Dr. Ron Paul 2008

Hopes for the Future

2008-11-19T17:27:00.001-06:00

With the election behind us, our country turns hopeful eyes to the future. I have a few hopes of my own.

I congratulate our first African-American president-elect. Martin Luther King, Jr. certainly would be proud to see this day. We are stronger for embracing diversity, and I am hopeful that we can continue working through the tensions and wrongs of the past and become a more just and colorblind society. I hope this new administration will help bring us together, and not further divide us. I have always found that freedom is the best way to break down barriers. A free society emphasizes the importance of individuals, and not because they are part of a certain group. That’s the only way equal justice can be achieved.

We will face more tough economic problems during this new administration. In fact, the worst is yet to come. A vast amount of problematic mortgages have not begun to reset their variable interest rates and go into default. We already have unprecedented deficits, spending is out of control, and more big industries are coming to government with their hands out. My hope is that this administration will handle this economic crisis better than the interventionists and big government spenders of the 1930’s, the bureaucrats that prolonged the Depression. I hope that new government programs and spiderwebs of red tape do not pop up to interfere with American productivity, and that we can quickly get our financial footing again. We have to understand that an economic correction needs to take place and the only way out of the coming recession is to go through it. Efforts to avoid it can only prolong it. I hope we can somehow find our way back to sound money and reject corporate cronyism.

We cannot address our budget problems at home without changing our disastrous foreign policy abroad. I am hopeful that the new administration can take on the mantle of peace and diplomacy in foreign policy that many Americans feel they were promised. Many other nations also have this hope, which exudes from their congratulatory sentiments offered after the election. They hope that national sovereignty will be respected. They hope that through diplomacy violence and war can be averted. I hope so too. One thing is unquestionable: our aggressive foreign policy of the past has been costly, in blood and in treasure. Our treasure is running out, and fewer volunteers are stepping up to enable that foreign policy. So for these reasons, if we are to continue to have an all-volunteer military, and see prosperity again in the future, I have every reason to hope our foreign policy will change. In order for it to remain the same, mandatory military service would have to return, as well as accelerated theft through debt and inflation to pay for it. I have a hard time imagining popular support for these policies, simply for the sake of war and conquest, when we clearly want peace.

I have many hopes for the future in this time of transition. But I have seen this country face many forks in the road, and sadly take the wrong one too many times. We have heard a lot of talk, and it remains to be seen what actions and specific policies that talk will translate into. So while I may be hopeful, I remain deeply concerned about our future.

-- Dr. Ron Paul

Thank You

2008-06-18T07:44:00.002-05:00

For 17 months we brought the message of peace, freedom, and prosperity to millions of Americans. The response overwhelmed me: more Americans believe in liberty and the Constitution than I ever imagined. I am deeply moved and honored by your hard work and sacrifice on behalf of our cause.

However, after much serious thought, I have decided to end my campaign for the Presidency of the United States. It is now time to take the energy this campaign has awakened and channel it into long-term efforts to take back our country. We have some exciting plans and projects to move the revolution forward that will come together in the next several months. Watch for them.

I will work until my last breath on behalf of this great message. That I promise you. We don't have to live in the kind of America the two major parties have in store for us. Together, let us continue to lay the foundation for an America worthy of our Founding Fathers.

Ron Paul

Why is Ron Paul still running?

2008-05-22T07:06:00.003-05:00

Dr. Paul spoke to NEWSWEEK's Sarah Elkins about why he keeps campaigning, his qualms about McCain and his thoughts about Ralph Nader. Here is an excerpt:

"I think what I've done over the years is different from other people running for office, because most of the time people run for only one reason, which is to win a political office. They go out and they take polls and figure out what they need to say because the goal of winning comes before anything else. In my case, winning is important, but I need to win on principles that are important to me. If I win on other peoples' principles, I lose."

Read the rest of the interview at Newsweek.com.

Statement on Earmark Reform

2008-04-17T18:22:00.002-05:00

While I support reforms designed to shine greater sunlight on the process by which members seek earmarks, I fear that some of my colleagues have forgotten that the abuses of the earmarking process are a symptom of the problems with Washington, not the cause. The root of the problem is an out-of-control federal budget. I am also concerned that some reforms proposed by critics of earmarking undermine the separation of powers by eroding the constitutional role Congress plays in determining how federal funds are spent.

