These things I believe

[Pat H]

This is an excellent short treatise by a man who served several presidents, the last being Ronald Reagan.

"These Things I Believe." by Lyn Nofziger

"That government should butt out. That freedom is our most precious commodity and if we are not eternally vigilant, government will take it all away. That individual freedom demands individual responsibility. That government is not a necessary good but an unavoidable evil. That the executive branch has grown too strong, the judicial branch too arrogant and the legislative branch too stupid. That political parties have become close to meaningless. That government should work to insure the rights of the individual, not plot to take them away. That government should provide for the national defense and work to insure domestic tranquility. That foreign trade should be fair rather than free. That America should be wary of foreign entanglements. That the tree of liberty needs to be watered from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. That guns do more than protect us from criminals; more importantly, they protect us from the ongoing threat of government. That states are the bulwark of our freedom. That states should have the right to secede from the Union. That once a year we should hang someone in government as an example to his fellows."

I think we all know which presidential candidate best reflects these sentiments, indeed, a candidate that lives these sentiments, and has a voting record that proves it.

[Dust Monkey]

I think we all know which presidential candidate best reflects these sentiments, indeed, a candidate that lives these sentiments, and has a voting record that proves it.

Is it the candidate that blames America for 9/11?

[Alex45ACP]

Which candidate would that be? Certainly not Ron Paul, since he never said anything of the sort.

[The Tourist]

You're going to see governmental interference like you've never seen.

As a 'boomer, I was told to work hard, save for the future, and if I put my money away, I could pay lower or at least defered taxes. Then, 401(K)'s took a dump.

At present, there are 78 million boomers, and we all do pretty much the same thing at the same time. For many of us, the bulk of our wealth was started too late in life. But when we decided to change that, we invested with a vengence.

That means that 1/3 of our present population has more than 1/3 of the nation's wealth.

So let me ask you this. Do you really believe that the government is going to stand peacefully by as the brunt of the wealth producers in this country all walk off the assembly lines at the same time with all of the money?

Do you really think that same government is going to happily start running its financial business using the mediocre tailings of Snoop Dogg and a few Star Wars conventions?

There's an old expression, "Follow the money." If you want to see how the present government is going to treat you, then watch how those in power treat boomers as we retire. There's a whole of legislation you're really going to hate.

[Marko Kloos]

That foreign trade should be fair rather than free.

All those lofty statements in support of freedom, and that sentence sticks out like a pedophile in an elementary school playground.

I am free, and the government is an unavoidable evil, but I cannot sell the fruits of my labor to anyone I choose, because someone else gets to decide whether that transaction meets their definition of "fair"?

The only "fair" trade is one where both parties walk away satisfied with the transaction, and there was no fraud or coercion involved. Every other definition of "fair trade" puts you on the greased express slide to socialism.

[Pat H]

Marko Kloos says: All those lofty statements in support of freedom, and that sentence sticks out like a pedophile in an elementary school playground.

I am free, and the government is an unavoidable evil, but I cannot sell the fruits of my labor to anyone I choose, because someone else gets to decide whether that transaction meets their definition of "fair"?

The only "fair" trade is one where both parties walk away satisfied with the transaction, and there was no fraud or coercion involved. Every other definition of "fair trade" puts you on the greased express slide to socialism.

You are quite correct, but the Reaganite Lyn Nofziger said the above and I didn't want to edit his words. As I said, or implied rather, Ron Paul is as close to those sentiments as is reasonable, and certainly no other candidate can claim that.

There's an interesting article over on Taki's blog about the non-differences between the neo-Conservatives and the Leftists in America, that sheds light on why most real Americans are having difficulty remembering which party most of the Republicans and Democrats are running with. Titled Neocons and the left: Know your enemies I think it's rather easily seen that Rudy, Mitt, Newt, and Fred would be equally at home with the Democrats as they are with Republicans. The Barry Goldwater old right has been thoroughly purged. With one exception.

[Manedwolf]

Anarchism does not equal conservatism.

Praising tax fraud criminals who have threatened violence against law enforcement officers is not conservatism. Suggesting that people not pay taxes is not conservatism.

[Pat H]

What, in your mind manedwolf, is conservatism?