Political Theory

Re: Is Ron Paul a racist?

CrazyCoot — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:30:59 GMT

Frankly his arguments in the video that libertarianism is inherently anti-racist are flawed. You probably would see a certain amount of self-segregation in a society where you don't have a government forcibly making people live together, making businesses allow people into their businesses etc.. Having a system where rights are based upon the individual does not stop people from making blanket judgments with regards to groups, as unfortunate as that might be. I just wish that it would not be political suicide for someone to point out the gross violations of property rights and the freedom of association that come from forced integration, or forced segregation for that matter. Unfortunately stating the obvious would kill his political career.

BTW: Don't think he's a closet an-cap. If he truly believed the state is just evil then how would he justify his participation in the system? To be honest my opinion of him would lower if he turned out to be a closet an-cap.

Re: Is Ron Paul a racist?

Torsten — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:24:51 GMT

GilesStratton:
Racism is a natural and rational part of the human condition. Even those that denounce it probably only come into contact with blacks when they're looking to buy some drugs.

LOL,

"Racism" is kind of self-preservationist. I think we should do some serious research into the evolution of that terms.

krazy kaju:

Torsten:

krazy kaju:
If you're not an anarchist you're a statist.

What about tribalists, feudalists etc. ? I do not think one should limit the definitions to their positioning in current Western Thinking. There were political philosophies, before the rise of the modern state. And there is a variety of them. Similar issues would apply to terms like "collectivism" and the like.

They all support some version of the state, making them statists.

Congratulations for winning the argument by setting the definitions in a way that suits your needs and supports your ends.

Re: Is Ron Paul a racist?

bearing01 — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 00:28:43 GMT

(Please visit the site to view this media)

This is Ron Paul addressing the original poster's question:

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Re: Is Ron Paul a racist?

Meistro — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 15:49:54 GMT

If Ron Paul were a racist (he is not) I would listen more seriously to his viewpoint on the subject then that of the white washed politically correct multicutluralist nonsense put forth by the liberal elite. If Ron Paul and the totality of the modern political and civil arena come into conflict my gut instinct will always be to support Ron Paul and his position.

Re: Is Ron Paul a racist?

krazy kaju — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 12:40:30 GMT

Torsten:

krazy kaju:
If you're not an anarchist you're a statist.

What about tribalists, feudalists etc. ? I do not think one should limit the definitions to their positioning in current Western Thinking. There were political philosophies, before the rise of the modern state. And there is a variety of them. Similar issues would apply to terms like "collectivism" and the like.

They all support some version of the state, making them statists.

Re: Is Ron Paul a racist?

MatthewWilliam — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 08:37:18 GMT

ladyattis:

GilesStratton:
Racism is a natural and rational part of the human condition. Even those that denounce it probably only come into contact with blacks when they're looking to buy some drugs.

Clearly you don't live in the real world.

Giles only buys drugs from white people.

In all seriousness, people do tend do stick around with people who are similar to themselves, and have an innate distrust of people who are "outsiders" or "foreigners". This is true even if the outsiders are of the same skin colour.

Re: Is Ron Paul a racist?

ladyattis — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 05:34:13 GMT

GilesStratton:
Racism is a natural and rational part of the human condition. Even those that denounce it probably only come into contact with blacks when they're looking to buy some drugs.

Clearly you don't live in the real world.

Re: Is Ron Paul a racist?

Eric — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 05:17:56 GMT

Great post Conza :D

Re: Is Ron Paul a racist?

Conza88 — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 03:31:37 GMT

liberty student:

krazy kaju:
Ron Paul is a true minarchist from the social contract perspective, IMO, but I don't think many people actually realize that. He seems to genuinely believe that everyone has natural rights, some of which must be given up for government. At the same time, he seems to believe in less government at all fronts which shows his minarchist colors.

There is no proof of this. In fact, if you listen to is rhetoric, particularly his post campaign rhetoric, it's hard to distinguish him from many other libertarians. He's avoided talking policy, about political change, and seems to be speaking much more philosophically.

To some people, if you're not a flaming anarchist, then you're a statist. At 72, I think Paul has learned how to be soft spoken and selective about his beliefs.

