The Enigma That Is Ron Paul
Ron Paul is a true enigma. He has generated tremendous grassroots support, and that is not a surprise to me. His message has been about supporting and defending the Constitution. Outside of Tom Tancredo and possible Duncan Hunter, he's the only candidate who is running on this type of platform, and he's the most outspoken on the issue. In fact, he's now third among Republicans in campaign cash on hand, largely because he has been the most sucessful in painting himself as a conservative defender of the constitution. He has created a legion of supporters by championing this populist message, and they are spending their own time and money campaigning for him already.
So what is the enigma? Paul is a free trader. It's as though he has no idea that all of the things that he is fighting: high taxes, illegal 'immigration', huge social welfare programs, foreign entanglements and wars, international government usurping our own sovereign government, liberal ideology, and economic warfare waged by China, are caused by free trade. With his right hand he opposes internationalism and liberalism, but with his left hand he votes for and supports the cause of everything else he fights. What I cannot tell is whether he is a fool, or clever like a fox; a true wolf in sheep's clothing. If he knows what we know; that the general philosophy of free trade globalism is the true enemy, then he is nothing more than controlled opposition. He can garner all of the backlash to free trade by talking about everything else under the sun, and if he wins the establishment will still breathe a big sigh of relief; because no real change could possibly occur with a free trader in the White House.
On the other hand, perhaps he is just clouded by this libertarian 'freedom philosophy' and just hasn't gone deeply enough intellectually to understand that a tariff is what LIMITS government, not an example of MORE government (as libertarian types are want to falsely claim).
The third possibility of course is that he is a protectionist at heart, and knows that by appearing to be a free trader he will not raise the violent ire of internationalists and globalist interests. By gaining their ambivilence, perhaps he can create a movement and actually win, only to turn on them. But I suspect that this is just wishful thinking.
No matter what the case may be, the perception among many voters is that Ron Paul is a true nationalist, and his support is coming from this camp. One thing is not in doubt; Von Mises was right; here comes the backlash to internationalism.
Comments
Posted by: tsoldrin | July 7, 2007 07:24 PM
Posted by: Wayne | July 8, 2007 11:13 AM
I've heard that Dr. Paul has "semi-protectionist" leanings and he certainly opposes NAFTA, the WTO, and the NAU.
I share Wayne's apprehension about libertarian economics but I'm still going to support Dr.Paul for several reasons.
1. Ron is certainly part of the OLD RIGHT and his administration will certainly have Paleocons that will hopefully keep the Anarchists in check.
2. Most of what Ron Paul would be doing trying stop the rest of Government violating the Constitution that I doubt will he will go around trying to promote Globalist free trade. Dr. No will spend of the time using his veto pen and not promoting "Free Trade."
3. Of the three Candidates that understand the problems with immigration, NAFTA,the WTO, etc... Only Ron Paul has any movement behind him and is the only one who can beat a Democrat because of the War Issue.
4. The libertarian Paul Craig Roberts economist (whom Dr. thinks highly of) has made a very good libertarian argument against free trade and I think Ron Paul will listen.
Roberts argues the "Free Trade" actually amounts to "reverse-protectionism" where domestic producers are placed at a forced disadvantage with foreign competitors that are not subject to the costs of domestic taxes,safety standards, wages, and also don't benefit from the currency differences (many of which are pegged to the dollar for unfair trade advantage)that foreign producers have.
Foreign producers also have huge government subsidies for they producers which tends make our domestic producers ask for similar corporate welfare.
Ron Paul opposes corporate welfare so he should listen to such arguments.
5. Ron Paul opposes illegal immigration and actually voted for the fence which tells me that he is a nationalist at heart doesn't buy the pie-in-the-sky liberal universalism that some libertarians have bought hook line and sinker.
6. Ron Paul is a constitutionalist before he is libertarian and the constitution is not a perfect libertarian document so do not expect that the Rothbardian Anarchists to carry the day in his administration.
Posted by: Septeus7 | July 10, 2007 10:11 PM