Ron Paul's Message to Supporters

2008-03-07T09:13:00.000-06:00

Ron Paul Wins In Texas

2008-03-05T13:50:00.003-06:00

Responding to the win, Dr. Paul made the following remarks:

I am honored that the voters in the 14th District expressed their continued confidence in my leadership by overwhelmingly reelecting me to the House of Representatives. I have no Democrat opponent in November and will serve another term in Congress where I will continue my battle in behalf of taxpayers.

My message of limited-government and upholding the Constitution has once again been endorsed by the conservative-minded voters in my district. They understand and support the battle I have waged for thirty years to make the federal government smaller, to reduce wasteful government spending, to balance the budget, and to promote a foreign policy that always puts America first.

Some Washington insiders would have you believe that Republicans no longer believe in the principles our country and party were founded upon, but the voters in my district have once again proven them wrong.

The message of freedom is popular, and I will continue to trumpet it in Congress and across America as I fight on behalf of the conservative, common sense values which made our country so great.

In conclusion, I would like to offer my thanks and gratitude to all of the wonderful people who supported me in this campaign. I look forward to representing all of the good people of the 14th District of Texas in Congress in the years to come.

Federal Intelligence and Terrorism

2008-03-04T07:11:00.002-06:00

Since September 11th we have heard predictable calls for vastly increasing the budgets of those agencies charged with intelligence gathering- including the CIA, FBI, ATF, INS, DIA, and NSA- but perhaps those agencies need to consolidate rather than expand their efforts. The current system involves too many bureaucrats, too much overlap, too many turf battles, too little information sharing, and no clear accountability. Why do we insist on perpetuating failed agencies and policies, throwing more and more money at problems that stem from bureaucratic culture rather than funding problems? Why do we think $60 or $80 billion will change what $40 billion could not?

The Case for Defending America

2008-03-03T17:21:00.001-06:00

One of the key responsibilities of the federal government in providing for national defense is protection of liberty here at home. Fear and insecurity must not drive our policies. What we have done so far since last September is not very reassuring. Involving ourselves in every complex conflict around the globe hardly enhances our national security.

“Campaign Finance Reform” Muzzles Political Dissent

2008-03-02T13:09:00.002-06:00

In a devastating blow to political speech, the Supreme Court recently upheld most of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance bill passed by Congress last year. The legislation will do nothing to curb special interest power or reduce corruption in Washington, but it will make it harder for average Americans to influence government. We need to get money out of government; only then will money not be important in politics. Big government and big campaign money go hand-in-hand.

Statement on Competing Currencies

2008-03-01T18:33:00.003-06:00

The prospect of American citizens turning away from the dollar towards alternate currencies will provide the necessary impetus to the US government to regain control of the dollar and halt its downward spiral. Restoring soundness to the dollar will remove the government's ability and incentive to inflate the currency, and keep us from launching unconstitutional wars that burden our economy to excess. With a sound currency, everyone is better off, not just those who control the monetary system.

Ron Paul on Federal Reserve Rate Cut

2008-02-28T09:50:00.003-06:00

America’s economic difficulties, especially the problems in the housing market, are the direct result of the Federal Reserve’s inflationary policies. In the past year, we have seen MZM grow by 12%, yet the Fed continues to inflate the money supply. While prices for gold, oil, and staple commodities continue to rise, the purchasing power of the dollar for all Americans continues to fall. Inflationary monetary policies created the problems in the economy we are seeing, and these problems will be made worse, not better, by more inflation. Today’s action by the Fed is very bad news for American workers and retirees who are about to get hit with yet another jump in prices.

Make no mistake, the problems faced by the American people are not caused by unscrupulous mortgage brokers or the rising price of oil. These are symptoms of an economic disease caused by a spendthrift Congress enabled by loose monetary policy. Too many pundits praise the weak dollar as benefiting exporters, but they fail to see the harm done to thrifty, hard-working Americans. Rather than continuing to pursue a policy of easy credit and increasing debt, we need to return to a sound monetary system.

Ron Paul on Federalism

2008-02-21T17:36:00.004-06:00

Federalism, the binding together loosely of the several states, would serve to prevent the concentration of power in a central government and was a crucial element in the new Republic. The authors of the Constitution wrote strict limits on the national government and strove to protect the rights and powers of the states and the people.

