Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul has never voted to raise taxes or Congressional pay. He has always voted against USA PATRIOT Act, The Military Commissions Act, and the Iraq War. Former Treasury Secretary William Simon said Paul is “one of the exceptions to the Gang of 535” on Capitol Hill. He earned his nickname, Dr. No, for voting against any bill that he believes violates the Constitution.
In a USNews.com article, Paul explained why he why he never votes for legislation that expands government power, funds federal spending, or reduces privacy: “I interpret through the eyes of the Constitution. If we dont have direct authorization, I dont vote for it, even if there are good intentions.”
In 2006, the Washington Post wrote: “He says, if his fellow Republicans are very desperate, he may allow himself to be talked into changing a no vote to present. ”
Ron Paul has listed his “Freedom Principles” on his website:
- Rights belong to individuals, not groups.
- Property should be owned by people, not government.
- All voluntary associations should be permissible — economic and social.
- The governments monetary role is to maintain the integrity of the monetary unit, not participate in fraud.
- Government exists to protect liberty, not to redistribute wealth or to grant special privileges.
- The lives and actions of people are their own responsibility, not the governments.
This is what I thought it meant ot be a Republican back in civics class in high school. Before Reagan and Bush (I would say the first, but they both screw it up pretty good) spoiled the meaning of the word…
-Chris Knight