After seeing Ron Paul interviewed regarding the economy several times, I decided to look into his philosophy and read his book The Revolution: A Manifesto. Now the issue I most vehemently disagreed with him was on Iraq. The second chapter of his book was about that very thing. He tied it in again at the end.
While I agree with most of his philosophy I disagree on some of the premises and assumptions he makes in getting to the actions he recommends. For instance, he blames American sanctions for the death of citizens in Iraq with nary a mention of Saddam Hussein and his brutality against his own people. Maybe Saddam was good at blaming American sanctions for the poverty of his people, but I believe Iraqis are smart enough to know that some nation thousands of miles away is not keeping the food from their mouths, and the electricity from their homes. They may not have been able to say Saddam was to blame, but how could they possibly accept that we were the culprit?
Yet there are principles he outlines that do agree with. For instance, I do believe we should not be giving out any foreign aid. I do believe that this aid does incredible damage and is ultimately not used for the intent it was given. It encourages corruption and keeps the power away from the people of the nation it proposes to aid. I also believe that the war on poverty has been as disastrous for the poor as foreign aid has been to other nations. And I do believe government has gotten drastically too big and interfering in American lives.
If Americans want to fund a good cause they will and do, and according to Mr. Paul we are more generous with our private money than our public money.
Here is the Table of Contents:
1 The false choices of American Politics
2. The Foreign Policy of the Founding Fathers
3. The Constitution
4. Economic Freedom
5. Civil Liberties and Personal Freedom
6. Money: The Forbidden Issue in American Politics
7. The Revolution
In the end it was a good enunciation of the principles of liberty. I agree with most of what he said, but not some of his leaps in logic. Perhaps there is more that he could explain, but in order to keep it simple and short he had to leave out details and make these leaps. I encourage anyone who is interested in political philosophy to read this book thoughtfully.
PS For every book lover there is a delicious list of books for further reading at the end!
Search This Blog
Popular Posts
-
Whats up in my life today? Well I am homeschooling my three kids. We are having a good time. We are trying all kinds of new things. They are...
-
Read this wonderful article from Wally Goddard. Welcoming Heaven into Today
-
So many things are hanging by a thread. I feel like my life is a string pulled tight and at any moment it will break. I have felt for about ...
-
Family Night went well. Besides the goofy- excited- happy- kid questions that had NOTHING to do with the lesson, (or maybe because if it) we...
-
Just when you think you've gotten comfortable life throws a curve ball. Ever notice that? You learn to deal comfortably with a reality i...
-
By MoMnmb We have been homeschooling this year and I finally feel like I have found some basic curriculum that works for us. Because Washing...
-
Silly Laws Coming Soon to a State Near You....
-
If you are one of the people who thinks that massage therapy is for divas, think again! Massage therapy is amazingly therapeutic for many a...
-
Don't tell me I'm crazy. I already know it. We just got dog number three! Meet Mollie Her name is Mollie Sue. She a Cocker Bishon h...
-
I hate mornings. I am not a morning person. I love evenings, after everyone goes to bed and the house is all mine! But now I am a working w...