I’ve been decidedly apolitical for the past few years. I have a few pet issues (like Net Neutrality) and am probably more Libertarian than any other recognized political flavor. I also believe in individual rights — as it relates to freedom, property, reproduction, and bearing of arms.
With that said, I must say I was quite surprised to find out more about Ron Paul, a Republican candidate for the Oval Office. With a couple of glaring exceptions, I really like his stance on most issues. I mean I REALLY like them. I don’t know if I can vote for him with his stance on those couple of issues, but I do find him pretty impressive in most areas. If I were to employ the 80/20 rule, he’d win my vote, but I’m not ready to do that quite yet.
And how did I find out about him, after deciding to be apolitical during this election? I found an article on him spending a weekend poking at his iPhone until he hacked it and installed a “tweaked” Ubuntu distribution on it. I find that impressive. Impressive enough that I went to his campaign website to learn more… and then to Wikipedia to compare him to his competition for the Republican nomination for 2008.
I’m not saying the man has my vote, I am saying that a candidate that supports homeschooling and educational choice, the right to bear arms, staunchly supports the constitution, loudly voices his dislike of debt and his stance against the Patriot Act is a candidate likely to serenade me into action.
This one candidate did something that I didn’t think would happen — especially not this early in the game — he made me go and check out the platform of the candidates and start sorting out who I would NOT vote for so I can determine from the couple of options left standing, which one I can support. Now, of course, I have to go and do the same to the Democratic party and become versed on any promising independents this year.
I have never been as politically apathetic as I have been recently. Historically, I’ve despised people who were politically apathetic even more than those who were political evangelists. Now, I’m back in the swing of things. Heck, I may even make a presidential political contribution this year — once I sort out all the candidates — and that, too, would be a first.
It is ironic that a Linux guy is the reason I’m looking at a political election with renewed interest. Funny how life works, isn’t it?
The only problem is that time is running short. I believe you have to be registered Republican in New Hampshire & New York by this FRIDAY!!
I’m interested in the couple of issues which bother you … as a Libertarian, I’m going to guess that they’re the couple of issues that bother me as well, and tell you the problems I had, and why I decided that they were OK.
The first problem I had with RP’s position was abortion. I’m pro-choice, he’s pro-life. I resolved this because he is also a constitutionalist. That means that at worst, the decision would go back to the states, which should have been the ones to make the decision in the first place. In today’s political climate, I would be surprised if anybody except Kansas and Idaho outlawed abortion, and so long as it isn’t a federal ban, even people there would just have to drive a couple hours to get one. This would not be optimal, but it would be acceptable to me.
The second is immigration. I would love to have open borders. The problem is, to open our borders with a welfare state would be economic suicide. So for me, this is an issue of ordering. Lets shut down the welfare state, get economic growth going to the point where there is no involuntary unemployment (which in the absence of the welfare state wouldn’t take long) and then open the borders. There would be no reason to immigrate except to work, and there would be no reason to prevent it.
So did I guess your couple of issues right?
Regards,
Rich
JRock – I hope the people who want to get Ron Paul in office go switch parties or whatever they need to do to help him win the primary.
I wish a third party candidate could come in and shake up the status quo with a WIN, not merely a showing — but without that option, I couldn’t be more pleased with a Republican-Libertarian like Ron Paul.
Rich Paul –
(No relation, I’m assuming) :O)
I’ve spent several hours today (after my blog above) learning more about this man, about his voting record, about his stand on the issues and… I think I’m in love.
I’ve not looked forward to voting in many MANY years, and he’s got me ready to go cast a ballot right now.
My issues were Net Neutrality and reproductive rights, so you were right on one of them. Having read Paul’s response to why he’s against Net Neutrality, I can agree with his reasons. And, it’s not like me to WANT regulation — but the telcoms scare me.
The abortion issue is a wash, since he not only states his personal and professional pro-life stance as an ob-gyn, but also defends the rights of the states to make individual decisions on the topic, removing the federal government from that issue. I too agree that this should be a state-based decision, not a federal one.
I think such things are personal decisions and my personal views aside, I’d defend to the death someone else’s right to do as they please. ‘Nuff said on that.
This man is intriguing… and his views are worthy of inspection!
You do realize that the article you found was a parody designed to troll for diggs, right?
Could be, Thaddeus. I don’t know. It may have captured him some Diggs, or (like in my case) it may have just made some of us look a little closer at the candidate. Maybe trolling for votes?