Genuine fear for Ron Paul's security (sorry for the neocon terminology)
After having addressed fears over Ron Paul's security a few weeks back [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dB4MHWzRXgQ ] I feel the need to amplify the statement I made because, unpleasant as the subject is, I feel it needs to be discussed more.
We have our semi-breakthrough in mainstream media, we have money and much more is on the way, "front-runners" are attacking each other ever more fiercely, Ron Paul is winning most straw polls and TV debates by a landslide, the Ron Paul supporters are mostly die-hard believers, the next TV debate which is on economics specifically will rally all behind Ron's message and many more signs show the campaign is unstoppable.
On the other hand the GOP are moving all the primaries closer and doing other nasty things.
In Dutch there is an expression which roughly translates to "A cornered cat makes weird jumps", meaning that those who feel cornered will soon lash out.
Instead of having to take a bullet for Ron, as I have seen many on the internet vow, could we prevent at least a portion of those in power to feel so cornered that they would consider drastic measures to eliminate the perceived threat? In other words, how can we urge Ron and his campaign to address certain issues more inclusively, as not to alienate certain people?
Let me give you an example, I sincerely believe it would make Ron safer to offer all of those in FEMA, Homeland Security, IRS, Federal Reserve, Department of Education, Department of Energy etc. a (more explicit) reassurance that in return for (gradually) closing their institution and to the military-industrial complex he will definitely undermine something to look out to. Taking away people's job, especially in such powerful institutions, will cost anybody dearly unless you put something concrete and appetizing to look forward to and he should emphasize that something more in his speeches.
To add to this, during the Sep. 5th debate he said that "the CIA needs intelligent people gathering intelligence" and in a July 14th speech he said that "... with the benefit of bankrupting the military-industrial complex". Such statements are VERY alienating for people working in these institutions and sectors. The military-industrial complex, for instance, is enormous. Following Ron's plans to withdraw all US troops from Asia, Middle East and Europe the said complex will lose out enormously (less need for production of weaponry, less need for soldiers) as will it from the retreat in Iraq he proposes.
I am not sure I have made my point clearly and I am sorry to have to dedicate an article to fear and anxiety (I feel like a neocon) surrounding a wonderful, genuine, modest, challenging, grand, humble, lovely, sympathetic man and his campaign whom I wish all the bliss of this world. I just feel we should and could help him prevent anything serious from happening to him, instead of waiting for it to happen and act only then.
If you have any ideas on the topic, please feel free to share them in the comments section or email me at maranelloboy (at) gmail.com
I wish you all well and may Ron have a guardian angel on his shoulder 24/7,
sincerely,
Francesco
the Netherlands
I wouldn't worry much about that right now
Paul is just beginning to make ripples. Thay usually discount anyone's legitimacy until they REALLY start to make waves. Besides, they would make hime a martyr for the cause of liberty and they DON'T want to bring anymore attention to it or him. Imagine how hard it would be to hide harming a presidential candidate.
Oh,yeah, the Secret Service is part of the Treasury Dept.
The Secret Service is
The Secret Service is supposed to guard the candidates and I think Ron Paul is either being protected now or will be soon.
You don't want the secret
You don't want the secret service people watching Paul.....They get orders from the White House, I believe. The same people who want to keep the status quo and don't want Paul elected
They won't want to martyr him
I doubt very much that those that stand to lose in a Ron Paul administration would risk martyring him at this point in time. It is obvious to everyone now, even to those in the mainstream, that he has a tremendous and extremely passionate following. If anything were to happen to him, the "blowback" caused by such a foolish act, would be a colossal uprising from millions of enraged supporters. The tactic would backfire because, although the messenger would be gone, the message - bringing back honesty, decency, and integrity to the government - would be given even more credence.
Because of this, I believe the much greater danger for RP right now is an all out attack on his character. I guarantee you that hundreds of campaign workers for all the other candidates are searching under every stone for "dirt" on the good doctor. And if they can't find something juicy enough, they'll make something up. The haters may be evil, but they're not stupid. They undoubtedly realize that this method would be far more effective, because by impuning his character, the message gets squashed along with the messenger.
