Enjoy Ron Paul’s classic Tax Day Speech from April 15, 2010.
Transcript
Ron Paul: Hey, thank you. End the Fed, hey! Along with the IRS. Let’s repeal 1913 and we’d all be better off. Now, it’s great to be here. You know, sometimes I give speeches on the House floor and there’s nobody there. I like to leave the House floor and I like to go to America. I like to go to Texas and other states because people actually cheer what I say, and I like that.
You know, I’m sure everybody here has talked a lot about taxes and this is tax day. But taxes, in many ways, are nothing more than a symptom. The taxes that we pay are a symptom of runaway government. And that is the problem. It is the fact that we have allowed our government to be so big and out of control – the Congress doesn’t control it, the executive branch has more control than they deserve and the courts have more control than they deserve. What wee need is a strong Congress to rein in the executive branch and the courts to get back to a constitutional government.
I have a belief about taxes and I believe that taxes, indeed, are theft; stealing from the people. You may have seen this on the Internet, I have a bumper sticker on my desk that everybody that comes to my offices sees, that says, “Don’t steal, the government hates competition”. But the government taxes us in many ways. I think of spending as the culprit, because think of spending as being the tax. And then it’s paid for in many different ways; they do tax us and it’s way too high. But they never tax enough to pay the bills. So what do they do? They endlessly borrow, and they borrow so much and then interest rates go up and that doesn’t work. So then what do they do? They resort to the printing press, and the Federal Reserve is the culprit that finances big government.
And that’s exactly right. Eventually, if we’re going to have a republic, we’re going to have sound money. The Constitution is very clear: only gold and silver can be legal tender, not paper money.
Now why is it that even the Federal Reserve is involved in taxation? When they print money, they devalue your currency. Anytime you complain about a high price, you’re paying a tax. So it is a tax, and the big sin, of course, is the big spending. Politicians, up until just recently, were always rewarded by spending money and telling their constituents back home, “I’m going to get you whatever you want”. Well, those days are over, and you’ve helped end those days.
Now, the Federal Reserve serves two special interests in Congress. There are two types of spending that we have to be concerned about. One is the liberal spending; we know all about that. They like to take over your lives because they consider you too stupid to take care of your lives yourself. So they have to take care of you from cradle to grave, so they justify that.
But then we do have some conservatives – at least they call themselves conservatives, a lot of times they’re nothing more than neoconservatives. And they believe that we have to endlessly spend overseas, and it’s time we quit this. We quit the foreign aid, we quite being the policeman of the world, we don’t need to occupy over 700 bases overseas in 135 countries because that’s how republics are destroyed. That is how empires end: for economic reasons, by stretching themselves too far overseas. So if we want to get back to a normal budget and balance our budget, I think one of the best ways to start is, why don’t we just quit spending all the money overseas? Why don’t we spend the money here at home?
Now, what could we do to save some money? I think it’s time we should ask the question, “How long do we have to stay in Korea? We’ve been there for 60 years.” I would say it’s time to come home from Korea. And we’ve been in Europe, we’ve been in Japan, and we’re looking for a new fight every single day. So it’s really time that we have a foreign policy that was demonstrated and preached to us by our founders; that is to get along with people, be friends with people, trade with people, but mind our own business, stay out of the internal affairs of other nations and have a strong national defense. That’s what we need.
And we don’t need to endorse this system where the president decides when to go to war. War, under the Constitution, should only be taken upon ourselves when the war is declared by the Congress, not the president.
But good things are happening in this country. The budget is horrible, the Congress is horrible, they’re spending, they don’t hesitate for one minute. But there are good things happening in the country and you’re part of it. People have finally awakened. They have finally found out that if they speak out, maybe they will have some influence. Washington has not responded to the people because the people basically have been quiet. And the ones who made noise were the lobbyist. They came with their hands out, they wanted stuff. Well, it’s all ending, because even those who are supposed to be receive this stuff at your expense, are realizing that it’s not going to last very much longer. We’re bankrupting this country and therefore we do need a sea change.
But what we have to do is ask the proper question. The first question is: what should the role of government be? Everybody would say, “Well, do this and that and that and take care of medical care.” I say it’s a much simpler than that. The role of government is to protect our liberties.
And if we protect our liberties, then the free people can take care of themselves. Get rid of all these taxes and all these regulations and all these government controls and needless wars. The purpose of liberty is to allow a free people to be creative, to release the creative energy that we need, and also to strive for excellence and virtue; that’s what life is all about. But when government takes over this role of saying, “We’re going to make you a better person and tell you have to live and run your personal life, or we’re going to take over your economic powers and we’re going to tell you how you spend your money,” then the government does that at the expense of liberty.