When small governments become too oppressive, citizens can vote with their feet, moving to a “competing” jurisdiction. If, for example, one state has a high income tax which the residents feel is inappropriate, they can move to Texas (as many have done) to keep more of their earnings. But as government becomes more centralized, it becomes more difficult to vote with one’s feet. There must be ample opportunity for citizen mobility: to proper governments and away from those which tend to be oppressive.

Imagine a return to federalism. What works in one state could be adopted by another. What doesn’t work could be avoided. Currently, we have a “one-size-fits-all”-style of governance that forces all states to endure bad policies. If California wants certain energy standards, then they should be able to pass them and see what happens, not enact those standards on a national level and force every other state to adopt the same.

Don't Waste Your Vote

2008-02-18T21:58:00.004-06:00

It happens every election, but it becomes most noticeable during presidential elections, especially close races like the one this year: Americans are poor voters. They are either uninformed or irresponsible.

Of course, that is not all Americans, but it appears to be a large majority.

It is laughable, then, when talking heads and editorial writers implore people to vote. Voting ignorantly or voting irresponsibly is worse than failing to exercise your right to vote.

For example, if you are a woman and voting for Sen. Hillary Clinton because she is a woman, please stay home.

If you are black and voting for Sen. Barack Obama simply because he is black, stay home.

If you are voting for Sen. John McCain just because he is the likely winner, stay home.

Voting is the one opportunity people have to express their views. It is not simply a vote to choose a candidate; it is a vote for what you believe in.

One of the worst phrases ever uttered is, “You are wasting your vote,” or some derivative of that. The only wasted vote is the one irresponsibly or ignorantly cast.

While McCain has the Republican Party nomination wrapped up, that is still not going to prevent me from voting for U.S. Rep. Ron Paul in my state primary. When you vote your conscience, your vote is never wasted. If more Americans cast informed votes for the best candidate rather than for a candidate they think has a chance of winning, this country would be a far better place.

A large part of the problem is the media. In every presidential election, there are a slew of candidates on the ballot in enough states to be able to garner enough delegates in the primary or electoral votes in the general election to win the race. Unfortunately, media outlets only give us information about the candidates they think are most likely to win.

Such lopsided coverage is patently unfair and on some levels a violation of journalistic ethics. However, what do you expect from a news culture that thinks all things Britney Spears is news?

Let’s take Ron Paul as an example. Paul raised more money during the last three months of 2007 than any other GOP candidate. That included a record-breaking single day on Nov. 5 when, during a 16-hour period, the campaign brought in more than $2.7 million in online contributions, making it the largest single-day online primary fundraising effort by a presidential candidate in U.S. election history. Yet, there was nary a word from U.S. media.

Why is that?

Such an oversight by the national media is inexcusable.

While I am on the topic of the election, I have to say the whining by the conservatives concerning the all-but-certain nomination of McCain is humorous. The problem is the conservatives are having an identity crisis. War-mongering evangelicals have hijacked the conservative movement to the point that it is unrecognizable.

These co-called conservatives lambast McCain for not being conservative. Yet, they ridicule the only true conservative on the ballot: Ron Paul.

Paul is the only candidate that holds true to the conservative values of our founders and of Ronald Reagan, the man the pseudo-conservatives like to claim as their own.

Yet, only Paul is truly fiscally conservative. He is the only candidate that understands the danger of the inflationary policy of printing money not backed by gold. Only Paul is opposed to Social Security. Only Paul wants to cut government spending as well as taxes.

Only Paul advocates a strong national defense by pulling our troops, not only out of Iraq, but also out of most of the 130 countries in which our troops are stationed. Only Paul wants to close some of our more than 700 overseas bases. This position has garnered him more donations from military personnel than all the other candidates combined, another fact the media is hiding from the people.

In short, Paul is the only candidate who believes in the Constitution.

Therefore, a vote for Ron Paul, even if he can’t win, is not a wasted vote. It is an informed and well-considered vote and that is all that matters.

Ron Paul: Going the Distance

2008-02-13T21:17:00.001-06:00

Ron Paul Statement on Washington, Louisiana and Kansas Results

2008-02-12T09:45:00.000-06:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 12, 2008

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – Republican presidential candidate and Texas Congressman Ron Paul issued the following statement regarding the results of Saturday’s Republican contests:

“As the results of this weekend have made clear, many Republican voters are not satisfied with our party’s likely candidate for president, John McCain.

