom bills would have only a 50% majority to pass.

3) Veto all unbalanced budgets, forcing Congress to cut and balance or default.

4) Pardon federal prisoners of victimless crimes, i.e. nonviolent drug criminals.

5) Go through every executive order and presidential proclamation ever passed and repeal all the bad ones.

6) Refuse to enter treaties and international agreements dangerous to freedom and US sovereignty.

7) Only nominate pro-liberty judges, Fed governors, department and agency administrators. The Senate might not approve them all, but Ron Paul would leave those seats empty rather than nominate an anti-freedom appointee.

8 ) Through is control of the whole Executive branch and all its bureaucratic agencies, drastically deregulate the economy, shrink the Code of Federal Regulations, and prevent them from oppressing innocent people. No more TSA pornoscanners, USDA oppressing small farmers and raw milk sellers, FDA wanting to squelch supplements and other competitors to Big Pharma, FCC wanting to get its claws on the Internet, CDC engineering pandemic scares, etc, etc. All this nonsense is done by the Executive and its "regulatory law." It's not required by Congress.

9) Not use federal law enforcement and the Justice Dept to enforce any number of unconstitutional laws (i.e. against medical marijuana) or at least interpret them as narrowly as possible. For example, how do you think a Paul Administration would interpret the notoriously vague federal obscenity law? Probably so narrowly that no one would ever be arrested for it.

10) Advocate the passage of positive legislation. Although Congress must do this and he's anti-establishment, presidential administration these days are deeply involved the design and advocacy of legislation supported by their parties and seen as their party's standard bearer. Even a Paul administration would acquire at least some of that influence. All presidents have long coattails.

11) Most importantly, acquire the bully pulpit. No political achievement matters without changing the hearts and minds of the people. The most important aspect of a Paul presidency would be his ability to proclaim the message of freedom to the world.

 

Kinda like curing the disease instead of bandaging the symptoms.

 

Isn't it sad that some are so dependent on handout that they feel they must resort to violence just to be fed and housed?
Wouldn't it be better to avail opportunities to provide of oneself?

 

This should be # one.
Every person in this country must understand, somehow, what is going on and why.
Sadly, most don't pay attention to Paul as it is. What makes you think they will listen to him when in the WH?
He better get some smooth talking bully pulpit speaker to fill the spot...someone like the late Tony Snow, who so eloquently could put people in their place.

 

Doesn't matter what system you have. If poor people are starving on the streets you can expect a violent revolt.

 

Nice list. Particular attention should be paid to the Patriot Act. So much has been done lately by Executive Order that any President with a mind to could make big changes.

 

I don't expect to be afforded the opportunity.

Yes, I did. Drove myself there and back and paid for my own ticket. And personally established the grassroots campaign in Cedar Rapids. Hell, I've got Jesse Benton on speed-dial. Doesn't mean I'm not a realist. :/

The error in your misinterpretation of "my strategy" is that you think he'd have the power to fix things in this term and I don't. I have no wish to see the downfall of my country at *anybody's* hands. I just don't see it as avoidable anymore.

Yeah, I know. Unfortunately, that's not enough. *shrug*

 

The media doesn't want to talk about Paul because they are bought sell outs. They don't want the stupid sheep in this nation waking up and using their brain, realizing that they have been lied to for decades.

They are trying to protect their puppet masters, and their paycheck.

 

Unfortunately it doesn't really matter what the polls say. Mitt Romney is going to win the Republican nomination for president and Barak Obama will beat him and remain in office for 4 more years...it's predetermined...and regardless of which one wins, the same people will be calling the shots.

 

Maybe instead of resorting to violence they should get a job.

Or maybe sell their prized possessions like their twenty-four inch wheels and twelve inch subs so they can feed themselves and pay rent.

 

Cutting welfare makes it harder for them to get a job. Less demand = less jobs

 

Cutting welfare requires them to get a job. It will put more money in the pockets of the people who do the hiring, expand their business, and help them hire the people who were on welfare.

 

Well, I'm sorry for you that you're so despondent. It's true that there are troubles ahead one way or the other, but that's precisely why I'd rather have Ron Paul in office to help deal with them. I hope you vote for him your GOP primary nonetheless.

 

Don't worry. I'm heading up the GOTV effort. I'm going to do all I can to ensure that this movement continues to gain national prominence. I don't see my position as "despondent" so much as "realistic". You've read the same writing on the wall that I have. Things are too far-gone to save without serious social and economic upheaval. I don't want us to be blamed for it.