Ron Paul, Libertarian Dreams and Corporatist Realities

I'm still undecided about Ron Paul. One thing can be said, however; whether you like him or not, he has brought the concept of libertarianism into the consciousness of mainstream America. Unfortunately, libertarianism is viewed as an antisocial philosophy by many (sometimes with justification), and in the case of Ron Paul, it has attracted many unsavory and antisocial people, including white supremacists and other denizens of the far-right lunatic fringe. Before continuing, I can say that as a Jew, the neo-Nazis are particularly offensive to me, but I still realize that their right to express their views is the same as mine. So does the ACLU, which is why they call themselves civil libertarians. But the Nazis and nutcases certainly are a political liability to Ron Paul and the cause of libertarianism in general. This can only help to further public misconceptions about libertarian ideology.

To get a balanced view of libertarianism, it becomes necessary to include all of its advocates and thinkers and view it within a historical context. A basic overview of libertarianism would include the following:

1. Libertarianism is, in fact, an American political tradition that was best expressed represented by Thomas Jefferson.

2. There is also a left wing of the libertarian movement. Some assert that the terms "Libertarian Socialism" and "Anarchism" are synonymous.

3. Libertarians of the left and right usually agree on one thing; that all violence, by both individuals, corporations, and the state, when used for anything other than defense against a direct physical attack, is a violation of the rights of both individuals and nations. Ron Paul's foreign policy objectives seem to be based on this principal.