Reality Check - What A Ron Paul Presidency Might Look Like
Hypothesizing about what a presidency under Republican Ron Paul might look like. It might be surprising.
OK, some believe, as I do, that Ron Paul can win the presidency. So we must wonder what America would be like if it happened.
I know even THINKING about a Paul win scares some senseless, but I have already spoke to that... I still don't know why that is..
Now for a quick review on the US Federal government configuration (I know we all had this lecture in middle school, but it is needed for this discussion). The Federal government is supposed to be divided into three branches in order to ensure checks and balances. That way, no one of them will have more power than any other, thus allowing the citizens control over their decisions at least in an indirect way.
So, the Senate and House present bills to be voted into law. If they make it out of Congress, the President has to sign it to make it law. He/she can veto it, but the Congress can still pass it with a 2/3 vote. After the law is passed, it is the responsibility of the Judiciary branch to decide if and how it can be enforced. They can also determine that it can't be a law at all if it violates the Constitution.
Of course, there are loopholes like executive orders and agencies like the DOJ, IRS, FBI, etc. that have some autonomous power themselves.
With all of that said, let's look at what Ron Paul actually COULD do if he were elected President. By this I mean what could he do IMMEDIATELY that would align with his aspirations as outlined in his campaign strategy.
- Shut down the IRS? (not without help from Congress)
- Shut down the Federal Reserve? (again not without help from Congress?) **
- Bring the troops home from Iraq RIGHT NOW. (Not without world and US outcry; very unlikely)
- Although quick deescalation is a real possibility.
- Withdraw the US from world organizations; UN, etc. (Not without world and US outcry; very unlikely)
- May be impossible without congressional help.
- Immediate deportation of illegal immigrants and wall building
- Yet again, not without congressional help.
- Shut down the big entitlement programs. (again not without help from Congress?)
Need I go on.. Isn't it obvious that he can't possibly enact everything he believes in in one presidential term? Could anyone clean up the mess our country is headed for in a lifetime of terms?
So what COULD he do?
He can be what he has always been: Dr. No! No new entitlement spending. No new corporate tax breaks. No unbalanced budget! How about that one!! New Supreme Court judges that actually support the Constitution. Drastic troop reduction in Iraq. Immigration reform momentum. End to the Patriot Act.
I think all of that is possible and it is worth fighting for.. And who knows, maybe Congress will get the message and we can get some of the other stuff done. Reign in the IRS, fix our horrible money system and maybe wake the world up to the mess they are heading for with credit. Reign in spending; work for accountability.
I do know this: few of the career politicians that are in the race today have any interest in any reform at all. Especially anyone who is considered a front runner.. If we end up with the same old Democratic candidate versus the same old Republican candidate, we can expect continued growth of the Federal Government, increased spending which automatically comes with waste, decreased personal freedom. In other words:the same old crap we have been complaining about forever....
** It would be possible to reign in the Federal Reserve to some extent: Executive order 11110 amendment to order 10289 issued by JFK allowed for the US Treasury to print money that is backed by silver not air like Federal Reserve notes. This could be used to begin the end of the value of the Fed notes... After all, which would you rather have? Money that held its value in precious metal or money that held its value in the word of a banker? Oddly enough, I could not find the text of 11110 in the Federal Register online although there are many like that.. No conspiracy here; it WAS short in length... But incredibly important...
Other Views on Ron Paul:
- "Ron Paul - Personal Beliefs vs Political Beliefs", David Heiert, 09/14/2007
- "Ron Paul - 3 Political Positions Voters Must Understand", Edward Welch, 09.12.2007
- "Ron Paul - A Gun Rights Voter's Dream Come True?", Edward Welch, 09.12.2007
- "Debate Analysis- We're in Trouble", Otto King, 09.12.2007
- "Ron Paul & Roe v Wade", Edward Welch, 09.12.2007
- "Making the Maverick Mainstream - The Saga of Ron Paul", Nathan Tabor, 09.11.2007
- "Who Cares About Our Interventionist Foreign Policy?", Eshwarya Patel, 09.11.2007
- "Asterisk Free Libertarianism (The Solution Ron Paul Missed)", J. J. Jackson, 08.27.2007
- "Ron Paul Needs Million Man March", Andrew Leski, 08.21.2007
- "Critical Mass of Power and Money", Mark D. Solomon, 08.16.2007
- "2008 Presidential Election", Roger Bovee, 08.16.2007
- "Is Congressman Ron Paul Really A Champion For The Constitution?", Joel S. Hirschhorn, 08.13.2007
- "The Constitution For Dummies (i.e. Ron Paul Supporters)", J. J. Jackson, 08.13.2007
- "Ron Paul For President", Roger Bovee, 08.13.2007
- "Why Ron Paul Should Be The Next President Of The United States", Roger Bovee, 07.26.2007
- "Ron Paul Fundraising - Military Personnel Want Us Out of Iraq", Eshwarya Patel, 07.24.2007
- "Large Number of Undecideds May Support Ron Paul", Eshwarya Patel, 07.24.2007
- "Ron Paul's Support Moving to the Streets", Eshwarya Patel, 07.10.2007
- "Where Is Candidate Rudy Paul or Ron Giuliani", J. J. Jackson, 05/21/2007
- "Paul Odyssey Update", Otto King, 07.04.2007
Ron Paul Related News:
- "NY Times Bestseller contradicts Dick Cheney’s claims", 08.08.2007
- "Less Well-Known Contenders Struggle in US Presidential Race", Jim Malone, 07.27.2007
- "US Dollar Seen as Weak, Declining Further", Barry Wood, 07.18.2007
- "Republicans Search for Frontrunner in 2008 US Presidential Race", Jim Malone, 07.18.2007
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