Ron Paul is very clear. He is NOT an Anarcho-Capitalist

[LibertyEagle]

Answered, a little after the 17 minute mark.

Maybe this will finally put this to rest.

 

[dannno]

Well I can't watch the video right now but I do know that I may change how I approach explaining solutions to problems based on my audience. I also know that Ron Paul has made statements that infer he is a voluntarist at heart, but , may support Minarchism as long as it leads to a society that is wholly or mostly voluntary.

 

[familydog]

Whether he is an anarchist or not, he is responsible for turning more young minds onto the ideas of anarchy than anyone else. For that, I am eternally grateful.

 

[green73]

It would have been impossible to be a congressman and be open about that view. It would be highly problematic to even admit it now, especially with Rand in the mix.

That said, he does admit he's always been trending toward anarcho-captialism. I'm not sold on his reason for not crossing over completely. Privatization of the police is not a hard sell for someone of his scholarship. I could be wrong but I think he's just giving a safe answer. If I am wrong, it's no big deal. Ron Paul has always been about getting people on the path of liberty, not walking them all the way down it.

 

[green73]

Whether he is an anarchist or not, he is responsible for turning more young minds onto the ideas of anarchy than anyone else. For that, I am eternally grateful.

Hear, hear!

 

[cajuncocoa]

So what if Ron Paul isn't an an-cap? This seems to be a thread designed to divide and drive wedges.

 

[specsaregood]

So what if Ron Paul isn't an an-cap? This seems to be a thread designed to divide and drive wedges.

I guess you've missed the dozens if not hundreds of posts debating/arguing over or not he is one.
Its nice to have the answer straight from the man himself.

 

[lib3rtarian]

I heard the clip, and Ron wasn't very cut and dry as the OP claims. He expressed some concerns about competing private police forces etc., but wasn't very negative towards an-cap either. He also said that he has moved more towards an-cap over the years.

But c'mon guys, an-cap, minarchism, anarchism...all good things, but does it really matter if Ron Paul doesn't fit well into a certain box? Isn't that the whole idea of our existence? That we are misfits in the mainstream-provided boxes? Ron has introduced scores of people to the idea that government isn't God, as the government and MSM would have you believe, and that itself is a good thing. Once you realize that the State is evil, then you can pick and choose for yourself as to what liberty-oriented "-ism" you want tagged to your name.

 

[LibertyEagle]

So what if Ron Paul isn't an an-cap? This seems to be a thread designed to divide and drive wedges.

Because cocoa, there have been many people throughout the years who posted claims over and over again that Ron Paul was an anarchist. So, it appears to me to be germane to post this video where Ron Paul himself lays that to rest. If you want to get a wedgie over it, by all means, enjoy.

 

[LibertyEagle]

I heard the clip, and Ron wasn't very cut and dry as the OP claims. He expressed some concerns about competing private police forces etc., but wasn't very negative towards an-cap either. He also said that he has moved more towards an-cap over the years.

But c'mon guys, an-cap, minarchism, anarchism...all good things, but does it really matter if Ron Paul doesn't fit well into a certain box? Isn't that the whole idea of our existence? That we are misfits in the mainstream-provided boxes? Ron has introduced scores of people to the idea that government isn't God, as the government and MSM would have you believe, and that itself is a good thing. Once you realize that the State is evil, then you can pick and choose for yourself as to what liberty-oriented "-ism" you want tagged to your name.

No one is bashing anarcho-capitalism. It's just a statement of fact that Ron Paul ain't one. There isn't any reason for people to get upset about it, unless they just like being upset.

 

[Wesker1982]

It would have been impossible to be a congressman and be open about that view. It would be highly problematic to even admit it now, especially with Rand in the mix.

That said, he does admit he's always been trending toward anarcho-captialism. I'm not sold on his reason for not crossing over completely. Privatization of the police is not a hard sell for someone of his scholarship. I could be wrong but I think he's just giving a safe answer.

This, and it's obvious.

He is being pragmatic and is concerned with getting his foot in the door. If he uses the scary label anarchist, then he contradicts his goal of appealing to the masses. Ponder what would happen if Tom asked him if he was a voluntarist/voluntaryist... same result as the Kokesh interview. Ask him about Spooner, etc etc etc...

 

[LibertyEagle]

ROFL, you guys STILL can't handle it.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

Whether he is an anarchist or not, he is responsible for turning more young minds onto the ideas of anarchy than anyone else. For that, I am eternally grateful.

That^^ Kinda like how Ayn Rand personally hated libertarians but was responsible for creating more of them than almost every libertarian scholar/intellectual/activist/etc. Irony is rather cool sometimes.

 

[mad cow]

You and I are older LE and the higher frequencies are the first to go,so we are no longer able to hear the dog-whistle messages that Ron Paul seems to broadcast to some of his younger acolytes in spite of his clearly stated positions.

 

[Uriah]

I was drawn to Ron Paul for two reasons. Firstly, he was anti-war. Namely, Iraq and supported a withdrawal from Afghanisan. Also, he was fiercely against the Federal Reserve. Those two things above all else made me notice him. Once I learned more about him I decided I could vote for him because what he advocated would bring this country closer to my view that is, a stateless society.

 

[Wesker1982]

ROFL, you guys STILL can't handle it.

I'd probably lie in his spot too. If someone asked Tom on CSPAN if he was an anarchist he'd probably say no too. I wonder why? Does it make him not an anarchist?

The problem is anarchism and capitalism are both terrible and counterproductive labels. I don't call myself an anarchist, capitalist, or anarcho-capitalist. You guys pay too much attention to labels and ignore the ideas.

 

[ronpaulfollower999]

He has some concerns about how security would be handle, which is somewhat ironic considering the police state we've turned into. In a more perfect word, I'm sure Ron would be for a stateless society.

I found it kind of funny when he told young people not to make it a goal to run for Congress.

 

[specsaregood]

ROFL, you guys STILL can't handle it.

No, they would rather insist that Honorable Dr. Paul is a liar.

 

[kathy88]

I'd probably lie in his spot too. If someone asked Tom on CSPAN if he was an anarchist he'd probably say no too. I wonder why? Does it make him not an anarchist?

The problem is anarchism and capitalism are both terrible and counterproductive labels. I don't call myself an anarchist, capitalist, or anarcho-capitalist. You guys pay too much attention to labels and ignore the ideas.

This. Too much attention to labels and being right.

 

[ctiger2]

But he also indicates he's been trending towards Anarchy ever since entering the Govt. At least he went and is going the correct direction. Some day he'll see the light.