TTI Forums

Interesting video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjwuGHPilwI

Its ron paul talking about Ayn Rand

Also, an interesting forum discussion on Ron Paul

http://forum.objectivismonline.net/inde ... topic=8879

Interesting.

Check out this CNN article about alleged Ron Paul newsletters written in the 90's containing racial slurs...

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/01/10/ ... index.html

The article seems like a smear job to me, but they did throw in an interesting quote where Ron Paul defends himself by saying...

"Libertarians are incapable of being a racist, because racism is a collectivist idea."

That sounds pretty Rand, but don't objectivists and libertarians hate each other?

Sophid wrote:That sounds pretty Rand, but don't objectivists and libertarians hate each other?

Kinda, its more like:
Objectivist: "I'm not a principless person who believes in 'liberty'"
Libertarian: "But you think freedom is good, so be part of our party"
Objectivist: "Son, you don't even know what liberty means"
Libertarian writes entry in wikipedia about how Objectivist is a Libertarian.
Objectivist: "Ass."

This just give +2 respect points for Ron Paul:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=88REf0tjZHo

A couple things to bring down Ron Paul.

He thinks that is the 9/11 is America's fault, and his solution is to pull US entirely out of the muslim world.

He thinks each state should be able to decide whether abortion is allowed or not.

He has ran for the libertarians before.

Also, he thinks that the state should be Christian based.

I just think that video is funny.

Yeah, personally I think Ron Paul has this creepy sort of Stockholm Syndrome going on with regards to the Islamic world.

It's like "Oh God! Please don't make the Muslims angry!"

And well, when I see people reacting like that, I can't help but think that terrorism does work, at least on some people.

But yeah, let's just say Ron Paul's the only reason Mike Huckabee isn't my least favourite of the Republican candidates.

He has good economic views (maybe on accident?) but other views are crappy. Mainly:

1 - War
2 - Abortion
3 - Religion

But heres the thing--what is worse, keeping soldiers in Iraq that do absolutely nothing? Or taking them out?

The anti-abortion thing is just wrong. A sac of cells is not a human until it has some human traits (like a consciousness that is aware)

While his religion stuff is bad, I doubt it would get anywhere. He doesn't even campaign it much. Does anyone have any videos where he says anything about it?

I don't think the soldiers in Iraq are doing nothing. I think Iraq is making good steady progress towards becoming a decently modern country again despite a great deal of adversity.

And I personally think the best way to win the war on terror is to give Muslims something to live for besides Martyrdom. So long as much of the Islamic world remains under the bootheels of fascists operating under the smokescreen of religion, with no hope of a better future, religious extremism is going to remain attractive.

As for abortion, geez, Is Rudy the ONLY pro-choice candidate?

And he's big on the religion thing, too? Wow, Ron Paul has definitely earned his place as my least favourite candidate. I might be the only religious member of TTI, but I'm a big believer in a secular government as you can't really have freedom of religion without it. Plus there's also the fact that every single theocratic government has been objectively awful.

Ginuad Amarasen wrote:I don't think the soldiers in Iraq are doing nothing. I think Iraq is making good steady progress towards becoming a decently modern country again despite a great deal of adversity.

No, they aren't getting anywhere really, because Iraq isn't the root of the problem... Iran is. It is taught in schools that Americans are bad. _Taught_. As long as people believe in that book that they take to be holy, force will remain their first means of achieving their ends. They thrive off weakness of others... and Americas "nation building" or "exporting democracy" tactics are weak and immoral.

Who is paying for that nation building? I am.

The only way to solve the problem is to show them that we are not weak, and to let them know that they can not "test our limits". As long as they think that we won't harm them much, they will keep attacking... and I fear its gonna take a nuke in the face of America before we get our heads straight. You think the twin towers going down are bad? Wait until its all New York. Its not even worth taking the chance!

And I personally think the best way to win the war on terror is to give Muslims something to live for besides Martyrdom. So long as much of the Islamic world remains under the bootheels of fascists operating under the smokescreen of religion, with no hope of a better future, religious extremism is going to remain attractive.

This would take some technology and money that we do not have. But I have the steps to do it!

1) Erase their minds of everything they were taught in school
2) Erase their mind of everything about Allah
3) Raise all of them up like children with western values

It is in their culture.

As for abortion, geez, Is Rudy the ONLY pro-choice candidate?

Actually, I think most of the candidates (at least the popular ones) are pro-choice. Though I am not pro choice, I am pro life-- the mother's life. There is no other life involved.. its the mother and a few cells. And a person should be allowed to cut their own limb off if they want to.

And he's big on the religion thing, too? Wow, Ron Paul has definitely earned his place as my least favourite candidate. I might be the only religious member of TTI, but I'm a big believer in a secular government as you can't really have freedom of religion without it. Plus there's also the fact that every single theocratic government has been objectively awful.

Yep, but I doubt he will get anywhere with this.

So if his military plan is no better than what we currently have then the only real bad thing is the abortion views. Thinking about the lesser of all the evils... perhaps he shouldn't be thrown off the list quite yet.

I have my other reasons for putting him last. But I should warn you, if I state them, this thread's going to go flametastic.

Ginuad Amarasen wrote:I have my other reasons for putting him last. But I should warn you, if I state them, this thread's going to go flametastic.

I personally would love to hear them, if Tolthar is willing to heed your warning that what you are about to say is controversial... =p

Sophid wrote:I personally would love to hear them, if Tolthar is willing to heed your warning that what you are about to say is controversial... =p

Hah! Whats the worse that could happen!

Tolthar Lockbar wrote:Hah! Whats the worse that could happen!

famous last words......

Well, to be blunt, Ron Paul comes across to me as being a few beers short of a six pack.

Firstly, I consider pretty much anyone who seriously entertains the idea of 9/11 being a US government conspiracy as having something seriously wrong in the brain department. Being open minded is fine and well but this sort of thing falls apart at the premise level.

Also, I dislike his idea to return currency to the gold standard. I know this is going to touch a nerve because it's an important Objectivist thing, but I think the gold standard is a stupid idea. I consider the idea of hoarding a bunch of shiny metal at great expense in order to say "Look! This is what our currency is worth!" ridiculous and atavistic. Francisco D'Anconia had it absolutely right when he said that the worth of money comes from productivity. I could go into this in more detail but I suspect that's a matter for another thread.

Then there's the matter of Ron Paul and his staff making repeated Fruedian slips that sound anti-Semetic. Frankly, I don't buy any of the explanations given, either. At best they show he's a horrible judge of character and can't keep his underlings in line. Not the sort of person I want as president.

I don't like his isolationist foreign policy plans. They're a ridiculous throwback because this is a global economy and getting your hands messy in global affairs is all part of being the world's economic hyperpower.

In short, Ron Paul's so far offering practically nothing that I like. I'm all for shrinking government, but I think Fred Thompson's the man to do that, he's much more the sort of Barry Goldwater conservative I like.

I don't think Ron Paul's ideas have a hope in hell of working and frankly I have great doubts about his ability to cope with the stress of being president.