Q&A—Ask Ron Paul
December 1, 2008 by Stephen Anderson
Filed under Guest Articles, Principle 04
The questions were submitted by readers to Steven Dubner’s Freakonomics Blog at the New York Times and answered by Dr. Paul.
Q: What was your first thought when you found out McCain chose Palin as his running mate?
A: At first, I thought it was a pretty savvy choice from a political perspective. I also knew that she had said some nice things about me in the past. At the same time, I knew that to be on the ticket, she would have to toe the line on foreign policy and the war, so that tempered a lot of my enthusiasm.
Q: Who in Congress would you consider to be your closest peer(s)?
A: There are a lot of members who I work with on a variety of different issues. Walter Jones is a good friend and works with me on foreign policy. Often on spending, if there is a 432-3 vote, the other two congressmen voting with me are Jeff Flake and Paul Broun. A lot of times, I work with Democrats on civil liberties issues.
I guess my point is that people from all over the political spectrum can side with liberty and the Constitution. The goal is to get a majority to vote that way most of the time.
Q: It was mentioned you were in favor of getting rid of the Department of Education. Is this true, and if so, how do you feel this would benefit the country?
A: I do believe in eliminating the Department of Education.
First, the Constitution does not authorize the Department of Education, and the founders never envisioned the federal government dictating those education policies.
Second, it is a huge bureaucracy that squanders our money. We send billions of dollars to Washington and get back less than we sent. The money would be much better off left in states and local communities rather than being squandered in Washington.
Finally, I think that the smallest level of government possible best performs education. Teachers, parents, and local community leaders should be making decisions about exactly how our children should be taught, not Washington bureaucrats. The Department of Education has given us No Child Left Behind, massive unfunded mandates, indoctrination, and in come cases, forced medication of our children with psychotropic drugs. We should get rid of all of that and get those choices back in the hands of the people.
Q: What active steps would you take toward reducing the size of the government?
A: The first thing I would do>>>>Read the Full Article
U.S. Rep. Broun says Obama ‘Marxist’
November 19, 2008 by Stephen Anderson
Filed under Featured, Guest Articles, Principle 04
The remark led Rotarian Lucinda Williams to defend Mr. Obama and question the intelligence of Sen. John McCain’s running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
Mr. Broun qualified his remark, saying he believes Mr. Obama’s policies of bigger government and shared wealth are Marxist.
“When Barack Obama is right, then I’ll support him,” he said. “When he is wrong, I’ll fight him.”
Mr. Broun also criticized Mr. McCain.
“I’m very disappointed with the McCain campaign,” he said. “In my opinion, it was inept.”
He said he believes Mr. McCain failed to adequately differentiate himself from President Bush and embrace conservative values.
He referred to Mr. McCain as a “milquetoast” Republican.>>>>Read the Full Article
BROUN CURIOUSLY SUBSEQUENTLY APOLOGIZES
From CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney (CNN) | Republican Paul Broun is sorry for calling President-elect Barack Obama a ‘Marxist’ and comparing him to Adolf Hitler, the Georgia Congressman said Tuesday.
“I regret putting it that way,” he told WGAC radio in Augusta, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “I apologize to anyone who has taken offense at that.”
In an interview with the Associated Press earlier this week, Broun admitted to calling the future commander-in-chief a ‘Marxist’ at a recent Rotary club meeting, and said Obama has expressed support for policies similar to those of Hitler.
“It may sound a bit crazy and off base, but the thing is,>>>>Read the Full Article