And, of course, what suffers is the prosperity of this country. And this country is indeed bankrupt. The standard of living for middle class America has been going down for 10 years. And it’s not going to go up soon until we realize that we have to get control of our budget, control of our government, and give us sound money. And in the meantime, we will end the Fed. Hey!
Processing your request, Please wait....
I saw the head of the IRS testify…sort of…before congress. Scary person. the tea party IS UNDER ATTACK using this most dangerous of all weapons! I am begging the American people to mobilize like never before, we must not allow the media to put this on the back burner, for they have even today tried to deflect attention away from the real culprits by focusing on the lower rungs…..we cannot allow that ….we must make certain that every American in the United States and the world be made aware that for the first time in history perhaps the IRS has been used as a weapon against those who stood strongest for this nation…
This is a call to arms, if ever you have felt strongly about anything American understand that if Mrs Lerner and her friends and backers are allowed, they will destroy the United States because they have here, in the IRS, the most powerful weapon they can have….who among us is going to ever speak up again for what is right if we feel we are threatened with a tax audit that can leave us in the street…..I think its time for Obama to start firing non stop until every last one of those threats has been removed, and if not, then its time for the tea part and all those who sympathize for American truth and the validity of the constitution to send a message that perhaps this government is not as stable as it thinks. Indeed it may be time for all of us to declare a TAX MORATORIUM……it may be time to stop paying taxes altogether until such time as this nation gets back to its senses. I think the absolute requirement right now is TO MOBILIZE THE NATION! We must not allow this to fade in the background….those who have been on different sides of the fence should now organize in the battlefield….whether its the Tea Party or the Coffee party or the Occupy movement when government attempts to attack so directly using an organ within the government itself for nothing more than political reasons, the time has come for a general revolution! I implore everyone reading this to ask themselves what they can do to organize the nation in one giant reaction. This is an attack and dont be fooled….today its certain political groups, tomorrow its individuals…….again the time for a general tax moratorium may have come.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
This is just another shining example of how one person/group doesn’t have all the answers for all the problems.
All I see for negative comments here are about his economic policy ideals being unrealistic, and I generally share that opinion, but you’ve got to agree with much of his foreign policy opinions and the concept of non-involvement.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
dear ron, you hit it out of the park, with your commentary on the police reaction in boston. sorry to say this is what is happening all over the us today. Come to az and it will blow your mind. thanks mike
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Define “conservative” b/c maybe there’s confusion re: “conservative” vs “neoconservative”? Given today’s semantics in context w/political actions, a self-proclaimed ‘liberal democrat’ politician is identical to a ‘neocon’ in all foundational ways. NEITHER are even REMOTELY conservative nor are either concerned w/Constitutional or ‘natural rights’, much less equal justice under ANY law. Ron Paul speaks for the US Constitution&Rule of Law, the MOST governmentally CONSERVATIVE law in human history
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
As always, Ron Paul gives voice to simple facts and common sense&respect for LIFE of EVERY individual and nation. Too bad this, and MANY other such speech from MANY other even MORE experienced&educated people has NEVER been aired in a timely or pertinent manner. Oh well…maybe even if ad hoc, this can be insprirational to people who want/need to learn about what the heck is going on here. God Bless Ron Paul & every one who dares to speak against a tyranny backed by an entire culture in denial.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
3 
0
lol, are you a troll? hahahahaahhahaa
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
1 
4
GREENBACKERS AND GOLDBUGS need to see http://www.understandingmoney101.com
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
What about Human Labor as being considered legal tender. Is that not what Benjamin Franklin help get the colonies into a GDP that superseded imports? A system of paper money that represented the people’s labor, Contracts! Gold and silver, jewels of the mud are precious and yes many will work many hours of labor to have them. But remember that many are too interested with growing food, building houses and developing technologies. These efforts many will trade for trade or for gold and silver if you like. Thus as paper contract serves its purpose.
Why else would our most bitter enemies manipulate tax law to include Human Labor? Because they knew this was the crux of all we work for whether we trade it for gold, silver or a bushel of wheat. Before they took over US Monetary Policy it was essential to them that they tax human labor through a private agency. Then with the control over monetary policy they could tap into their investment and gather blood sweat and tear money (real money). You should know that it takes labor behind each dollar printed to make it truly valuable. What else could the shadow elite tap into, interest off private banks, yes. With both taxed labor and interest they get double the prize.
Think! The shadow elite cannot just print money for themselves and go on an eternal shopping spree. They know it would destroy their system. First they must control its ‘Journey of Circulation’ and collect it after it has achieved its ‘contract’ before they could hope to go shopping for anything cool.