I take my marching orders from the Constitution!
It will all work out
I feel confident that the people in the agencies (FEMA, Homeland Security, IRS, Federal Reserve, Department of Education, Department of Energy etc.) beleive a portion (large or small) of Dr. Paul's message. They also may realize that the intentions of their agency have failed - and it would be best to close them. For example, I would never ever be an IRS agent.
The military-industrial complex would much rather patrol our US borders and protect our US soil than a foreign nation 1000's of miles away that only wants them there for the money and nation building if that (Germany, Japan, Korea, Iraq).
I think everything will work out fine, think positive and positve with happen.
Glendale Keith
Glendale Keith
Just because you work there doesn't mean you support management
Anyone who's worked in a defunct corporate system knows that of the beached whale effect; that their 'corporation' or 'government' is broke but is too big to move towards progress.
Many would love to see change... *any* change... especially at the expense of their management.
PeterSchiffSays.COM
I feel more reassured!
Thank you for reassuring me, I feel much better!
Francesco
Don't curse the darkness, light a candle
Well said
.
Your concerns for Dr. Paul are merited. He is a threat to many, especially the establishment and the old way of doing things in the government. As we know "accidents" happen; they happened to many people in political life because they created problems.
I think it is wise of Dr. Paul to fly commercial airplanes and not aboard some small private aircraft that could be tampered with. But, even with a security detail, that is no guarantee of his safety. I hope that when Dr. Paul speaks in public, some of the meet-up people who attend, keep a close watch on the crowd and video the crowd also. Not much, but it is better than nothing.
Your point about his talking about closing down various departments, such as the IRS and replace it with "nothing," you are right. Many people would be out of work, and that is a real concern. But, many of us have been in jobs that we hate. We don't like the boss or the work or what we are doing. But of course we like the money and the security of having health care and our friends at work. But I bet there are many people who work in various government jobs who know in their hearts it's a lousy job in a lousy system. They have excellent unemployment benefits, and, who knows, maybe other areas of the government can use them?
Thanks a lot. You brought up a good topic, though it is not always pleasant to talk about.
Thanks for your great comment
Thank you sincerely for your compliments and comments. Your points on security certainly merit some attention.
If Ron could explain how his economic policies will contribute to creating jobs in this or that sector and/or that he would (personally) guarantee all those in the said agencies assistance in finding a next job it would make such a difference.
I pray he will do so on October 9 in the debate on economics.
Don't curse the darkness, light a candle
A little alarmist, but...
I agree. My wife (who is not fully on board yet) is concerned that the sudden dismantling of massive institutions would result in widespread, traumatic displacement, unemployment, and discord, and possibly depression.
It would be nice if RP could explain more often how a free economy would rapidly create real, private sector jobs for those displaced, and that the dismantling of the big government/military-industrial complex will be gradual so as to minimize the pain.
Freedom works, and there will be some displacement as we move away from the nanny state, but there is no reason why we can't emphasize the "love" in r3vo7ution.
Not instantaneous
Ron Paul has stated several times that he would not pull the crutches out from people instantly, that there would have to be a gradual phasing out process of things like Medicare and Social (in)Security. Perhaps he thinks the IRS ought to be eliminated instantly, I don't know, but he is wise enough to understand that big changes take time.
Perhaps if there were some bumper-stickeresque phrase that we could use to express this to people; namely, that the rug won't be pulled out from under them, I think that might alleviate the cornered feeling somewhat in his opponents.
The real threat comes from
The real threat comes from those who profit trillions of dollars from the banking system.
The services (education, health care) will of course remain in demand. It is the way they are organized that should be changed. The better those services are organized, the higher they will be in demand, and as a consequence the employees in those sectors will also be in greater demand. It should be emphasized that Ron Paul wants to REORGANIZE those services (i.e. transfering them from the state to the market), not abolish them.