Have your political beliefs changed?

[adpierce]

My views began to change right before I heard of Ron Paul... reading books does that kind of crap. Anyways he's helped my evolution along... it's been gradual but I was a full fledged neo-con at one time. Now I am comfortable saying that I am a Libertarian.

 

[Rebel Resource]

I'm a socialist in line with Hugo Chavez (that's popular power socialism, despite him needing a lot of executive power to overturn the landscape there)

I actually despise capitalism quite a bit, though real free markets and small government is significantly better than corporate welfare, tariffs and corporatist public officials.

I've come to understand libertarianism a fair bit more in the last couple of weeks, though my views have hardly changed. Still anti-capitalist.

There is no way you can expect the environment to stay clean by private landowners suing each other. There is no way you can expect consumer groups to effectively maintain minimal consumer standards.

Capitalist education sucks. Putting profit before people, and before everything else, sucks. Capitalism means inequality -- necessary and perpetually widening inequality.

There are opportunities for everyone to get rich, but it is impossible for everyone to make it -- therefore the end result is the hardest working people often getting paid the least, and the vast majority working their whole lives but being no better off at death than at birth.

On top of this, the advertising industry is ridiculous -- millions of people essentially producing nothing of value, using psychological tricks to sell you things you don't need, and this crazy consumerist society that is going to come close to destroying the planet.

And that's even while 70% of the global population lives in deserts or fields.

 

[ronpaulblogsdotcom]

The main issues for me the last few years have been the War, the economy, and the invasion of privacy issues.

I agree with RP on all of those. Some others I don't agree with but respect RPs opinion and dont have a complete problem with.

 

[jsteilKS]

I was a registered Democrat for the past two ellections. I was young and stupid, now that I'm in my mid twenties every two weeks I look at my paycheck and see that a good portion of my wage is going to Kansas State Tax, Missouri State tax (live in ks, work in mo), kansas City city tax, Federal Income Tax, Social Security, and Medicare. Each paycheck since I've been supporting Dr Paul I get angrier and angrier.

 

[AlexMerced]

I always had a libertarian inclination... but never knew how to explain it or what the implications where till paul. He led me to read his writings, those of the mises institute and other libertarian writieng swhich really have helped me define and defend my views.

 

[kmforpaul]

I was enlightened with freedom and classic liberalism with the "Bulls@#$" series by Penn and Teller. A very good show.

I was strengthened with those ideas by Dr. Paul.

Currently I'm beginning the cliche classical liberalism reading list with some Friedman, Hayek, and Ayn Rand.

 

[bc2208]

My political beliefs changed BECAUSE of Ron Paul. I spent two hours researching him, and my blood slowly came to a stop, and reversed direction. Full speed ahead!

 

[MN Patriot]

I jumped on this train about 15 years ago, but dropped out in frustration. Didn't even hardly watch the news for 10 years. Didn't become interested again until I heard RP was running for the Republican nomination. My views haven't changed, but my hope has!

This is my story, too. I was in the Libertarian Party for a few years, but realized the time wasn't right. I quit 10 years ago and haven't done a thing in politics since then. The internet had just started about that time, now after 10 years it seems people are much more suspicious of the government and big business. More people are waking up, even the Democrats!

If Ron doesn't get the nomination and runs as a Libertarian, I guess I will have to rejoin the LP.

 

[AlexMerced]

yeah, I supported the socialist democrat for years cause I couldn't support the Neo-Con agenda but always talked about things like getting government out marriage and not having troops in other nations... then I heard Paul it was like... is he reading my mind

 

[davver]

Come for the foriegn policy, stay for the philosophy.

I think the area where we can convert the most left minded people beyond the war is Federal Reserve Policy. The Federal Reserve Chairman is infinately more important then the president, and Fed policy since the end of the gold standard is the real reason that the working class has gotten screwed since the 70s. Left politicians are without a clue on this one, but I think we can convert some left voters.

 

[OptionsTrader]

"I'm a libertarian. I think a lot of people are libertarians and are afraid to admit it -- or don't know." -- Kurt Russell in the Washington Post (May 2, 1997)

 

[kmforpaul]

yeah, I supported the socialist democrat for years cause I couldn't support the Neo-Con agenda but always talked about things like getting government out marriage and not having troops in other nations... then I heard Paul it was like... is he reading my mind

Yeah I hated the Neo-Con foreign policy, but I also hated the liberal 'central-planning'. I needed a peaceful and economically sound candidate. Ron Paul is still music to my ears.

Ron Paul has also changed my mind on the abortion issue. A fetus is alive, give it liberty, respect all life!

 

[kmforpaul]

Come for the foriegn policy, stay for the philosophy.

I think the area where we can convert the most left minded people beyond the war is Federal Reserve Policy. The Federal Reserve Chairman is infinately more important then the president, and Fed policy since the end of the gold standard is the real reason that the working class has gotten screwed since the 70s. Left politicians are without a clue on this one, but I think we can convert some left voters.

I don't know Davver. After reading the "Daily Kos" today retaliate against one of the editors endorsing Ron; I don't think it's 100% effective.

However, for those lefties who don't know what it means to be truly 'left': we absolutely have a chance!

