Liberty Maven

For most, “politician” has become a dirty word. Calling someone a “politician” these days has negative connotations. One need not even use the modifier, “typical”, in front of the jab anymore to maintain its full effect. Ron Paul is hardly a politician, but he practices politics. He is the worst example of a politician. Today that is probably the nicest compliment one could give to one who practices politics. On the other end of the spectrum lies Hillary Clinton. She is a politician. She served as an apprentice under probably the greatest politician of recent years: Bill Clinton. That is no compliment.

Like many from the left, Hillary Clinton’s brand of politics panders to emotion. The truth is treated as a secondary unnecessary evil. Her willingness to lie and distort in order to gain favor is quickly becoming legendary. The writing is on the wall though. If she were to become our next President, there seems to be no doubt her legendary chronic lying will equal her husband’s grand lies. I’m not saying she will say the words, “I did not have sex with that woman…”, although that certainly would be interesting. I’m merely saying she comes from the same mold.

Some may argue that we need a deceptive person in the oval office. And that deception is an important character trait in dealing with our enemies, foreign and domestic. My argument to this: Do we really want our President to lie to us? That is certainly dangerous ground. On the surface most will say ‘no’ immediately. How is it then that when the polls close the liars keep getting enough votes to win?

Perhaps the answer is that most politicians don’t start out as liars. They seek office with high-minded ideals and then “go native” once they get there. With the lobbyist groups, special interests, and vote trading nature of compromise, to resist “going native” is a heroic feat. At least with Hillary Clinton we know this not to be true. She has no excuse. She lies while running for office. Considering the super-magnetic pull the dark side has on politicians it is a testament to the few who resist. It has become easier to “go native” than to remain true. If this assumption is true then Ron Paul is a hero.

Ron Paul and his band of not quite merry, but determined supporters are trying to change not just the Republican Party, but the nature of what politics has become. They wish to transform the politics of unusual into the politics of usual. An effort of this magnitude takes a little luck, a lot of effort, and even more time. Recent accounts from Ron Paul supporters at GOP state and local conventions reveal this difficulty. People in power tend to stay in power. After all, they have the power.

It remains to be seen what the best activist methods are for spreading the message of liberty. As for now it seems that the following things should be done with great and widespread effort:

1. Become involved in your local GOP, attend meetings, become delegates, propose resolutions.
2. Help elect liberty-minded limited government candidates (not just Republicans) to offices of all levels and hold them to their promises once in office.
3. Recruit others through word of mouth to do the above.
4. Utilize marches and rallies for the cause of liberty to help spread the word further.
5. Buy Ron Paul’s new book, “The Revolution: A Manifesto” , for yourself and your friends. When finished reading it leave it in public areas, public restroom stalls, bus stops, train and subway stations, airports, etc..

If these efforts prove successful, people may start to wake up. They may realize that “politician” can mean something positive again, rather than pejorative. Perhaps at that time Ron Paul will be remembered as the man who sparked a political revolution that eliminated the discourse of pandering and revived the rhetoric of honest representative statesmanship. I for one have hope, do you?