Spring Break
Ron Paul: Fighting freedom since 1976
Seth Anthony
Issue date: 1/31/08 Section: Opinion
Ron Paul opposes the freedom of same-sex couples to seek the same legal status as everyone else. If his opposition merely took the form of saying that government shouldn't be involved in marriage at all, that would be one thing, but Ron Paul's support of the "Defense of Marriage Act" shows that he's OK with the federal government sanctioning heterosexual marriages only.
He's also stood up in support of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, under which thousands of soldiers have been discharged from the military solely for being gay.
In Ron Paul's America, your sexual orientation can become grounds for the federal government to discriminate against you, and, just as for the atheist schoolteacher, there is no legal recourse.
Ron Paul opposes the freedom of peaceful people to cross international borders. He supports building a fence along the United States' southern border with Mexico - a billion-dollar boondoggle and a message to the world that's precisely the opposite of the "honest friendship" with other nations he claims to espouse.
Ron Paul has also campaigned on a pledge to eliminate student visas from so-called "terrorist nations" - including Iran and Saudi Arabia, nations represented in the CSU student body.
In Ron Paul's America, many of your fellow students would be shipped back to their home countries just because their governments aren't popular in the U.S. this year.
Now, even though I find these positions of his repugnant, I will give Ron Paul a sliver of credit for making some progress. When Ron Paul first ran for president, in 1988, he supported the federal death penalty; now he opposes it.
In 30 years of political life, though, that's as far as Ron Paul's positions have advanced. On key social issues of our day, Ron Paul is still stuck in a very non-libertarian past.
Seth Anthony is a chemistry Ph.D. student. His column appears Thursdays in the Collegian. Letters and feedback can be sent to letters@collegian.com.
He's also stood up in support of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, under which thousands of soldiers have been discharged from the military solely for being gay.
In Ron Paul's America, your sexual orientation can become grounds for the federal government to discriminate against you, and, just as for the atheist schoolteacher, there is no legal recourse.
Ron Paul opposes the freedom of peaceful people to cross international borders. He supports building a fence along the United States' southern border with Mexico - a billion-dollar boondoggle and a message to the world that's precisely the opposite of the "honest friendship" with other nations he claims to espouse.
Ron Paul has also campaigned on a pledge to eliminate student visas from so-called "terrorist nations" - including Iran and Saudi Arabia, nations represented in the CSU student body.
In Ron Paul's America, many of your fellow students would be shipped back to their home countries just because their governments aren't popular in the U.S. this year.
Now, even though I find these positions of his repugnant, I will give Ron Paul a sliver of credit for making some progress. When Ron Paul first ran for president, in 1988, he supported the federal death penalty; now he opposes it.
In 30 years of political life, though, that's as far as Ron Paul's positions have advanced. On key social issues of our day, Ron Paul is still stuck in a very non-libertarian past.
Seth Anthony is a chemistry Ph.D. student. His column appears Thursdays in the Collegian. Letters and feedback can be sent to letters@collegian.com.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 25
JP
posted 1/31/08 @ 2:28 AM MST
Wow! Where to start? Well lets start with the fact that Dr. Paul wants the feds out of your direct personal life. States rights have been forgotten. (Continued…)
TW
posted 1/31/08 @ 3:00 AM MST
I think the biggest misconception about this article, though you bring up some viable concerns from a pure libertarian standpoint is that Ron Paul isn't against those things. (Continued…)
Bdygard
Craig Hawley
posted 1/31/08 @ 4:34 AM MST
I agree Ron Paul has no chance at getting elected. And since I am not a libertarian I will acquiesce to your expertise as a libertarian.
But I have one bone to pick with you. (Continued…)
TJS
posted 1/31/08 @ 8:08 AM MST
The author is all wrong:
Ron Paul opposes FEDERAL involvement in abortion. Overturning Roe v Wade would return control to the states. That is a libertarian position. (Continued…)
Jason Williams
posted 1/31/08 @ 9:16 AM MST
I am a libertarian and I disagree strongly with the characterization of Dr. Paul's views. First of all, it is not decidedly libertarian to be pro-choice. (Continued…)
Bdygard
Craig Hawley
posted 1/31/08 @ 9:28 AM MST
Nicely said Jason. I disagre with you and Ron paul on issue , but I appreciate you input and they way you went about it.
May the best man or lady win. (Continued…)
mpolzkill
posted 1/31/08 @ 10:34 AM MST
I can't add much to these fine comments here other than: You're worse than WRONG on everything you say Mr. Anthony, you are SUPERFICIALLY CORRECT. You've knowingly made a hit piece, because you probably support one of the corporate candidates. (Continued…)
frank
posted 1/31/08 @ 10:36 AM MST
Seth Anthony wrote in the article:
"... abortions take place unsupervised in back alleys, and couples lack longstanding family planning or fertility tools. (Continued…)
Steve
posted 1/31/08 @ 11:59 AM MST
There's a big difference between liberal and libertarian, duh... One is left wing progressive, the other is for the freedom of the founding fathers.
Colt-1
posted 1/31/08 @ 1:29 PM MST
With all due respect, in no way do you understand neither the positions of Paul or Libertarian positions.
The abortion issue: wrongly decided by a federal court, only enacted by a sweeping social construct. (Continued…)
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