Some
Historical Perspective for Ron Paul Activists

by Ryan McMaken

Recently
by Ryan McMaken: 6
Myths Catholics Tell About Libertarians

I’ve been
somewhat surprised by the absolutely hysterical reaction among
some RP activists to Ron Paul’s announcement that he’s shifting
resources toward winning more delegates instead of blowing it
on straw polls in new primaries. In some of the forums, alleged
“supporters” are hurling insults at both Ron and his
staffers.

I remember
how after 2008, some people I talked to pledged to “never
give money ever again” to Ron Paul because he “wasn’t
serious” about winning. These people think elections are
all that matter, but that’s not how political and intellectual
movements work. The election of numerous libertarian candidates
will be a lagging indicator, not a leading indicator, of the success
of a libertarian movement. The population still isn’t there. Although
it will be.

It’s absolutely
unbelievable that some people who claim to be champions of freedom
are now viciously badmouthing a man who can claim much credit
in making libertarianism a household word – as it now is
– and has been instrumental in building the most important
challenge to central banking and the warfare state in a century.
All of this is in addition to taking control of the GOP machinery
in numerous states and cong. districts.

I might also
note that I turned on the tele the other day and there was Ron
Paul talking about central banking. Note to newcomer activists:
I know it’s hard to believe, but before RP’s 2008 run, there was
once a time when libertarians weren’t on TV regularly talking
about Austrian free-market economics and the evils of war. I swear
it’s true. Cross my heart and hope to die.

Politically,
Ron Paul is doing what the Religious Right successfully did 20
years ago when it became a major force in the party, and he’s
rebuilding the intellectual infrastructure of the American right
wing in a way similar to what Buckley did in the 1950s. Except,
where Buckley only pretended to be for the rule of law
and limited government, Ron Paul is the real thing. And Paul’s
even doing it without CIA money, unlike Buckley. RP’s the continuation
of the old libertarian movement that existed in opposition to
war and the New Deal before it was hijacked by the conservative
apologists for the state.

Except now,
instead of being composed of a few dozen guys who could all have
met in a small hotel ballroom, the movement for peace and freedom
is a huge nationwide movement.

Anyone who,
like me, teaches people in their twenties can already see a huge
change. The ideas of libertarianism have a credibility they have
not had in decades, if not not since the late 19th century when
Herbert Spencer was a best-selling author in America.

Those of
us who have been involved in the libertarian movement for more
than ten years can see a huge difference, and those who have been
around for decades undoubtedly see even more. Nevertheless, I
can understand that a younger person, or a person who has never
been politically active before, might view one presidential election
as some kind of end-all-be-all of the freedom movement, but it’s
not.

The Ron Paul
phenomenon isn’t even close to being done re-shaping the American
political landscape, yet amazingly, some people seem to think
that not running TV ads in California somehow signifies a lack
of seriousness on the part of the Paul campaign. Only a complete
lack of experience and historical perspective could lead one to
such conclusions.