Iraq or the Economy?
by Ron Paul
What is the importance of the war in Iraq relative to other current issues? This is a question I am often asked, especially as Americans continue to become increasingly aware that something is very wrong with the economy. The difficulty with the way the question is often asked relates to the perception that we are somehow able to divide such issues, or to isolate the cost of war into arbitrarily defined areas such as national security or international relations. War is an all-encompassing governmental activity. The impact of war on our ability to defend ourselves from future attack, and upon America’s standing in the world, is only a mere fraction of the total overall effect that war has on our nation and the policies of its government.
The cost of this particular war is enormous, and therefore it is of great importance. There is no single issue that is more important at this particular time. The war has, of course, made us less safe as a nation and damaged our credibility with allies and hostile nations alike. Moreover, years of growing deficits have been spurred on by the high price tag of war, and the decision to pay that price primarily by supplemental spending rather than traditional “on-budget” accounting.
War takes what would otherwise be productive economic capacity and transfers both that capacity, and the wealth it would generate in normal, peaceful, times into far less economically viable activities. It also impacts budget priorities in ways that are detrimental to our nation. I have often pointed to the fact that we are building bridges in Iraq while they are collapsing in the United States.
All war, but most particularly war funded by monetary inflation, bleeds a country in multiple ways. Obviously, many of the young people who are in the military literally give their blood, and sometimes their lives, fighting in wars of this type. Meanwhile, those who do not fight the war, but fund it, are forced to pay both the immediate costs, as well as seeing their long term purchasing power erode, as the twin pillars of debt and inflation are foisted upon the backs of current taxpayers and future generations. Neither conspiracy nor coincidence explains steep increases in the price of gas as the war drags on. No, this is simply a reality of the inflationary policies that, among other things, make this war possible.
As people are continually asked to choose whether our nation’s teetering economy or the failed foreign policy of the past several decades is most important as we look forward, it is well for those of us who understand that these two issues are closely linked, to continue to explain this fact to our fellow citizens. To fix the problem requires a proper diagnosis.
Dear Representative Paul and Supporters,
The state of our country is dismal, but there is hope in all situations. Please continue your campaign though you are no longer on the Republican ticket. No matter what options are on my ballot come November, I will be voting for you, because I believe that you are this country’s hope. I live in Galveston, Texas and you have many supporters here. We love your message. Keep up the fight. We are behind you…
Respectfully,
Rayna Seamans
How could we verify the effectiveness of such a possibility?
Although it bothers me that many people see you as our nation’s hope, I still ignore their argument and pay attention to your continued evaluation that my Constitution of the United States is our nation’s only hope.
Your military, public and professional life seems to remain consistant toward that end,and even though I know that one man cannot snap a finger and remove the welfare programs both citizens and corporations are trained to rely upon, I know that as citizens grow in understanding that the Consttution is ours and intended only to assure no one gets an advantage over anyone else by laws then they will come to recognize that we are responsible to make certain that NO PUBLIC SERVANT WILL EVER BE CALLED A LEADER AGAIN.
I believe that Ron Paul’s support of Constitutional money is the best thing we can do for our country right now. Until it is addressed we have to stop Congress from passing more spending bills with an empty checkbook. We need to understand our monetary system more than anything right now. If we understand it, then we will most likely say “no more” to war in Iraq.
I wonder if I am one of the few who understand that when we went to Iraq we seized not only their assets (after the looting) but also allowed the Federal Reserve Banks to issue money against their non existant currency. You see, we took their money out of circulation, burned it and issued new money in order to pay American owned private corporation’s War Claims.Blackwater is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to government spending. This money and the businesses seized in Iraq are now vested in private corporations. Study The Trading With the Enemy Act and see how this was done in World War I and World War II, as well as Vietnam. Of course this money is not real money either, but it becomes real when our gas and grocery prices go up and we can’t pay our bills.
Please Mr. Paul, try to address this to the public as well. You have my support in all that you say and try to do.
You’ve mentioned that we should get rid of the Federal Reserve. Based on what I know, as of today, I am in total agreement. How do we go about getting rid of the Fed and what ramifications should we address beforehand? Thank you and you’ve got my vote. Bring back the Constitution!