“Voters rejected him in Kansas and Louisiana. Even in Washington State, where McCain appears to have won a plurality, over seventy percent of voters felt another candidate better represented them, including 21 percent who caucused for me.

“This is why my run for the Republican nomination will not end. The principles I stand for – limited government, non-interventionism, respect for individual rights, and strict adherence to the Constitution – have a long and proud tradition in the Republican Party.

“As long as my supporters continue to support my campaign, I will not leave Republicans who have yet to vote without the ability to choose a candidate who holds these fundamental Republican values.”

Not Just a Man

2008-02-10T22:05:00.000-06:00

So many politicians are only about campaigning to win office, and nothing else. They say and do whatever it takes to win. They are all interchangeable with each other, and the losers of elections disappear into obscurity. The winners likewise disappear into a homogeneous herd of self-serving politicians. Not Ron Paul.

Ron Paul is not just a man trying to win an office, he is a leader with bold ideas and beliefs. Ideas different from the status quo, different from typical self-serving politicians and expanding governments. Ideas which many educated scholars, students, and citizens agree are exactly what is needed to save this country from peril. Ideas difficult to convey to the masses in a campaign slogan or sound bite.

Unlike the other candidates who have dropped out of the race once they believe they cannot win, Ron Paul intends to stay in all the way to the national convention, regardless of whether anyone believes he can win. Because Ron Paul is not just about winning an office, he is about promoting the ideas he believes will save this country. I hope many others are inspired to run for office supporting the Ron Paul platform. We need more leaders like Ron Paul in all areas of government.

Know Before You Vote

2008-02-05T10:07:00.000-06:00

Election time can be confusing. Each candidate has a position (maybe) on dozens of issues. Here is the best comparison chart of presidential candidates I've come across (and I've seen 4).
http://KnowBeforeYouVote.com/

I feel this site is superlative for two reasons: its simplicity and its references. [see below] Some people vote on a gut feeling after hearing one candidate or another. Other citizens schedule an evening to review the candidates before an election. Whether you only have time for a click and a glance or are interested in detailed comparison, this site will help.

Source include:
USA Today
The Boston Globe
CNN
Google Video
www.house.gov
www.democrats.org
Each candidate's websites

Super Tuesday

2008-02-05T07:19:00.001-06:00

For those of you in Super Tuesday states, today is the day to exercise your right to vote in your primary or participate in your caucus. Of all the ways you can support your candidate, voting is the most important. If you support Ron Paul, you should know that he needs every single vote. He is competing not only against the other candidates, but also against the mainstream media, the establishment, and special interests. VOTE!

Ron Paul's Platform in a Nutshell

2008-02-02T18:30:00.000-06:00

"Congress should dramatically reduce its overseas commitments, as well as spending in areas like corporate welfare, and devote one-half of the savings to debt reduction and the other half to transitioning to a market system of retirement security and health care.

"This action will allow the government to meet its obligation to those relying on Social Security and Medicare while allowing younger people to escape the mountains of debt we are leaving--$60 trillion of liabilities.

"As president, one of my priorities will be restoring the 10th amendment and federalism. Decisions about issues like civil unions or right-to-die legislation should be made by the states, not the federal government.

"I will stop federal judges from imposing new definitions on the States. I will also return control over education to parents and local communities. Decisions about whether or not to fund vouchers, have merit pay for teachers or extend the school year should be made by parents and local school boards, not by D.C.-based bureaucrats.

"I will also pursue true free trade with low tariffs and less burdensome regulation. However, I reject the 'managed trade' approach of the World Trade Organization, North American Free Trade Agreement and Central American Free Trade Agreement."

Ron Paul on Iraq

2008-01-31T07:09:00.000-06:00

The United States invaded Iraq under false pretenses without a constitutionally-required declaration of war. Our Founders understood that how we go to war is as important as when we go to war, which is why they vested the power to declare war in the Legislative Branch. The resolution passed in Congress authorizing the president to use force in Iraq said nothing about the U.S. Constitution, but it mentioned the United Nations a dozen times. The United States should never go to war to enforce UN resolutions!

