Transcript
Interviewer: Ron Paul is packing up his Washington condo this week, preparing to sell it and move back to Texas for good. Paul is retiring from Congress, and last week he gave a farewell address from the House floor, repeating the small-government sermon he first shouted in obscurity, and then injected into the national debate. With his time in Washington DC coming to a close, I sat down with Paul for a kind of ‘exit interview’.
Question: You’ve been here on-and-off since 1976, what would you say the three most damaging special interests are in Washington?
Ron Paul: You know, I see so many, and they’re all the same.
Interviewer: I know, but you much have some that really bother you.
Ron Paul: I think the military-industrial complex is very bad.
Interviewer: That was No.1.
Ron Paul: I don’t know if they should be in order.
Interviewer: Okay, don’t give them in order.
Ron Paul: Another one would be the banking system: how the Federal Reserve works and how it helps big banks. The interest that I would like to see, and that I worked on, was to try to get those people who just want their freedom to take care of themselves, and that’s the one that’s the least influential. Up here, it’s the people who want stuff and who get the benefits by just lobbying for those things that they want.
Interviewer: Another thing you mentioned in your farewell speech is your belief that we need to build coalitions, not necessarily reach compromises. And I wonder if you think your beliefs could be a 51% coalition in your lifetime, or in what timeframe?
Ron Paul: I think if I talk to a crowd of people, no matter which crowd, and say, “Do you believe in the free enterprise system, that people should be able to work and have their earning?” they say, “Yea, I believe that”. And if I asked, “Do you believe that your privacy should be protected, that the government shouldn’t be in your bedroom, that they shouldn’t be spying on you?” people would agree. And, most of the time when I asked, “Do you think we should be the policeman of the world?” they say, “No”. But when it comes to the particulars, they don’t stick with it, and they say, “Yes, but go too far, you want too much freedom”.
Interviewer: Well, this is another thing you touched on in that speech, you said this idea of liberty is popular, has been popular, so why doesn’t it win. It’s kind of a question that you didn’t fully answer in that speech, why do you think it doesn’t win?
Ron Paul: Not a lot of people talk about it, and I did try to explain it in the speech, in that, the concern about freedom was lost because freedom creates so much prosperity, that people get complacent. Then they become materialistic, and all they can deal with is redistribution and they find that with the government, you can make more money by getting a contract from the government than by being a genius and being productive. You know, when I first came here in 1976, I think I was under the impression that if you talk about welfare, you’re talking about those people who won’t work and get food stamps. But I have a very different opinion now. That exists, and it’s not healthy, but that’s minor compared to the food stamps the wealthy get. The wealthy get the contracts and the special deals, and that’s where I think the biggest trouble is.
Interviewer: That’s a way of speaking that most Republicans don’t usually engage in. Your son, the senator from Kentucky, Rand Paul, said recently that the Republican Party is in danger of becoming a dinosaur.
Ron Paul: Yea, but I think the whole government and the Democratic Party and the Republican Party are all dinosaurs.
Interviewer: What’s the future of the Republican Party, though?
Ron Paul: Well, the same as the Democratic Party. The principles are dinosaurs. The parties are going to linger because they’re locked in by law. You know, we’re not allowed to compete, the laws are biased against us from competing. And if you go third-party, you can’t get in the debates and you can’t get on ballots.
Interviewer: You talk about the grip of that two-party system, did you seriously consider running as an independent for President in 2012?
Ron Paul: No.
Interviewer: You didn’t consider it because it’s not practical?
Ron Paul: Not practical, absolutely not practical. Because this would have been a good year to have an alternative, and you can’t get much of a showing either on the Libertarian side or the Green side.
Interviewer: So then, how do we get out of this system, what do us see as the answer to this, or do we just keep bumping along with the way things are? You can’t believe that, that would make you too sad.
Ron Paul: No, you go to the campuses, you rally the young people, and you stir up a whole generation of people. Ideas do have consequences, and that’s where the good news is, because the campuses are alive and well with these views and they know the system is bankrupt. And there is this illusion that you can spend endlessly and print endlessly, and there will always be credit out there. And so far so good, but credit can end quickly, the dollar can crash quickly, and a new system will have to be developed.
Interviewer: One last thing, where do you pride yourself?
Ron Paul: Nothing in particular, other than the fact that the people say, “One thing we can say about you is that you are very consistent”, and they say this in a very nice way.
Interviewer: And you’ve changed the discussion in this country, you must be proud of that.
