-22 votes

Is Ron Paul an anarchist? I don't think so, but...

Is Ron Paul an anarchist? I don't think so, but anarchists have provided evidence in their comments to try prove otherwise. And until now, anarchists at DP were hiding behind Ron Paul's belief in capitalism within the moral framework of limited government. Most of the evidence that anarchists use to claim Ron Paul as one of their own can be found on the first two pages. I'm opposed to the anarchist ideology and in spite of what anarchists say about Ron Paul, he's convinced more citizens of the merits of limited Constitutional government than any other politician in my lifetime. I'm not bringing up this topic to condemn anarchists, but to have an honest discussion about the merits of limited government vs. anarchy.

I recently posted a topic at the DP Liberty Forum titled "Can unalienable rights exist in a free market?" By free market, I meant a market operating in a stateless society, a.k.a. anarchy. Even though unalienable rights exist in anarchist societies, there's no agreement on what those rights would be and no mechanism to protect the free exercise of those rights. But I had mistakenly associated the lawlessness of the Fed, Wall Street and Obama with anarchy, and they are not anarchists, they are fascists. So I changed the name of the post to "Obama, Wall Street, and the Federal Reserve, a Fascist Regime" and pointed out how fascism severely restricts our ability to exercise unalienable rights. Fascism occurs when powerful business interests partner with a dictatorial central government and impose severe economic and social repression.

Many of the replies to my post argued that the definition of a free market doesn't mean a stateless society (anarchy), and for the most part they were right. But many advocated for an idealized form of free markets, i.e., no government intervention, taxation, or subsidies of any kind. I argued that this idealized form of a free market can only exist in a stateless society, and the resulting anarchy would eliminate the ability to exercise unalienable rights. Below are a couple quotes from someone promoting the idealized version of free markets. This link is the comment with the quotes. http://www.dailypaul.com/comment/2969576

"Mark, do you believe that taxation is theft, and thus morally wrong? I do, and that is an important part of what makes me a free market capitalist..."

"A true free market capitalist would see taxation as theft of an individuals means of production by use of force, and thus, it is morally indefensible."

In my initial reply, I challenged him/her to admit they're an anarchist. Later I responded with the following argument: Ron Paul advocates for capitalism within the moral framework of limited government, and that requires some taxation. And being you oppose all taxes, how can you support this country's founding documents, which created a limited gov't with the power to tax? You obviously want to eliminate our country as founded because it has the power to tax, and that would mean eliminating the second amendment and the rest of the Bill of Rights. So why don't you admit you're an anarchist who opposes the founding principles of this country? The links below are the reply to my position stated above, followed by my reply.

http://www.dailypaul.com/comment/2976341
http://www.dailypaul.com/comment/2976503

The person I quoted above also wrote a post titled "The Constitution supports drones and so do I". In the post he said "Our job as liberty loving citizens is not to repress the development and use of these technologies [drones], rather it is to work within the parameters of a free market in order to use these technologies to enhance freedom and personl liberty." I replied saying the Constitution defines the use of drones, particularly within U.S. borders, not the free market. Here's the link to the post on drones. http://www.dailypaul.com/273257

There were many replies to my post that supported a market completely free from government while saying they supported limited government. This seems to be a contradiction, so I thought it important to talk about the merits of capitalism within the moral framework of limited gov't vs. a completely free market that operates outside of government. If interested, you can read some of the comments yourself, here's the link.
http://www.dailypaul.com/275602

The first reply to this post said the Bill of Rights protects our unalienable rights from government, not people. But governments are created and run by people, so without people government wouldn't exist. And history recognizes King George III as the tyrant that made the Revolution, Constitution and Bill of Rights necessary. Also, the Declaration of Independence specifically mentions the king and lists his crimes against the colonies. So the Bill of Rights protects our unalienable rights from people who run government.

