Hearing about the Republican presidential debate, one of the clips played on the radio was about Ron Paul. Apparently he made some comment about legalizing marijuana and heroin, and ruffled a bunch of feathers. It got me thinking, not too hard, but thinking.
Mr. Paul, or “Cherry Ron” as he’s called in the bathhouses, is a libertarian from Texas, who pretty much opposes everything. Anti-government. Anti-currency. Anti-war. Anti-abortion. Anti-globalization. Anti-logic. The list goes on (and on). I’m pretty sure that this guy would only be happy if America adopted feudalism, and started using gold and/or baby skulls as currency.
I mean, from what I recall of the Articles of Confederation, there were no drawbacks to a weak central government in America. In fact, if it weren’t for those damn Federalists, who KNOWS where the Confederate States of America might be? Wait, why does that name sound familiar? Never mind. If there’s one thing that Disney and maudlin Christmas films have taught me, it’s that: deep down, people are all good-natured, and if left on their own, they will always make the most altruistic and cooperative decisions. So what if government regulation of business ensures basic standards of safety, pay and worker’s rights? To quote Thomas Jefferson’s brother, Leroy Jefferson, “Better one hundred men die from the black lung than one businessman suffer the burden of regulation.”
And isolationism was effective too. I envy the Cargo Cults and Aborigines who don’t have 'the Man' breathing down their neck, stifling their intellectual and personal growth. “Walk softly and carry a big stick”? More like, 'Mow the lawn and put up a NO TRESSPASSING sign', Teddy.
I wholeheartedly agree that Ron Paul is rather idealistic when it comes to non-intervention and what unfettered, Adam Smith style free-markets can accomplish; however, I feel you have to give the man a little credit! He is highly supported, by a wide base of people. Traditional democratic strongholds such as college kids are among his most fervent fans. I don't think his appeal among this group is "weed-centric" alone, they like his anti-militarism which is now prevalent and deeply rooted in both parties, hence the Lockheed/ Boeing commercials on NPR, MSNBC, and Fox News. As for currency, something needs to be done, we are trading worthless pieces of paper around that hold value only because we say they do! Why not trade Pokemon cards instead, at least they have holograms on them! Nixon should have never lifted us from the gold standard, goddamn boogeyman.
ReplyDeleteNixon’s anti-elemental warfare was just the coup de grace in a long line of ill-conceived actions, stemming from the rejection of bimetallism to back up the dollar. It doesn’t take a smelter to realize that anything that people have killed over could be used to back the dollar (diamonds, rare earth elements, Helen of Troy, etc.)
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