Our continued presence in Iraq is serving as a recruiting tool for al-Qaeda. A recent National Intelligence Estimate found that the U.S. presence in Iraq has had a “rejuvenating” effect on the terrorist group. Proponents of the surge say that we are achieving victory. However, even if the level of our troops being killed has declined, they are still being targeted and the Iraqi government is no closer to stability, meaning that the violence will continue.

While we keep our focus on Iraq indefinitely, bin Laden remains free to plot his next attack, and can continue to portray us as occupiers and recruit more volunteers to his cause. Shortly after 9/11, I voted for the authorization to go into Afghanistan because it told the president to do what he already had the authority to do: go after the ones who directly hit us. I was extremely disappointed that the mission there changed to one of nation-building.

Military experts, including Generals Barry McCaffrey and John Batiste, have sounded the warning that our military is stretched so thin because of Iraq and our other commitments that, as General Batiste put it recently, “our Army and Marine Corps are at a breaking point with little to show for it.” A weakened and over-committed military is a recipe for a national security disaster. Meanwhile, Washington continues to talk about how many other countries it could send troops to.

As if a national debt topping $9 trillion is not bad enough, each day this war is fought, deficit spending increases. To avoid raising taxes and the subsequent anger that would follow come election time, the federal government will continue to borrow money from countries like Saudi Arabia and China, making your children and grandchildren’s futures dependent on the actions of other nations and selling out our national security to the highest bidder.

Make no mistake, as Congress spends more and more, there will be less and less to fund Social Security and Medicare, the programs Washington has made us dependent on, without a massive tax increase. Meanwhile, bin Laden proclaims that our falling dollar is a sign that al-Qaeda’s “bleed-until-bankruptcy plan” is working.

On my first day as commander-in-chief, I will direct the Joint Chiefs of Staff and our commanders on the ground to devise and execute a plan to immediately withdraw our troops in the safest manner possible.

Those who caution that leaving Iraq would be a disaster are the same ones who promised the conflict would be a “cake-walk.” It is impossible to tell how long we will have to stay and how many lives we will have to lose if we wait for political factions that have been at war for centuries to come together.

As long as we occupy Iraq, the violence against our troops will continue, and the Iraqi government will become more dependent on us. It is in the best interests of the Iraqi people that we return their country to them immediately. Indeed, violence has already gone down in the areas that are not as heavily occupied.

It is now time to bring our troops home. We must return our focus to finding bin Laden and making sure that we can be prepared for any future threats against our national security.

Ron Paul on National Defense

2008-01-30T14:02:00.001-06:00

A defense policy designed to keep Americans safe should start with the idea that we must secure our borders from those who would cross them to do us harm. Currently, the United States maintains hundreds of thousands of troops in more than 100 foreign countries. In many cases, they are there to defend foreign borders. Maintaining such a global empire drains nearly one trillion dollars from the U.S. economy each year, while offering very little real security for the American people. What’s worse, our U.S. Border Guards are sent overseas to places like Iraq while our own borders remain porous and vulnerable.

According to the 9/11 Commission Report, the terrorists who attacked the U.S. on September 11, 2001, had obtained some 24 visas to enter the United States under false pretenses or with incomplete or misleading applications. All these should have been caught and refused. The fact that this did not happen is another indictment on our inadequate border security system.

As president, I would:

Make securing our borders against a possible terrorist threat the top defense priority. No one who seeks to do us harm should be allowed to cross the border into U.S. territory. After all, a defense policy should benefit those who actually pay for it: the American people.
Re-focus the efforts of our military and intelligence services on locating those individuals who planned the terrorist attacks on the U.S. and who remain at large. It must be made clear that the United States cannot be attacked with impunity. When I voted for the authorization to use force against those who attacked us in 2001, I did not imagine that we would be getting bogged down for years in a nation-building exercise in Afghanistan while the perpetrators remain at large. Efforts in that part of the world should be exclusively focused on apprehending those responsible for the attacks against the United States.
Push for a complete overhaul of U.S. intelligence requirements and capabilities. For far too long, Congress has operated under the assumption that simply spending more on the intelligence community would make it more effective and efficient. We have unfortunately learned the hard way that this is not a wise approach. I have consulted with numerous current and former intelligence professionals about the need to re-assess our intelligence community and how it should function, and I will take action to implement such reforms as president.