Ron Paul is smart enough to realise that trying to sell anarcho-capitalism is epically retarded = when the public doesn't even know what the Bill of Rights are.

This is the way I see it: If you have a bunch of clueless students, who have no real understanding of the world around them. Eg. in a maths class:

Would you first teach a kid to COUNT to 10, or do you go straight to Quantum Physics?

Well... I propose Ron Paul is teaching the American people to Count to 10. That is his fundamental goal and purpose... he is the beacon, that draws people in. All those who want to know the truth, who want liberty and real freedom. He inevitably funnels them into the Austrian School - where you eventually learn Quantum Physics...

He's smart enough to use the Constitution as his sound bite & default position, it's awesome rhetorically when you have very little time to make a point.

Speech by US Congressman Ron Paul at the "Prague Spring Lecture", Czech Republic, 29 May 2006
   Ron Paul is hosted by President Klaus in Prague (part 2)

                       Theme: "Ludwig von Mises and Politics". Ron Paul is hosted by Czech President Vaclav Klaus.

                       6min45secs - 9min01secs. Outlines this.

Furthermore, Jeffery Tucker makes the point in "Washington Warp: Why Even Good People in the Beltway Can't Think Straight" - 25min in.

"DC culture has the effect of turning people into secret anarchists or secret totalitarians."

Which one do you think Ron Paul is?

Also, he was friends with Rothbard and has been in the Austrian school for 30 years. LOL, how could he not be a closet Ancap?

Coming out and admitting it would be the most stupid thing he could ever possibly do, whilst he is still in office, or if he plans to run in 2012. Talk about alienating your base!

And if there are those that don't think he will run. What's he going to do? Sit on the couch and watch the debates whilst the country burns? He first got into politics because of price controls with Nixon. And now - he's started a revolution and he's just going to sit out, when it's just getting started? Haha

Basically, a whole side point - besides trying to win power. (Unlikely) is that it is about spreading the message. It's not a political campaign, it's an advertising campaign for Liberty. And really... you've got to be a total wank to think Ron Paul should come out and say we should sell the White House.

Re: Is Ron Paul a racist?

banned — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 02:26:21 GMT

lol wtf?

Re: Is Ron Paul a racist?

nibbler491 — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:17:35 GMT

GilesStratton:

Racism is a natural and rational part of the human condition. Even those that denounce it probably only come into contact with blacks when they're looking to buy some drugs.

I think quibbling over whether something is racist or not is idiotic. Racism is not bad, in and of itself. The better way to analyze someone's ations is whether they're rational or irrational, rather than racist or non-racist.

For example:

Asking the Asian kid for help on your engineering homework. Racist? Yes. Rational? Yes. OK.

Treating a person as if it were livestock simply because their skin is a different color than yours. Racist? Yes. Rational? No. Not OK.

Re: Is Ron Paul a racist?

Adam E Zandarski — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:36:37 GMT

Torsten:

krazy kaju:
If you're not an anarchist you're a statist.

What about tribalists, feudalists etc. ? I do not think one should limit the definitions to their positioning in current Western Thinking. There were political philosophies, before the rise of the modern state.

good point

Re: Is Ron Paul a racist?

Torsten — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:24:02 GMT

krazy kaju:
If you're not an anarchist you're a statist.

What about tribalists, feudalists etc. ? I do not think one should limit the definitions to their positioning in current Western Thinking. There were political philosophies, before the rise of the modern state. And there is a variety of them. Similar issues would apply to terms like "collectivism" and the like.

Re: Is Ron Paul a racist?

krazy kaju — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 16:22:50 GMT

Torsten:

So you are rather conservative with assigning the "racist" label, but you are assigning the "statist" label to anyone who isn't a anarchist purist?!

If you're not an anarchist you're a statist. It's just the definition of the word "statist." I have to say, as an anarchist, I don't have a problem with Ron Paul. He brought many people, including me, into the libertarian movement.

Re: Is Ron Paul a racist?

Torsten — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 08:52:43 GMT

Vinnie:

Racist: No

Statist: Yes

So you are rather conservative with assigning the "racist" label, but you are assigning the "statist" label to anyone who isn't a anarchist purist?!