Liberty, not Government, Is the Goal of All People

US Representative, and GOP presidential candidate, Ron Paul, the iconic libertarian congressman from Texas, has delivered what will most likely be his final address to Congress. In a 52-minute speech to the House chamber, Paul chastised. the US government, politicians and special interests, declaring that the American people must return to virtue before the government allows them to be free, and that the Constitution has failed to limit the scope of an authoritarian bureaucracy. Here, dear readers, are some excerpts from his speech, one that speaks to the heart of every freedom-loving human being...and that is every one of us.~~~~~~~"Our Constitution, which was intended to limit government power and abuse, has failed. The Founders warned that a free society depends on a virtuous and moral people. The current crisis reflects that their concerns were justified." ~~~~~~~"If it's not accepted that big government, fiat money, ignoring liberty, central economic planning, welfarism, and warfarism caused our crisis, we can expect a continuous and dangerous march toward corporatism and even fascism with even more loss of our liberties."~~~~~~~"Restraining aggressive behavior is one thing, but legalizing a government monopoly for initiating aggression can only lead to exhausting liberty associated with chaos, anger and the breakdown of civil society. We now have a standing army of armed bureaucrats in the TSA, CIA, FBI, Fish and Wildlife, FEMA, IRS, Corp of Engineers, etc., numbering over 100,000." ~~~~~~~"In many ways, according to conventional wisdom, my off-and-on career in Congress, from 1976 to 2012, accomplished very little. No named legislation, no named federal buildings or highways, thank goodness. In spite of my efforts, the government has grown exponentially, taxes remain excessive, and the prolific increase of incomprehensible regulations continues. Wars are constant and pursued without congressional declaration." ~~~~~~~"History has shown that the masses have been quite receptive to the promises of authoritarians which are rarely if ever fulfilled."~~~~~~~"The number one responsibility for each of us is to change ourselves with hope that others will follow." ~~~~~~~"I have come to one firm conviction after these many years of trying to figure out the plain truth of things. The best chance for achieving peace and prosperity, for the maximum number of people worldwide, is to pursue the cause of liberty. If you find this to be a worthwhile message, spread it throughout the land." There you have it, a man who never took anything from government service but gave, against all odds, a guide into the future whose light came from his unwavering love of the US Constitution, the single most important document of governance ever written. Ron Paul felt deeply that government, even the US government, is destined to take liberty away from those who give it power. This is not an easy lesson to learn but it is essential. Beware of government - all governments, even the most benign and open, even the most democratic. They will eventually become tyrants, if not constantly challenged and constrained. That is why Thomas Jefferson admonished Americans to be ever watchful...."The price of liberty is eternal vigilance."