Ron Paul: Yea, that would be nice, time will tell. But what I always get a charge out of is when they’re so nice and they say, “This is good, you’re very consistent”, they must say to themselves, “But I’m always inconsistent”, and that’s wonderful. And they run the show, I never ran anything, I was just bubbling along here when it came to legislation. So the people who, in a way, admit they’re inconsistent, get to run the Legislative System.
Interviewer: Thank you so much for your time, we really appreciate it.
Ron Paul: You’re welcome.
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Ron Paul should be the Secretary of Treasury with Gary Johnson and Rand Paul as President and Vice President.
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lol he didn’t even try winning, he was just using people for the money!!
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They won’t do anything once in office. These guys just go on talking about the popular debate at the time of election and hook on all the little fishies and tadpoles eagerly awaiting the next line of goodies. It doesn’t matter who is supposedly your leader. It’s already been bought. To get deeper take a look around and wake up. Your living in a dream. A dream that’s about to end.
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No, the USA is “national socialist” in terms of its political and economic structures. The current form of socialism is fascism: government control and manipulation of and interference in key sectors of the economy while permitting widespread private ownership of industry. In all fascist states, however, the govt. favours the mega-corporations and banksters which really run things behind the scenes. In communism the State owns them, not vice-versa.
In the end it’s all the same for the people.
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They’d just rig the votes here too, if Dr Paul were here.
What’s important is that we build a truly Libertarian movement of our own.
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We’re already a communist country now.
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“You can get more money from a government contact, then by being a genius, and being productive.” — I hate freeloaders, this is so true…we are stifling the creative process and solid, hard working jobs in this country.
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agreed.
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word. He sold out the old man, just to lose, and spout his dad’s rhetoric once again after it was too late..
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“rand paul is a fucking idiot” Thanks for clarifying who is an idiot. lol!
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The idea of freedom doesn’t win because people want freedom for themselves but not for others.
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Look up Stefan Molyneux’s youtube channel. He is a true philosopher. He admires Ron Paul but has criticized him on occasions.
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Some people love the craft of political hyperbole to explain their party’s position on issues. Why not speak from personal conviction and experience
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Ron Paul: “Shariah law is not a problem”
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john q public is stupid and wants government to take care of them that is why you cannot have liberty because they will always want people like obama in office
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rand paul is a fucking idiot
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Huge Ron Paul fan. Wish he could come to B.C. thousands would attend. I see Ron Paul stickers everywhere and its Canada!
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What? So you can live in debt and mow down parts of the world in the name of “self-determination?” lol
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One of the most famous Civil Liberty minarchist Libertarians in U.S history. And alive to witness.
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Betraying his convictions wouldn’t have won him the presidency. It would have only lost him supporters of real liberty movement. The game was rigged the whole time
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“Food Stamps of the wealthy”—- excellent.
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A shame so much innovation, creativity, energy, and goodwill on the part of regular, average Americans has been so wasted and so sidelined by people claiming “elitism.” There is still a strain of decency, creativity, freedom-spirt, in the people. The “dumbing down” was first imposed (and radically) from above.
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With all do respect, he only would have won the presidency by betraying his convictions. Not only would that have made him less effective as a pro-liberty president, but it would have stained his outstanding political career. He made the right decisions and has my full support and appreciation.
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I try to continually check myself, that I’m not swooning to any messiah. That’s a danger in times like these. And I find the resonance of Ron Paul’s elucidation of constitutional principles thrilling. I try to carry the message, everywhere I go. Everyone I meet. Liberty through personal responsibility warms the heart.
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Can’t wait for this nation to falter. Then a real civilization can emerge.
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we need to let consistency run this nation, its a shame. we are all truly dinosaurs..
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good riddance! and take your worshippers with you
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I’m talking about his run for president. He would be much more effective for the cause of liberty as president, but he refused to listen to people who told him that he was too extreme. Had he listened to the people, he would be president, and would have changed things. But he didn’t
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Ron Paul 2016!
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I think you have missed the glory of his legacy. His contribution to the cause of liberty is infinitely more effective because he stuck to what he thought was right, instead of giving in to popularity to push one or two bills through.
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the bitter truth .. american people MUST rise up before their stupid government and deceptive Zionists drag them down the abyss
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Thank you Ron Paul!
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RON PAUL YOU MIGHT NOT BE IN THE WHITE HOUSE BUT YOU’LL ALWAYS BE IN OUR HEARTS AND MEMORYS!
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Ron Paul r3VOLution!
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After the revolutionary militia takes down the corrupt government and carries out an American version of the Nuremberg Trials, Ron Paul will be appointed commander in chief
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