I've read all the comments thus far, and while I support the anarchists idealized vision, i.e., a world where law enforcement by government is virtually obsolete because people are educated to voluntarily make moral choices, there is not one comment that offers practical solutions to get from the current immoral, chaotic state of the world, to a world so voluntarily moral, we no longer need government.

On the contrary, the general consensus among anarchists is that it's hopeless to even try restore a legitimate representative government, so we should all sit back and wait for the global system to collapse and start over. But of course, that's exactly what the tyrants they claim to oppose want us to do. Why? The fascist crony CRAPitalists who control the corrupt system are prepared for a global systemic collapse, at which point, they will control a fragmented neo-fuedalistic totalitarian nightmare. I've spent a lot of time over the years conversing with anarchists, and the plan of INACTION espoused here is a common thread. So I've concluded that the anarchist movement is a front for the very tyrants they claim to oppose.

But to all those who support the practice of capitalism within the moral framework of limited government, don't give up the fight. We can look back on history, from the barbarians to ancient Greek democracy, the Roman Republic before the Roman Empire, the Enlightenment, the Magna Carta, the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, and know there are tried and true methods to improve the human condition. Check out this post titled "Morals, Ethics and the Role of Gov't in a Capitalist Economy"
http://www.standupforyourrights.me/?p=917

After reading hundreds of comments, most of them from anarchists, there's an important point I need to make. There's compelling evidence demonstrating Wall Street crimes that have not been prosecuted, I'll provide some links below. The one thing that makes me doubt the anarchist claim that their ideology is based on morals that oppose crimes like fraud, is they never call for the law to be enforced. They never point out specific crimes that could be prosecuted. They never express moral outrage over the actions of private sector criminals. It's always the big bad gubbermint victimizing the poor private sector. While they condemn all government as evil, they never call for prosecution of criminals in government either.

So think about this, if anarchists have zero interest in holding criminals accountable now, why would they want a moral standard applied in a privatized world with no government? They argue that having laws against crime is the only reason crime exists, so if we just get rid of government law enforcement, no crime would exist. They use this same "logic" to defend Mexican drug cartels and mafia organizations while condemning government laws that criminalize their viscious business practices. Bottom line, we need to take down criminals in the public and private sectors if we're going to be a just, moral society.

Th first link is Neil Barofsky, Special Inspector General for TARP, saying "fraud" by the nine largest banks caused the financial crisis. The second link is William Black. He's former Deputy Director of the Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation. After the 1980's S&L meltdown, he helped obtain 1000 felony convictions of "elite" bankers. In this radio interview, he lays out compelling evidence that could result in criminal convictions of top Wall Street bankers. If millions of citizens emailed these links to local attorneys, Sheriffs, county prosecutors, State Attorneys General, and U.S. Attorneys, it would make a difference. R.I.C.O.(Racketeering, Influence, and Corrupt Organizations) and "honest services" statutes, would corral Wall Street criminals and their bipartisan co-conspirators.

http://www.c-spanvideo.org/clip/3343248
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2011/10/18/prosecuting-wall-street/p...

For more info check out this post titled "Crime of the Century"
http://www.standupforyourrights.me/?p=697




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Covetous people have no problem stealing without governments.

"The very core of what government is is the ability to steal."

Mankind has no problem stealing or using collective force to steal without any governments. Governments are created because of that simple truth. Stop trying to blame injustice on government, especially when you're a godless freeloader who considers it stealing to have to pay his fair share to defend people's liberty.

Do you consider it stealing to pay your fair share to defend liberty?

That's right... Yes. You're an Anarchist. You don't want to pay your fair share, because you believe government is the source of injustice. Why would you want to pay to be enslaved right?

Government is collective force, a whole bunch of guns(Swords), and you may as well be saying: "At their core, the only purpose guns serve is to steal."

Stop trying to blame the gun. Stop trying to blame the government. Stop trying to act like you know ANYTHING about Jesus. He told you to pay your taxes, and you've never figured out why. He knew what you'd be facing, and still wanted you to pay your taxes, but that doesn't mean you worship anything but God, including a criminal government.

