Iris
Member
- Joined
- May 22, 2007
- Messages
- 24
What would a Ron Paul presidency really be like? What could he do? What couldn't he do? What would he fight with Congress over and would he likely win? There's lots of places where I just don't know the answers and hope maybe you do.
Please answer whatever you can, and I've numbered them to make it easier. I want us all to be able to talk folks into voting for him and be ready to answer questions. Remember we want liberal votes as well as conservative ones, indies, etc. Where I have forgotten details/questions, please add and address them.
1.) War. As commander in chief he really can stop the wars, I think, and bring our GI's home. Done deal, right?
2.) Military Presence. But what about our military on bases all over the world? Will he pull all of them back? I know Paul won't be making new enemies, but that doesn't mean our enemies will disappear overnight. Don't we need to keep our finger on the pulse in strategic places?
3.) Big Brother/Police State. Bush has been wiretapping, spying, torturing. What of that can RP stop? All of it by virtue of the appointments he makes to agencies? We sure don't need Quaker meetings spied upon. And I love my civil liberties dearly. And even though I really do think we've seen some false flags, I'm concerned will we lose the ability to detect and stop internal attacks? Can Ron Paul actually overturn Pat Act and its cousins? I didn't think a pres could do that. How far would his power extend to repeal the encroaching police state?
4.) Borders. Congress already approved a fence on our southern border, but didn't fund it, right? Can RP just fund it? Does he have the power to unilaterally cut off welfare for illegals? What would be his chances of getting an amendment to the Const. to stop automatic birth citizenship? How much of his border plans could be fought successfully by Congress? Can't Congress keep going with their amnesty stuff and override any veto of RP's?
5.) NAU. Bush signed agreements. Can RP un-sign them? Can he stop the NAFTA superhighway? How?
6.) NAFTA, GATT, CAFTA, etc. RP hates them. But what power would he have against them? Could he get them overturned? How would/could RP affect national or international trade?
7.) Corporate privelege. Can RP stop the tax breaks for corporations relocating offshore? Tax breaks for the oil boys? Can he make corporations not be treated like persons any more? What powers does a prez have in these areas, or is it all up to Congress? Can he stop corporate welfare? Will corporations be able to run over us even worse in some ways under RP?
8.) Social Security. RP has said he would take it out of general funds, protect it, and shore it up with cash. Can a prez do that without Congress? Will he try to privatize it again, which Americans don't want? Is it safer with him or in more danger?
9.) Welfare. RP has said he wouldn't just cut it off, that we have generations dependent on it. He said he'd phase it out. How much power does a prez have over this? Can he send it back to the states by refusing to fund it? Or can Congress override him here? What about children, elderly, and disabled? What about that mom with 4 kids who either hasn't worked in years or has a low paying job and whose hubby runs off with his secy -- or conjure up any *temporary* needy situation you like. How do you unfund the lazy father without hurting his kids? If it's put to the states, what's to stop all the poorest states from sending all their needy to the better managed states and sinking their budgets?
10.) Abortion. Can a prez send it to the states? If so, can a state make it illegal to travel to another state as S.D. tried to do? Or only to transport a minor?
11.) Second Amendment. Can a prez stop gun grabbers? Or is this just a veto and veto override deal? What do you think would happen?
12.) First Amendment. Same as #11 -- can't Congress still put hate laws in? Are they likely to be able to?
13.) Government waste. Can a prez cut budgets for departments? Or would that just be a matter of appointing the right dept. head who could then do it? Would there likely be fights with Congress on RP's appointments? Can a prez completely un-fund a dept. and make it disappear or force it to state level? Do you forsee any dangers here?
14.) EPA/ecology. Can a prez force this back to the states? If he can, what dangers could there be in not having uniform laws? Would one state become a dumping ground?
15.) Govt lands/national parks, etc. Can a prez sell all this off without Congress agreeing? Would we lose our beautiful national parks to private developers? Would we lose wildlife habitat?
16.) Healthcare & Insurance corruption/medical costs. Can a prez force this back to states? What will happen with medicare and medicaid? Isn't there a danger that one state says no and one says yes and all the needy flock to the more permissive state and sink it? In the short run will RP keep medicare/aid and allow competition with drugs from Canada? Does he have that power? We have the baby boomers coming up. Will they be left out in the cold?
17.) General corruption -- our gov't is bought. What powers would RP as prez have over this? If programs are driven to the state level, won't we still be fighting corruption there? Would it be easier to manage? What about lobbyists? How much could he be effective in returning our government to us?
18.) Highways. Can this be totally up to the states? Are we going to see toll roads springing up all over? What is to stop foreign interests from buying or leasing our roads?
19.) Public utilities/water. Not sure if this would be affected one way or another?
20.) Drugs Laws. How do you see this being affected? Would states that have voted in medical marijuana, for instance, now no longer be harrassed by the feds? Or would that take an act of Congress?
21.) Education. Could RP force this entirely back to states? Would this be good or bad? Shouldn't there be some nationally standardized requirements?
22.) Unions. RP said they could exist but would no longer be protected. IOW, striking workers could be fired. As prez does he have power over this?
23.) Energy. How do you see a RP presidency affecting this?
24.) Gays in military. RP didn't raise his hand when asked if he would overturn don't-ask-don't-tell. Any comments/speculations on this?
25.) Military. Would RP weaken our state of preparedness? Can he do anything for vets, or isn't that all in the hands of Congress?
26.) Elections. What effect, if any, would RP have on fair elections, campaign funding, etc.? What about getting Instant Runoff Voting or Public Funding for campaigns?
27.) Taxes. How much effect can a prez have on our taxes without Congress? I assume none?
