To "Get" Ron Paul You Have to "Get" Mises, Rothbard, Hayek, and Hoppe

[Sola_Fide]

I came to Ron Paul and free markets through the Protestant Reformation-era philosophy of Martin Luther and John Calvin (and the Puritans). The early Americans didn't have Rothbard or Hoppe, yet they created the most prosperous and liberty-oriented society ever known.

Rothbard et al are drawing from an earlier foundation for freedom. I could read Rutherford, Jefferson, Luther, etc. and understand freedom and capitalism without ever having come across Rothbard.

 

[musicmax]

To understand the economics he speaks of you do.

No. Show someone a 6-cent stamp from 1971. Remind them that the US went off the gold standard in 1971. Ask them how much a stamp costs now (44 cents). Ask them why. They'll say "inflation". Ask them, well, what IS inflation? Keep up this line of questioning until they "get it". Let them figure it out for themselves. It's very easy.

 

[newbitech]

disagree, pretty sure most people "got" Ron Paul before ever being asked to wade neck deep into the esoteric natures of the people who have have had influence on Ron Paul.

Dr. Paul is delivering a message of freedom and liberty. All it really takes to "get" that message is to realize that message has been watered down in the last 50 years at about the same rate as federal reserve dollar depreciation. It also helps to realize that America Federal government is increasing it's imperial leanings and actions on the inverse scale.

Digging in to the philosophies that have influence Paul is a great way reverse these trends as long as part of that philosophy deals with recreating itself in the minds of individuals. However, it is not a requirement to understand or even agree with those philosophies in order to understand, agree with, and support Dr. Paul's message.

We are all individuals and the movement that has grown up around Ron Paul is not going to transform in to a Mises, Rothbard, Hayek, or Ron Paul cult.

It sounds like that is what the OP is suggesting in the title.

Edit: This should probably be moved to Philosophy sub-forum.