 

[c0unterph0bia]

It is so ironic that you should post this, because I used to be a huge neo-conservative. In fact, I was a strong neo-conservative until about one year ago. After that I was like a lost puppy for the six months between when I denounced neo-conservatism and found out about Dr. Paul.

Recently, I was re-backing up some of my old files, and I came across a scary reminder of the person I used to be. The following is a short essay I wrote while I was in high school, just before the war started.

Ed
Period 5&7
01-06-03

Personally, I believe the United States should go to war with Iraq. Not necessarily because I would like to see a war, but I would like to see a country set free from a ruthless dictator. I feel that the benefits from a war with Iraq would far outweigh the consequences of war, and that we would be a better nation because of it. I also believe Iraq should be attacked for our nation's safety. I have seen some of the intelligence offered by the United States government, and I believe we have every right to invade.
United States Secretary of State Colin Powell addressed the United Nations about declassified information brought forth by the United States government on February 5, 2003. Some of Mr. Powell's main evidence included aerial photographs of over 30 weapon sites cleared just before the arrival of U.N. inspectors, along with intercepted phone calls tying the information together. It is now very clear that Saddam Hussein has been very busy hiding weapons from U.N. inspectors, and it is very clear that it has been working. Information was also brought up suggesting a possible link between Iraq and al-Qaeda, along with evidence that Iraq is storing and using biological weapons. It is also believed that Iraq may have, or may be looking for nuclear weapons. I believe that if Saddam Hussein is not taken out now, it may be too late in the future.

 

[AlexMerced]

It is so ironic that you should post this, because I used to be a huge neo-conservative. In fact, I was a strong neo-conservative until about one year ago. After that I was like a lost puppy for the six months between when I denounced neo-conservatism and found out about Dr. Paul.

Recently, I was re-backing up some of my old files, and I came across a scary reminder of the person I used to be. The following is a short essay I wrote while I was in high school, just before the war started.

Ed
Period 5&7
01-06-03

Personally, I believe the United States should go to war with Iraq. Not necessarily because I would like to see a war, but I would like to see a country set free from a ruthless dictator. I feel that the benefits from a war with Iraq would far outweigh the consequences of war, and that we would be a better nation because of it. I also believe Iraq should be attacked for our nation's safety. I have seen some of the intelligence offered by the United States government, and I believe we have every right to invade.
United States Secretary of State Colin Powell addressed the United Nations about declassified information brought forth by the United States government on February 5, 2003. Some of Mr. Powell's main evidence included aerial photographs of over 30 weapon sites cleared just before the arrival of U.N. inspectors, along with intercepted phone calls tying the information together. It is now very clear that Saddam Hussein has been very busy hiding weapons from U.N. inspectors, and it is very clear that it has been working. Information was also brought up suggesting a possible link between Iraq and al-Qaeda, along with evidence that Iraq is storing and using biological weapons. It is also believed that Iraq may have, or may be looking for nuclear weapons. I believe that if Saddam Hussein is not taken out now, it may be too late in the future.

cute

 

[Real_CaGeD]

I have always been a right wing Republican, even while the MSM was demonizing us to overthrow the Republican party with pretenders to do the cfr Global take over.

 

[curtisag]

In my case I've always thought I was a conservative, but I bought into the neocon argument that we had to attack them over there so they wouldn't come over here. I thought Iraq was a good idea, and I reluctantly realized I was dead wrong. I became angry at the Republicans as they tried to expand spending and pass amnesty for illegals. I realized they had lost their way and dropped out of politics completely until I found Ron Paul. He has given me hope that we can still save this country.

 

[han_solo]

I read "conscience of a conservative"(the original 60's version) when I was young, and it changed my life and I have always believed in that sort of conservatism...but the Republican party is NOT conservative anymore and I am sick of it.

Read it:
http://www.amazon.com/Conscience-Co...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198643467&sr=1-1

Republicans are nothing more than Socialists-lite(tm), who are pro-war and just as big spending, massive government lovers as the Socialist Democratic party is.

The Republican party of Goldwater is gone, we need someone to take it back, and Ron Paul is that person.

 

[rfbz]

I have always been very pro free market and trade, and against the welfare state. I was for the war in Iraq when it first started. I guess I was hesitant to become anti-war because I can't stand liberals and it was the liberals criticizing everything Bush did - so I didn't take the anti-war arguments as seriously. When I first saw Ron Paul in the first republican debate he was in, it was refreshing to see an anti-war republican - he brought to light the fact that you don't have to be a liberal hippie to be against the war.

Before I heard of Ron Paul, I was starting to notice the fact that more and more laws seem to be created while hardly any were taken off the books. So it lead me to realize that there will always be more laws and restrictions in the future than the past, and I thought "hmm I wonder if the reason we're so free here is just because we're a comparatively young nation and haven't had time to give up our rights yet"

 

[Shavenyak]

I came for the domestic policy and stayed for the foreign policy. It took me a while to buy off on the foreign policy, though. I didn't WANT us to be in Iraq, but I also didn't want us to leave and sacrifice Iraqis to Iran. The US has hung others out to dry a few times in the past and I'd hate to see that happen again. I do TOTALLY love Dr. Paul's foreign policy if it stays that way. The immediate sacrifices will be worth it in the long run.