What have I forgotten (I'm getting distractions, sorry)? Please add and discuss, just give it your best shot. Are any of you in touch with Dr. Paul so you can ask him any of these questions directly?
Thanks in advance!
Please answer whatever you can, and I've numbered them to make it easier. I want us all to be able to talk folks into voting for him and be ready to answer questions. Remember we want liberal votes as well as conservative ones, indies, etc. Where I have forgotten details/questions, please add and address them.
1.) War. As commander in chief he really can stop the wars, I think, and bring our GI's home. Done deal, right?
2.) Military Presence. But what about our military on bases all over the world? Will he pull all of them back? I know Paul won't be making new enemies, but that doesn't mean our enemies will disappear overnight. Don't we need to keep our finger on the pulse in strategic places?
3.) Big Brother/Police State. Bush has been wiretapping, spying, torturing. What of that can RP stop? All of it by virtue of the appointments he makes to agencies? We sure don't need Quaker meetings spied upon. And I love my civil liberties dearly. And even though I really do think we've seen some false flags, I'm concerned will we lose the ability to detect and stop internal attacks? Can Ron Paul actually overturn Pat Act and its cousins? I didn't think a pres could do that. How far would his power extend to repeal the encroaching police state?
4.) Borders. Congress already approved a fence on our southern border, but didn't fund it, right? Can RP just fund it? Does he have the power to unilaterally cut off welfare for illegals? What would be his chances of getting an amendment to the Const. to stop automatic birth citizenship? How much of his border plans could be fought successfully by Congress? Can't Congress keep going with their amnesty stuff and override any veto of RP's?
5.) NAU. Bush signed agreements. Can RP un-sign them? Can he stop the NAFTA superhighway? How?
6.) NAFTA, GATT, CAFTA, etc. RP hates them. But what power would he have against them? Could he get them overturned? How would/could RP affect national or international trade?
7.) Corporate privelege. Can RP stop the tax breaks for corporations relocating offshore? Tax breaks for the oil boys? Can he make corporations not be treated like persons any more? What powers does a prez have in these areas, or is it all up to Congress? Can he stop corporate welfare? Will corporations be able to run over us even worse in some ways under RP?
8.) Social Security. RP has said he would take it out of general funds, protect it, and shore it up with cash. Can a prez do that without Congress? Will he try to privatize it again, which Americans don't want? Is it safer with him or in more danger?
9.) Welfare. RP has said he wouldn't just cut it off, that we have generations dependent on it. He said he'd phase it out. How much power does a prez have over this? Can he send it back to the states by refusing to fund it? Or can Congress override him here? What about children, elderly, and disabled? What about that mom with 4 kids who either hasn't worked in years or has a low paying job and whose hubby runs off with his secy -- or conjure up any *temporary* needy situation you like. How do you unfund the lazy father without hurting his kids? If it's put to the states, what's to stop all the poorest states from sending all their needy to the better managed states and sinking their budgets?
10.) Abortion. Can a prez send it to the states? If so, can a state make it illegal to travel to another state as S.D. tried to do? Or only to transport a minor?
11.) Second Amendment. Can a prez stop gun grabbers? Or is this just a veto and veto override deal? What do you think would happen?
12.) First Amendment. Same as #11 -- can't Congress still put hate laws in? Are they likely to be able to?
13.) Government waste. Can a prez cut budgets for departments? Or would that just be a matter of appointing the right dept. head who could then do it? Would there likely be fights with Congress on RP's appointments? Can a prez completely un-fund a dept. and make it disappear or force it to state level? Do you forsee any dangers here?
14.) EPA/ecology. Can a prez force this back to the states? If he can, what dangers could there be in not having uniform laws? Would one state become a dumping ground?
15.) Govt lands/national parks, etc. Can a prez sell all this off without Congress agreeing? Would we lose our beautiful national parks to private developers? Would we lose wildlife habitat?
16.) Healthcare & Insurance corruption/medical costs. Can a prez force this back to states? What will happen with medicare and medicaid? Isn't there a danger that one state says no and one says yes and all the needy flock to the more permissive state and sink it? In the short run will RP keep medicare/aid and allow competition with drugs from Canada? Does he have that power? We have the baby boomers coming up. Will they be left out in the cold?
17.) General corruption -- our gov't is bought. What powers would RP as prez have over this? If programs are driven to the state level, won't we still be fighting corruption there? Would it be easier to manage? What about lobbyists? How much could he be effective in returning our government to us?
18.) Highways. Can this be totally up to the states? Are we going to see toll roads springing up all over? What is to stop foreign interests from buying or leasing our roads?
19.) Public utilities/water. Not sure if this would be affected one way or another?
20.) Drugs Laws. How do you see this being affected? Would states that have voted in medical marijuana, for instance, now no longer be harrassed by the feds? Or would that take an act of Congress?
21.) Education. Could RP force this entirely back to states? Would this be good or bad? Shouldn't there be some nationally standardized requirements?
22.) Unions. RP said they could exist but would no longer be protected. IOW, striking workers could be fired. As prez does he have power over this?
23.) Energy. How do you see a RP presidency affecting this?
24.) Gays in military. RP didn't raise his hand when asked if he would overturn don't-ask-don't-tell. Any comments/speculations on this?
25.) Military. Would RP weaken our state of preparedness? Can he do anything for vets, or isn't that all in the hands of Congress?
26.) Elections. What effect, if any, would RP have on fair elections, campaign funding, etc.? What about getting Instant Runoff Voting or Public Funding for campaigns?
27.) Taxes. How much effect can a prez have on our taxes without Congress? I assume none?
What have I forgotten (I'm getting distractions, sorry)? Please add and discuss, just give it your best shot. Are any of you in touch with Dr. Paul so you can ask him any of these questions directly?
Thanks in advance!