Check out the comment thread on this Ed-Op piece in my University’s paper about Ron Paul. I’ll save my opinion of Paul’s politics for another time. I was just floored by the flash mob of Paul supporters running up 300+ comments on a minor opinion piece in a small University paper. Whatever you may think of Paul himself or his policies, his supporters are hard-core.
I am both awed and a little freaked out by these people. On the one hand, it is good to see that in this cynical and apathetic age, there are still a lot of people who are very passionate about their politics. On the other hand, these comments are all basically saying the same thing, as if they were lifted from some Ron Paul talking points memo. Many are also pretty mean and not particularly nuanced. Here is a little taste:
Are you a complete socialist or only a little b it [sic] socialist?
I gather from this editorial that you’re in favor of taking my hard-earned money in taxation and distribute it to others who didn’t work for it. Get out of college and into the real world, Pointdexter, and you’ll change that tune real quick.
Wow… you have no idea what you are talking about. Paul is about freedom, limited federal government and letting the states local governments decide what best for that state. Get your facts straight before reporting. People need to take some personal responsibility. If New Orleans would have had keep their own money rather than paying tax to the feds… then they would have been able to protect themselves.
You get the drift. And, these were just from the first ten or so comments.
Some of these commentors remind me of those Chick Tracts where the message is always the same, accept their “truth” or you are a “sinner” and will go to hell. In this case, you are branded a “socialist” and are exiled from further political discourse because, of course, a “socialist” cannot hold a rational point of view. It is an easy way to shutdown conversation without having to defend your position.
With any overly enthusiastic group trying to push a particlar agenda, the good ideas can be drowned out by the cacophony of the more extreme members. I see a bit of that happening with Ron Paul supporters. I also think many Paul supporters have a real blindspot for how some of Paul’s positions could be considered very unpalatable to many perfectly rational people.
Beyond all that, I just fail to see how acting like a jackass in a comment thread on a opposition opinion piece is going to win over many converts to your cause.
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Please consider contributing on the 16th of December. Ron Paul needs the publicity of another big fund raising day.
I’m a veteran of the U.S. Air Force active duty (4yrs) and I currently serve as a traditional guardsman in the Air National Guard. All military personnel upon enlistment take the oath: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic…” A vote for Rep. Paul does just that. Ron Paul has my support.
There is an obvious media bias and it is sad. Rep. Paul is the one candidate of the crowd who has substantially differing views and he was not given much of a chance to articulate those views. Much time was given to marginal issues and small differences between other candidates’ positions on the issues. I suspect many special interest groups have much to lose if a President Paul had a chance to use his veto pen. This is reflected in the lack of time given to Rep. Paul.
As an economics major in college, I find his Austrian economics very sound. Check out http://www.mises.org if you find yourself in disagreement. There you can find a library of Austrian Economics E-books and other resources for free.
How to Whip This Ron Paul Character and All His Whacky Followers.
Re: Gary’s comment:
http://www.teaparty07.com/
And your point is? The Ron Paul suporters’ answers were concise and pertinent. Your arguments on the other hand fail. Ron Paul and his legions will turn American politics and the executive branch of goernment upside-down. I welcome it.
Yay socialists!
I still find it truly remarkable how people believe in this day an age that the louder they speak, the more “right” they are.
Intellectual discussion has sadly gone the way of the Passenger Pigeon, or perhaps the Ivory-billed woodpecker. It’s gone, dead, and killed by our societies stupidity. However, some of us nuts will still cling to the hope that it exists “somewhere” unmolested.
Any “Exclusive” argument is a falso one. there are no absolutes….and anyone who says otherwise is wrong:)
/genius is dead.
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