"I don't think that government and the "morality of Christ" are compatible."

You know nothing of Jesus or faith. He's not known to you. When the government is surrounded by covetous people begging them to answer their unjust prayers, those who serve become butchers and slavers, and God LOVES justice.

Romans 13

13 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

You do realize that by

You do realize that by clammering about Fair Share you just identified yourself as a troll; right? Only the Socialist Statists use that term. I guess you should get a new account now troll.

The government creates the conditions for criminals to thrive; by increasing the profit motive to do many different crimes. The Police of any given area are only an extrememly tiny minority; how can they possibly protect a very large majority from an unknown number of potential criminals? To do otherwise, then to protect an extremely small minority, the Police would need to be nearly half the population of a given area -especially considering all of the crimes there are on the books for them to be enforcing. With the cost of police and their benefits package, it would bankrupt even a prosperous city to be able to try and afford such nonsense.

But with government, they just borrow the money; force people even outside the area to pay for it, and then when even that isn't enough to pay for it, they pass the burdon to pay for it onto future generations who will have their own bills to pay. Government is great.

"Freedom, liberty, and their common defense."

"You do realize that by clammering about Fair Share you just identified yourself as a troll; right? Only the Socialist Statists use that term."

"Freedom, liberty, and their common defense."

I take it that's a no? You aren't willing to pay to defend liberty? You consider that theft? You do realize you just identified yourself as WORTHLESS to liberty right?

Oh that's right... You're an Anarchist. You want to pay "your fair share" buying collective violence to serve your agenda, not the agenda of anybody around you.

Good luck with that Warlord.

"The government creates the conditions for criminals to thrive"

ROFL. Criminals will thrive until you serve justice, and you aren't willing to contribute anything in that fight. Stop trying to blame injustice on government Anarchist. You have NO IDEA what causes injustice, and you've identified yourself as worthless to those who oppose it. You won't contribute anything and consider it socialistic to do so.

The truth is you're just a nihilist, and won't lift a finger to oppose injustice, because you don't recognize injustice. It's hard pretending you're an advocate for liberty when you won't contribute anything to defend it isn't it?

"The Police of any given area are only an extrememly tiny minority; how can they possibly protect a very large majority from an unknown number of potential criminals?"

Coercion. They know you're a coward, and coercion will still exist in Anarchy just as collective violence, extortion, injustice, and the profit motive.

Are you now against the profit motive too?

The question is; will you oppose those who profit unjustly by taking peoples liberty? I say you won't, and since you've now identified yourself as an Anarchist who considers that theft, so do you.

"But with government, they just borrow the money; force people even outside the area to pay for it, and then when even that isn't enough to pay for it, they pass the burdon to pay for it onto future generations who will have their own bills to pay. Government is great."

Now you're just trying to cloud the issue. I'm MORE THAN HAPPY to pay for justice to be served. You aren't. Yet again, if you want to find where that problem originates, look inside yourself.

An Anarchist wants liberty, but they consider paying for justice theft, and when push comes to shove, they have to admit what they really want is to be able to buy collective violence using "free market solutions". They want to be able to buy and use coercion, replacing government with their wallet.

What they unjustly want, what they covet is power.

People will be acting justly when they meet you with violence Anarchist. You aren't fit for power, because you're a liar, a nihilist, and a fraud.

That is some delusion you got

That is some delusion you got there; but then agains you are a Statist clammering for people to pay their Fair Share.

Those indoctrination stations have done a number on you. I hve explaind over and over and over again why the criminal orginization would collapse in a voluntaryist system. However, that makes no difference to you what so ever, you keep on about how the criminal organizations will violate the law of economics by being able to continuously waste money on tryin got force people to do things, while not going bankrupt.

You hav enever answered a single question on how you think it would be possible, but you just keep saying that it will happen because you bleieve it will happen; while you never produce any proof or even a logical arguement as evidence to support your fear.

