I had been studying monetary policy quite a bit beforehand. I came to believe that Austrian ecomomics is the only way to go. I found out about Ron Paul from the people that talked about the Austrian method.
I came to understand a different kind of conservatism then I had ever experienced in my life. There are so many ways he has challenged my preconceptions on goverment and I find that they are more to my liking then anything before. Things like.
-Trusting charities to pick up the slack and take the place of goverment in regards to helping the poor and hospital care.
-Realising that local goverment is better then Federal goverment. I am pro-choice but also against the drug war and I think prostitution should be legalized. The constitutionalist approach is the be best fit overall and one I never before considered.
-Free trade. I didn't really think of Nafta being managed trade before I heard Ron Paul but, yes, end it. No side deals just free trade for all.
-Don't spend tax payer money on humanitarion medals. I was for this but after listening to Ron Paul I am against.
-No subsidies and no restrictions to any buisness that wants to make a go of it. Let free markets reign.
-Just the Constitution. Seriously. I've never appreciated what a fantastic document it is and how far the USA has drifted from it.
-Other stuff too but the number one issue is... <drum roll>
dismantling the US military empire. All of it! The blowback statement he made to Gulliani was a total mind bender and it turned me from being pro-war to anti-war. the way it connects to the deficit as well suprised me. I knew that it was expensive but I now know that any talk about reducing spending is a lie unless you can deal with the military aspect as well.
I'm even willing to give him a pass on his no-foreign aid idea, even though I'm not sure I'm convinced that individuals can do what goverements can and I worry that allied countries (like Tiawan) could be attacked with no US help in sight.
I can't understand anyone that claims to hold the values of small goverment, limited spending and lower taxes and not have them support Ron Paul.