I have introduced several pieces of legislation designed to strengthen our capability to find the 9/11 perpetrators and protect our nation against future attacks:

H.R. 3216 would authorize the president to issue letters of marque and reprisal, naming private sources who can capture or kill our enemies. This method works in conjunction with our military efforts, creating an incentive for people on the ground close to bin Laden to kill or capture him and his associates. Letters of marque are especially suited to fight against individuals who can melt into the civilian population or hide in remote areas.
H.R. 3305 would allow pilots and specially assigned law enforcement personnel to carry firearms in order to protect airline passengers. Pilots must have the choice to carry weapons as a last line of defense against future hijacking attempts.
H.R. 3217 would prohibit the issuance of student, training, vocational, and diversity visas without presidential review to anyone from a country that repeatedly supports terrorism or does not cooperate fully with U.S. antiterrorism efforts.

Keeping America safe and secure is about more than the size of the defense budget or the number of U.S. military personnel. An America-first defense policy understands the need to rationally assess the threats that do exist to the United States and then figure out what we can do to minimize those threats. We must be willing to ask and answer the hard questions. Has our foreign policy of interventionism overseas increased or decreased the threats to our security? When we interfere in a foreign election or foment unrest abroad, are the people more or less likely to harbor ill-feelings toward the United States and the American people?

We must move beyond the assertions of some that “they hate us because we are prosperous and free” and earnestly attempt to understand what it is that motivates others to wish us harm and then to act upon those wishes. We must understand that many of the threats to the United States from overseas come from non-state actors rather than states. I have consulted and will continue to consult defense experts who are well-versed in such important topics as fourth generation warfare and how the U.S. can respond to emerging trends and threats.

A defense policy for the United States should first seek to make Americans safer. A foreign policy of non-interventionism overseas will be the first step in reducing threats to the U.S. My policy will enable us to focus our resources where they belong: in defense of the United States and the American people. An America-first defense policy will not go abroad seeking monsters to slay, but will deter through strength and lead by example.

Ron Paul on Veterans

2008-01-29T08:03:00.001-06:00

Many politicians talk about honoring our veterans and their sacrifices. Yet so often the rhetoric obscures the reality that the federal government treats veterans badly. Congress wastes billions of dollars on countless unconstitutional programs, but fails to provide adequately for the men and women who carry out the most important constitutional function: national defense.

Any nation willing to ask its men and women to risk their lives serving overseas must also be willing to fulfill the promises that were made to them when they enlisted in our country’s service. We cannot provide adequate care with a VA that is run like the IRS.

One of the most shameful ways our veterans are mistreated is in the area of concurrent receipt benefits. Existing federal rules force disabled veterans to give up their military retirement pay in order to receive VA disability benefits. Every VA disability dollar paid to a veteran is deducted from his retirement pay, effectively creating a “disabled veterans tax”. No other group of federal employees is subject to this unfair standard; in every other case, disability pay is viewed as distinct from standard retirement pay.

Ultimately, we can best honor both our veterans and our current armed forces by changing our foreign policy to one that serves America’s interests. Today’s soldiers are our future veterans, and they should never be sent to war without clear objectives that serve definite American national security interests.

I support:

Reforming the VA to make sure that it efficiently provides affordable care and benefits to our veterans.
Giving employers a tax credit for hiring veterans.
Narrowing the pay gap that exists between military and private sector pay scales.
Restoring health care coverage to retired service members and reducing their out-of-pocket costs.
Establishing a House Select Committee on POW and MIA Affairs.
Fully investigating the causes of Gulf War illnesses and providing all necessary treatments to veterans suffering from those illnesses.
Immediately ending the requirement that disabled veterans give up their military retirement pay in order to receive VA disability benefits.

Having served in the U.S. Air Force for five years, I feel an obligation to our veterans and current armed forces. As a congressman, I have fought hard to make sure veterans receive the care and respect they deserve. I will continue that fight as president.

Ron Paul on Energy

2008-01-28T10:31:00.000-06:00

Government regulations, taxes, and corporate subsidies have distorted the energy market, causing some prices to rise above what they would be in the free market, while artificially lowering other prices and discouraging conservation. The costs of energy subsidies are hidden in your tax bill so the government can silently withhold them from your wallet with each paycheck.