You then make the claim that you support the US Constitution; however, the US Constitution -nor any of the State Constitutions- would actually grant government the power to do what you and Mark and the others want government to do; so how exactly do you support the US Constitution?

Government is a false idol?

I don't know anyone supporting limited government that worships government as a false idol, just the opposite. We believe government is necessary because evil exists. And based on the consent of the governed, government is used to regulate evil and enforce moral standards. Anarchists want to eliminate government so they can be "free" to practice evil without moral judgement.

http://www.dailypaul/comment/2974976 (evidence of treason)
http://www.dailypaul/274979 (solutions to limit fascist gov't)

http://www.dailypaul.com/277342 (Rand Paul: One person can make a difference)
http://www.standupforyourrights.me/?p=1264 (Resist gun control)

Oh what a tangled web...

the anarchists weave, when at first they practice to deceive.

http://www.dailypaul.com/277342 (Rand Paul: One person can make a difference)
http://www.standupforyourrights.me/?p=1264 (Resist gun control)

That is the thing about false idols...

those worshiping them don't realize they are false... or even realize that they are worshiping them in some cases.

1st off, the very core of what allows government to run is evil. so you are trying to use evil means to regulate evil... it doesn't make sense.

2nd, the government never asks for consent. When were you asked? Do we have an option to say no, without retaliation from the state???

3rd, anarchists don't necessarily want to eliminate government. People are free to organize any way they want. But no organization should be granted the perceived authority to steal or commit acts of violence. AND those involved with the organization should not be compelled to do so through force. ie you ACTUALLY have the freedom to consent to be governed. It seems like you just give lip service to this concept.

The confederation of states that...

existed prior to the Constitutional Republic refused to give their consent to ratify the Constitution without a Bill of Rights.

Good and evil coexist in the world so the potential for good and evil exist in government. Anarchists want to eliminate the distinction between good and evil and say it's all good. If you read comments below, you'll find that your anarchist comrades agree that mafia organizations, which are immoral and coercive by nature, are preferable to a government based on consent. So you may not to waste your time on more senseless double talk.

http://www.dailypaul.com/comment/2974976 (evidence of treason)
http://www.dailypaul.com/274979 (solutions to limit fascist gov't)

http://www.dailypaul.com/277342 (Rand Paul: One person can make a difference)
http://www.standupforyourrights.me/?p=1264 (Resist gun control)

The anarcho-barbarians....

are against God and God' law, not to mention the morality taught by Jesus Christ. Their support for immoral, viscious crime organizations proves this.

http://www.dailypaul.com/277342 (Rand Paul: One person can make a difference)
http://www.standupforyourrights.me/?p=1264 (Resist gun control)

We would literally be richer

We would literally be richer if we were runned by a clear Mafia and not lied to and told its freedom through government; that is what it means... that is economics. Please. You have no idea what anarchists think, just stop trying to belittle people that you have no idea about. I hope your whips and shackles lay on my skin with ease.

You summed up Anarchism and your agenda pretty clearly

"We would literally be richer if we were runned by a clear Mafia and not lied to and told its freedom through government; that is what it means."

I know how you think Anarchist. You summed it up there pretty clearly.

Isn't this EXACTLY what we're talking about and what you're pushing for; gangland government? Nobody needs to be a mind reader to recognize an Anarchists broken thinking or to choke the life out of their ideas.

All they need is to read your words.

Is the government coersive by

Is the government coersive by its very nature? What contract did you sign to consent to a government? If you didn't sign a consent form for the government, then how did you consent? I never consented to the government; and it is immoral for someone other than me to consent to the government on my behalf without my consent. So, how is it that you preach to everybody here about morality, and yet you accept that people who lived many years before you consented on your behalf?

I have a contract here which consents on behalf of you decendants, which states that they will acquiesce -all control over themselves, their liberty, and their property- to me. If I get less than 1% of the population to sign this acknowledging it, then does that make it a valid contract?

You cannot bind people to a contract which they weren't even alive to have give any consent to. That is immoral.

