(2003-08-22) Ron Paul Neoconned

Libertarian Ron Paul on the Neo-Con ideology. Unfortunately, in the last 100 years, the defense of liberty has been fragmented and shared by various groups, with some protecting CivilLiberties, others economic Freedom, and a small diverse group arguing for a Foreign Policy of Non-Interventionism. The philosophy of freedom has had a tough go of it, and it was hoped that the renewed interest in Limited Government of the past two decades would revive an interest in reconstituting the freedom philosophy into something more consistent... In spite of the floundering economy, the Congress and the administration continue to take on new commitments in Foreign Aid, education, farming (Agriculture), medicine, multiple efforts at Nation Building, and preemptive wars around the world. Already we're entrenched in Iraq (War On Iraq) and Afghanistan, with plans to soon add new trophies to our conquest. War talk abounds as to when Syria, Iran and North Korea will be attacked... Neo-Conservative-s are obviously in positions of influence and are well-placed throughout our government and the media. An apathetic Congress put up little resistance and abdicated its responsibilities over foreign affairs. The electorate was easily influenced to join in the patriotic fervor supporting the military adventurism advocated by the neoconservatives... Since 9-11 (World Trade Center), protection of privacy, whether medical, personal or financial, has vanished. Free speech and the Fourth Amendment have been under constant attack. Higher welfare expenditures are endorsed by the leadership of both parties. Policing the world and nation-building issues are popular campaign targets, yet they are now standard operating procedures. There's no sign that these programs will be slowed or reversed until either we are stopped by force overseas (which won't be soon) or we go broke and can no longer afford these grandiose plans for a world empire (which will probably come sooner than later.)... Neocon spokesman Max Boot brags that what he advocates is "hard Wilsonian-ism."... Michael Ledeen concludes: "They must attack us in order to survive, just as we must destroy them to advance our historic mission."... Power, politics and privilege prevail over the rule of law, liberty, justice and peace. But it does not need to be that way. Neoconism has brought together many old ideas about how government should rule the people. It may have modernized its appeal and packaging, but Authoritarian rule is authoritarian rule, regardless of the humanitarian overtones... LeoStrauss, Irving Kristol, William Kristol, Richard Perle, Paul Wolfowitz, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Rupert Murdoch...