Thus Jefferson warned that they would build a huge Federal Bureaucracy if given private control over monetary policy. But Jefferson may have not seen Washington wisdom and compassion. Washington saw how it was better to make a compromise than to allow the revolution to intensify into a world war. I feel perhaps that Washington saw or was instructed to establish the District of Columbia.
By doing so the US could finish becoming a Nation of God where all Tribes comprising Humanity could come to the US and take advantage of ‘Political freedoms and furthermore, that Humans might overcome their racial pregidous between the tribes and learn that we are all God’s Children no matter which tribe we come from. This political freedom was established although Hamilton was not Jefferson’s choice. Jefferson latter learned that breaking away from private monetary policy was a great challenge indeed.
We have achieved Washington’s Vision. It took a hundred years or so but I think we got it and I feel that the rest of the world is behind US on this. However, the rest of the world and US are both terrified of the forces grown economics of private international central bankers. Agenda 21 is an insult to all humanity. It is the ludicrous issuance of the private central bankers that has cause the over consumption of natural resources and the over polluting of our precious home we call EARTH!
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
that’s my president
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
4 
0
in my view u r just another socialist
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
2
in my view u r just another socialist
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
1
he’s a conservative and a libertarian, the gop has lost his way
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
he’s a conservative and a libertarian, the gop has lost his way
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Oah shit. He is looking pretty fired up here.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
Ron Paul’s fail is that he is a Republican candidate, his ideals aren’t conservative yet he is fighting for conservative primary votes. It would never happen in mass.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
It might also be a good idea to read Chapter 10 on monopolies in “Man, Economy and State” by Murray N. Rothbard.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Give me a monopoly in history that wasn’t caused by government intervention in some way.
Fact is that under the current system we have now, it stifles competition between big companies and smaller companies due to bailouts, excessive regulations, etc. which are some of the reasons why not nearly as many businesses are propping up as there used to be.
I’d suggest that you read “The Libertarian Manifesto” by Murray N.Rothbard. Clears up a lot of the uninformed mess the media spews out.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
There is no serious people in this country paying attention to Ron Paul…in my view he is just another Republican.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
2
There is no serious people in this country paying attention to Ron Paul…in my view he is just another Republican.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
10
Your’re grammare sUcks…in all of your posts.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
actually, I’m not afraid of racism under Ron Paul’s vision, I’m afraid of corporations dictatorship….
corporations are already given rights as individual thanks to this conservative Supreme court in Citizens united case.
Ron Paul fans don’t read and can’t see beyond their nose…they just follows what Ron Paul said as religion fanatics….and they are willing to kicked a woman head if she oppose his son Rand. I sow it !
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
2
actually, I’m not afraid of racism under Ron Paul’s vision, I’m afraid of corporations dictatorship….
corporations are already given rights as individual thanks to this conservative Supreme court in Citizens united case.
Ron Paul fans don’t read and can’t see beyond their nose…they just follows what Ron Paul said as religion fanatics….and they are willing to kicked a woman head if she oppose his son Rand. I sow it !
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
3
The problem is mythical belief inculcated thru public education that there’s a diff between government and private sector when the fact is BOTH are made up of self-interested people BUT government has “LEGAL” authority to ROB and SUPPRESS people while private sector has no such authority so when you have government controlling everything, people in the private sector simply buy out the government and make laws and “regulation” that favor THEM. That’s precisely why there are so many democracies & yet people always get corrupt governments. Plain and simple.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Ron Paul wants no rules because in his crazy mind the market will level everything with the invisible hand of Adam Smith or law of supply and demand.
and because there is not such thing as “free market” what Ron Paul and the so called “libertarians” are promoting is nothing but absolute power for big corporations…because they control the market.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
3
Ron Paul wants no rules because in his crazy mind the market will level everything with the invisible hand of Adam Smith or law of supply and demand.
and because there is not such thing as “free market” what Ron Paul and the so called “libertarians” are promoting is nothing but absolute power for big corporations…because they control the market.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
5
I’m not even black…I am Hispanic, but I know a racist when I see it.
I don’t believe in your “individual” freedom…I understand individuals are not alone….we all live in society….so, society must have rules to keep the peace. The rules or law is enforce by law the enforcement which is the government.
The civil act is a kind of rule that keep us in peace in spite of our race, and social class differences. Environmental control rules protect the land. R. Paul wants no rules…
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
2
I’m not even black…I am Hispanic, but I know a racist when I see it.
I don’t believe in your “individual” freedom…I understand individuals are not alone….we all live in society….so, society must have rules to keep the peace. The rules or law is enforce by law the enforcement which is the government.
The civil act is a kind of rule that keep us in peace in spite of our race, and social class differences. Environmental control rules protect the land. R. Paul wants no rules…
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
6