I highly recommend the newly released Ron Paul book, The Revolution: A Manifesto. It is outstanding. My only fear is that not enough Americans still care enough about civic duties and freedom to fight for both. Read this book. Listen to Ron Paul. And, while you’re at it, read the Constitution; it’s an interesting read. And some, like Congressman Paul, would even go so far as to suggest it might be important.
Be a part of the revolution. Support the Constitution. Demand freedom.
Kevin,
I did not know you were a Ron Paul guy. I voted for him during this past primary on Tues. I have even thought about writing him in on election day in Nov.
I spend way too much time reading and thinking about politics, but lately I having been reading a lot by men such as Paul which I like to call the old right. Also on the other side of the fence I read from the left (see Adbusters). The surprising thing about the old right and the new left is that they both agree on so much, yet are totally ignored and not embraced by the 2 party corporate political machine.
Both the old right and new left are against the war, empire building, corporate control of the world and nation. Both tend to be pro-localism and pro-environment.
Someone over in the comments on the Ochlophobist compared the current 2 party system to 2 legs of the same monster.
Ron Paul is awesome. He has given me hope that a balanced individual who likes America, thinking, reading, and logical form can make it is politics.
Kevin,
Ron Paul leaves me vaguely uneasy. In the Late 70’s and early 80’s he espoused some positions that seemed racist in his publications, later denying he was aware of what his staff writers said.
Although I was part of the Old Right back then, he seemed to me to be part of the radical right back then.
He has good principles of self reliance and private responsibility, but would he fix everything by telling everyone to help themselves only?
It seems like his appeal is that for those who are healthy and can work, you should be able to keep what you earn.
Those who are unable should just go quietly to the corner and exist or die with whatever dignity you can, and ask for and recieve little to no help from those of us blessed with good health and education.
That seems analogous to what Jesus faced in 1st century Palestine, and he chose to feed the hungry, heal the sick, and minister not to the rich, but to unwanted outcasts of society. If you had two cloaks and two pair of shoes……..
The earliest Christian communities practiced a very pure form of communism, with communal contributions of wages and food and the elders redistributing it according to need.
Would Ron Paul help poor kids get food and vaccinations and educations, even if their parents couldn’t afford it?
WWJD?
( and Who would Jesus Bomb?)
Peace
Craig
Craig,
Paul, so far as I can tell, advocates that it is not government’s prerogative to force anyone to do good unto others. He certainly does not advocate that no good be done. He argues rather persuasively that, before government mandated poverty aid, the poor were actually just as well taken care of by social groups such as churches, organizations, etc.
I’ve not thought all of that issue through carefully enough to hold it firmly across the board. I am sure there might be circumstances that I would question.
From what I have read of Ron Paul, he would certainly help to feed the poor. But, I don’t think he would ever teach that government should force people to do this. Jesus taught the same thing, but I’m not aware of any times that Jesus taught a person should be forced through taxation to help the poor. And, in the early churches, the “communism” was always voluntary. I am not aware, again, of any instances in the book of Acts, for instance, where the disciples were forced to share their goods through a form of taxation by the church, etc.
It’s a difficult question, but I think in part for two reasons: (1) it’s so different from what we are used to that we cannot imagine it possibly working equitably, and (2) this partly because we are too used to government doing for us what the church used to do. Shrink the size of federal government (how many billions are wasted yearly???); give money back to the states (and thus begin to act legally again), and let local governments decide how to help the poor. More money will be available, and there will be less waste.
And, we’ll avoid the circumstance where we are forced to help “problems” with which we don’t agree.
Senator Paul does advocate, by the way, a transitioning into this that would NOT leave poor kids uncared for (as if they are currently cared for adequately by our current system). His ideas could obviously not be implemented overnight, and he realizes that. Our nation is too lazy and has too many bad and terribly wasteful and greedy habits. Forcing people to begin thinking again about economics and the constitution would very likely produce not only a smarter, but a more moral, nation.
My two cents, anyway.
Kevin
P.S. I don’t think Jesus would bomb anyone.
I vote Communist every time. plain and simple.
Kev… I had no idea you were a Ron Paul guy too! I went to see him speak when he came to Bowling Green and got this book signed. It was really neat. It is a good read, and I too highly recommend it, no matter what political affiliation you feel you are on. I myself am a Communitarian and Libertarian. Figure that one out!
The new book TWO ELDERS ON THE JESUS PRAYER
would be a better read!
The Orthodox world – and beyond – is acquainted
with the justly famous and righteous Elder Joseph the Hesychast,
who reposed on the Holy Mountain in 1959. Less known outside Russia is
Archbishop Golinsky-Michaelovsky, who was another
committed practioner and teacher of The Jesus Prayer.
The English Language Editor was Fr. Ambrose (Young) and the
Publisher was The Skete of the Entrance of the
Theotokos into the Temple in Haysville, Ohio.
click HERE for a preview!
“2 elders,”
Thanks for the heads up on this book. It looks promising! Although, I ‘m not sure it’s a good comparison to Ron Paul’s book…. haha. Slightly different topics.
But, thanks again for the recommendation. I may have to order it!
Kevin Thomas
Hey Kevin – FYI: Ron Paul is a Congressman, not a Senator.
Though I am sure you know…
Ha, Thanks Leah. Yes, I did know that. What led me to call him Senator in a comment after calling him Congressman in the post…. i don’t know. Thanks!