As president, I will work to restore a free-market in energy. In particular, I will work with Congress to repeal federal regulations and taxes that impede the development of new energy sources. Such policies give government bureaucrats the power to pick winners and losers, and cause resources to be devoted to those producers with the most political clout rather than to the producers who are best able to meet the needs of consumers. Alternative sources should prove their viability in the free market. Any source that truly is cheaper and cleaner, yet still reliable, will not need government help to develop or sell.

Returning to a free market in energy will encourage conservation as well as the development of new forms of energy. In a free market, conservation occurs naturally when property rights are strictly enforced to prevent pollution and because resources become more costly as they become scarcer.

I have cosponsored legislation designed to encourage the development of alternative energy. H.R. 550 extends the investment tax credit to solar energy property and qualified fuel cell property, and H.R. 1772 provides tax credits for the installation of wind energy property.

Nuclear energy can also provide the American people with a reliable and environmentally sound alternative. Therefore, I will repeal federal regulations that hinder the development of nuclear energy. However, I will also repeal all federal subsidies and privileges granted the nuclear industry. Nuclear power should prove its worth in the free-market.

Clean, safe, and reliable energy is far too important to leave to the political whims of Washington bureaucrats.

Ron Paul on The Inflation Tax

2008-01-26T09:31:00.000-06:00

Today, the federal government burdens us with one of the most dangerous taxes it can impose — the inflation tax. When the federal government finds that it cannot afford its out-of-control spending, and is unwilling to directly tax the public, it resorts simply to creating the money out of thin air.

Inflating the money supply is the easiest form of financing the government. The Federal Reserve, an unelected and unaccountable private organization, pumps more dollars into the economy whenever it chooses. Because the public is forced to accept these bills, the Fed essentially gets away with legally counterfeiting. We cannot possibly expect the government to control spending when it has a blank checkbook.

This greatly benefits the politicians and special interests — they are able to finance the massive welfare-warfare state. But how does this inflation affect you?

Basic economics tells us that the more there is of a good, the less valuable it becomes. This is also true of money. The dollar is worth four cents of what it was when the Federal Reserve was created in 1913.

Day by day, every dollar you have is being devalued. You pay an inflation tax without even realizing it because you are forced by a falling dollar to pay more for goods and services.

The disastrous fiscal policies of our own government, marked by shameless deficit spending and Federal Reserve currency devaluation, are some of the greatest threats facing our nation today. It is this one-two punch — Congress spending more than it can tax or borrow, and the Treasury printing money to make up the difference — that threatens to impoverish us by further destroying the value of our dollars.

By legalizing competing currencies, we can end the Federal Reserve’s stranglehold on our money supply and begin to restore value to the dollar. But Congress will continue to spend extravagantly until we the people make our views known at the ballot box.

Ron Paul Unveils a REAL Economic Stimulus Plan

2008-01-24T21:59:00.000-06:00

Ron Paul has unveiled a comprehensive economic revitalization package. The four-pronged plan is designed to stem the current economic slide and address the unsound governmental policies that are harming Americans’ pocketbooks.

“Real economic reform must address the underlying reasons for the current economic malaise,” said Ron Paul. “This plan is more than just a band-aid for our economy; it fundamentally reforms four areas where government policies are damaging our national economy. When enacted, my plan will provide both short-term stimulus, and lay the groundwork for long-term prosperity.”

The comprehensive economic revitalization plan is available online at: http://www.RonPaul2008.com/Prosperity.

The four areas that the plan covers are:

1. Tax Reform: Reduce the tax burden and eliminate taxes that punish investment and savings, including job-killing corporate taxes.

2. Spending Reform: Eliminate wasteful spending. Reduce overseas commitments. Freeze all non-defense, non-entitlement spending at current levels.

3. Monetary Policy Reform: Expand openness with the Federal Reserve and require the Fed to televise its meetings. Return value to our money.

4. Regulatory Reform: Repeal Sarbanes/Oxley regulations that push companies to seek capital outside of US markets. Stop restricting community banks from fostering local economic growth.

Congressman Paul has written or co-sponsored numerous bills to enact the policies in his plan. In Congress, he has been a champion of lower taxes and limited government.

Congressman Paul is the ranking member on the House Financial Services Committee's Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology. In Congress, Dr. Paul has never voted for a tax increase or for an unbalanced budget.