Philistine, if I go to someone's home and....

they ask me to abide by their rules, and I consent without signing a form, have I not given my consent?

I have freely consented to abide by the moral priciples codified in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. If you want to renounce your U.S. citizenship, you're free do that and start an anarcho-barbarian society somewhere else. So quit whining and get a life.

http://www.dailypaul.com/277342 (Rand Paul: One person can make a difference)
http://www.standupforyourrights.me/?p=1264 (Resist gun control)

I think I'm....

right, anarcho-barbarians want an anarcho-welfare economy subsidized by slavery.

http://www.dailypaul.com/277342 (Rand Paul: One person can make a difference)
http://www.standupforyourrights.me/?p=1264 (Resist gun control)

As far as I can tell you are

As far as I can tell you are the one whining and need to get a life. You are completely down voted while he is not.

The Philistine gets upvotes because....

anarchists love to whine and suppport each other for doing so. Without whining, anarchists would have nothing because they can't make rational agruments to defend their irrational ideology.

And what do you think the up/down vote feature is for? It promotes group think by using peer pressure to coerce conformity. So it's interesting that "free" thinking anarchists compulsively use the up/down vote to coerce conformity with their "free" thinking ideology.

http://www.standupforyourrights.me/?p=1047 (Fraud and the Federal debt)

http://www.dailypaul.com/277342 (Rand Paul: One person can make a difference)
http://www.standupforyourrights.me/?p=1264 (Resist gun control)

Were you able to choose where

Were you able to choose where you were born? If you didn't choose, where you were born then how could your analogy even be considered applicable? Like I asked before, when did the US Government inform you of your ability to expatriate yourself? Not that they even allow that much anymore; but they must have informed you of this ability of every individual, right? It is not like they would want to hide information from you for the purposes of maintaining you as their cash cow.

Also, even If I happen to agree that the US is the best of all of what is available; that in no way means that there is no possiblity of something being better. I don't think you understand that. Just because one choice is the best of a bunch of horrible choices, doesn't mean that a much better choice shouldn't be advocated for. You say you want a smaller government then what exists now; then why don't you move to someplace that has this smaller governemnt you advocate for; do you see the idiocy in that argument. That is exactly what you are trying to tell me.

I find this comment

I find this comment interesting,

government is used to regulate evil

What I find interesting about it is that there would appear to be a direct corrolation between the existence of government and 'evil.' As we look, we see that as government increases in size, the amount of 'evil' which exists also increases. While some government worshippers may say that government had/has grown to fight the increase in 'evil,' however, that is not what is shown. What is shown by looking at the historical records is that government increases, and only after government increases in size, does the amount of 'evil' increase.

Give the interesting corrolation between government and 'evildoing,' one must seriously wonder if government doesn't create the conditions for 'evildoing' for the sole purposes of justifying the existence of goverment.

Nice try but anyone who has been...

following the comments on this post knows that anarchists want to eliminate government because the people who consent to it, acknowledge the existence of evil and the need to regulate it. So as previously stated by anarchists, they want to be "free" from the moral judgements that government places on them.

http://www.dailypaul.com/comment/2974976 (evidence of treason)
http://www.dailypaul.com/274979 (solutions to limit fascist gov't)

http://www.dailypaul.com/277342 (Rand Paul: One person can make a difference)
http://www.standupforyourrights.me/?p=1264 (Resist gun control)

So you're saying...

anarchism is a front for those with evil intentions?

http://www.dailypaul.com/277342 (Rand Paul: One person can make a difference)
http://www.standupforyourrights.me/?p=1264 (Resist gun control)

Most people on this page are

Most people on this page are at least Libertarian. That means they don't believe in using government to enforce morality. An anarchist believes that governments are incapable of enforcing rights without eventually violating them and that it isn't necessary for government to enforce them anyway as the market can do so better.

By anarchist are you imagining the kids dressed in black that break windows and burn cars?

Anarchist tripe.

