Lot of cool stuff here.
Some thoughts, not sure if it will resonate, I’m a bit Pollyanaish.
Hopefully one of the effects that comes from his campaign is that the followers (millions) will in small numbers grab onto the idea that, the individual members can make a difference. Ron Paul made a difference. I’ve found that there are a lot more people like me, and at minimum I try not to crush the seeds of libertarian thought, even if they’re mired in minarchy or even fiscal conservativsm, but stil socially liberal. Any part of government that can be pushed back, frees us all.
I don’t think the movement has died, though if the question is when did the campaign fail, other’s have pointed out that there’s no way Ron Paul thought he’d win. But I think he actually won more than he probably dreamed of both in 2k8 and in 2k12. The republican party had to actually go on the offensive this time, to push his message out. They had to change the platform to bring in some fiscal issues. There’s also a clearly defined vacuum for strongly conservative fiscal policy, and they have an opportunity to step into it.
If they don’t actually make any changes this next year or so, by the end of 2013 I think you’ll see a much more vocal and angry mass starting to get active. That frightens me somewhat also. It gets even worse if the Fiscal Cliff is hit, the credit rating for the US drops and inflation rises dramatically, all very real possibilities. If that happens, I think you have an opportunity for a third party to come in and upset everything. Very rapidly. I believe a large portion (35-40%) is trying to shoehorn themselves into one party or the other. A truly libertarian platform has the potential to coalesce within a year or 2 if the Republican’s gain power, don’t make serious fiscal changes, and the economy drops like a rock. I’d lay this momentum at the feet of Ron Paul. Not alone, but as the tip of the spear. Perhaps one might call him the lightning rod, but he rests on top of a very deep and very sound foundation. d
Another point, I think we ought to remember Ron Paul is 77. I think he had to decide where to focus the remaining energy he had in this last year of his public service. And his has been service in the best possible way it could be. Late in 2011 and early in 2012 I recall there were some articles about Ron Paul being a bit exhausted and worn down by the whirlwind tour. I don’t think we should underestimate the physical toll on and old man whose passion never waned, but whose body did its best. It may turn out to have been a wise choice to focus instead the energy of this last drive on the Fed Audit, while the chance existed.
Now in terms of the RNC’s underhanded delegate battle, again I think it was a win, not in numbers of delegates, but in the fact that they had to actually fight Paul. Sometimes you win a battle and it costs you more than you win. I hope at minimum that the egregious behavior motivates some to become more active at the local level in fighting for freedom and fiscal conservatism in their local communities.
Someone mentioned the utter futility of fighting the expandning state. I agree that the results in these specific battles to curb government are most likely futile. But it takes courage to fight these battles. And like I said, the battles in and of themselves even when lost convert people.
I’m curious to see the outcome of the 2012 campaign. In 2k8 the roots of the Tea Party were laid in Paul’s grassroots campaign. There are other reasons for it’s rise, and I’m sure none of us here are fans of the warhawk and religious fervor that seems to be a part of the binding force for that movement, but there is a very strong fiscal responsibility tone to the Tea Party. Ron Paul should rightly be considered a huge part of that. But what’s going to rise from 2k12? It would be interesting if we were to see a Tea Party analogue that also embraced civil liberties, were anti-drug war, pro-states rights, still fiscally conservative, but also Peace Loving “isolationists.” I don’t think it’s far-fetched to imagine this might happen.
Finally, in terms of Ron Paul’s love of constitutional government. I’ve read his works on Lew Rockwell.com. I don’t buy it. I’ve always thought of the constitution as a line in the sand that he could point to as a rule of law which we’d abandoned. I always took his message as “Shouldn’t we at least head back that way?” If Lew loved him, and the impression from Lew is that he does, I just can’t believe Ron’s not a Rothbardian ancap. Last point about his apparent love for constitutional government. I don’t believe that Ron would ever publicly speak out against the document he’s sword to protect and defend. And the line in the sand that he has, is sufficient to point the direction the country needs to go.
Anyway, I’m disappointed and a bit dismayed, but the youth are involved. I may not like Paul Ryan on some of his issues, but dammit he’s my age… And his ideas in fiscal issues at least sound libertarian.