"Most people on this page are at least Libertarian. That means they don't believe in using government to enforce morality."

Anarchist tripe. Anarchists aren't Libertarians. Anarchists are WORTHLESS to liberty. Is the NAP now NOT a principle within your moral code? The only legitimate purpose of government is to defend liberty, to serve justice, to defend a principle within your moral code.

Tell me about how you're going to serve your moral code using collective violence without government. Tell me about who sits at the levers of power you hope to create. How big is your wallet? Are you going to be able to compete with me?

Tell me about an Anarchists system of justice. Tell me about your gangland government, tell me about Communism and Fascism minus the illusion of state. Tell me about how you think you're going to buy dominion over people using free market solutions.

Tell me how you're going to do it without replacing government with something used to enforce YOUR moral code, and from behind closed doors, with your wallet replacing my Constitutional Republic. You have NOTHING to do with the golden rule, or the NAP. All an Anarchist is capable of is trying to destroy because they covet power.

And you called what he wrote

And you called what he wrote tripe?

You have yet to actually prove how your government would be any better than what we have now, probly because you like what we have now.

You talk about a Constitutional Republic, but you have yet to indicate what Constitution; becaue the US Constitution doesn't grant the power to the government to be able to enforce your moral code on others.

this guy spent way too much

this guy spent way too much time in public school. Do you really think there would be no law? That is tip number 1 that you have no idea what you are talking about. Private law has been around for thousands of years... including California which had private law, courts, police, etc. (while it was a territory)... the saddest part is the History proves every bit of what you claim completely wrong. Look at the state of America now.. limited by your beloved piss paper... stop posting your site trying to get face because you have none

When and how did you consent

When and how did you consent to government? If you yourself didn't actually consent to the govenrment, then explain to me how somebody could possibly consent on your behalf? Wouldn't it be immoral for you to consent on the behalf of someone else, without that individuals consent ot do so? Why would this situation be any different?

Philistine, you're repeating yourself, again

I am not being coerced into being a U.S. citizen, and by freely deciding to be a citizen, I'm consenting to abide by Constitutional rule of law. And like you, I'm free to renounce my citizenship at any time.

http://www.standupforyourrights.me/?p=1047

http://www.dailypaul.com/277342 (Rand Paul: One person can make a difference)
http://www.standupforyourrights.me/?p=1264 (Resist gun control)

Why...

didn't I think of that?

http://www.dailypaul.com/277342 (Rand Paul: One person can make a difference)
http://www.standupforyourrights.me/?p=1264 (Resist gun control)

Suppose you didn't consent or

Suppose you didn't consent or renounced your citizenship, where would you go? Its not like you are allowed to purchase property and then secede and create your own country.

You are forced to live in accordance with laws that others have made.

Actually this is false, I'm

Actually this is false,

I'm free to renounce my citizenship at any time.

The US State department has been denying people the ability to denounce their Citizenship for many years now. What should be asimple process, now -for the most part- requires that the person be living somewhere else for several years, have a dual citizenship, pay $450 and there still exists the possiblity of being turned down the opurtunity to no longer be a US citizen. You may ask why this is. It is because the US in the only country in the world which taxes its victims due to citizenship and not residence. Meaning if you are a US citizen living and workin gin some other country, then you have to pay the taxes in that other country and in the US as well. This is why the State department denies expatriation more than it grants it.

Also, do you really think it is the best practice to have it that people are automatically aligned with something unless or until they disalign with it? Would it be wise to suggest that all those who inhabit East LA are gang bangers until they prove utherwise? Isn't this kind of like guilty until proven inocent.

While you say that you are not being coerced into being a US citizen; let me ask you when you first were informed that you had the option of not being a US citizen? Did you hear of that option in school? When you went to get a driver's license? When you registered to vote? When did the government inform you of your ability to no be a US citizen?

that is interesting

"regulating" it also assumes that a certain amount of evil is acceptable. "regulating" assumes at least some flow of evil.