Another Paul/Huckabee Comparison

EDITED: Fixed some clerical errors…

Here we go a nifty little comparison about Ron Paul and Mike Huckabee contrasted with me. I did not include the Iraq war. I don’t think I need to, but Let me explain why, even though I share many of Paul’s beliefs and oppose some of Huckabee’s, I still will vote for Huckabee. One Reason is his strong stand of social issues. I believe he drives the issue home when he says that most of our society’s problems come from the degradation of the family and the loss of respect for the sanctity of life. I agree deeply there and I disagree deeply with how Paul wants to fix the problem. Our society is tearing itself apart and we have to restore the moral order that our forefathers intended. Ron Paul wants to be nonchalant about this, but moral issues are the core problem of America.

I may sound like a fundamentalist here, but I assure you I am not. Look at history. Rome fell when morality dropped to its lowest. People were doing the same things we are doing now, but with less severe numbers. Things like this can and will tear a country apart. Open your history book read the stories of fallen powers and social disasters and realize how vast this issue is. I don’t think a true Libertarian approach can solve this issue. Truthfully only the people can fix it, but we need to take the first step and Ron Paul is not that step.

I also disagree with Paul about his foreign policy I vehemently oppose the UN and all it stands for. I’m with Huckabee here I think that once we loose our self respect through international compliance then we loose our identity. Ron Paul thinks International takes precedence over US law and that the war is against many of these laws (as well as the constitution). I think preemptivity is justified for our national defense. True I want our troops home as much as any American, but not now! When we can leave with honor then we can leave.

Ron Paul doesn’t cut it for me there at all. I absolutely hate his foreign policy! Now on to the graph: (note: either cut and paste or hold ctrl and use your mouse wheel to zoom so you can see it all.)

Issue	Libertarians	Me	Ron Paul	Mike Huckabee
Personal Privacy	The government should not eavesdrop or infringe on your personal privacy without consent. No national Id Card no eminent domain.	I feel that there are times for the government to spy for national security. The national Id card is bad and eminent domain is wrong when used wrongly.	Complete privacy and does not support wire tapping of any kind unless it is allowed through congress or another branch. Against national ID and eminent domain.	“When government takes private property for the benefit of private entities and individuals that is really a threshold that once we cross we have a hard time getting back.” He is also against national ID, but supports wire tapping for defense.
Right to Bear Arms	The second amendment states Americans have the right to bear arms for protection and security.	Agreed Americans have the right to bear arms, but of course a registered criminal cannot or if the person is deemed “ill.”	“I share our Founders’ belief that in a free society each citizen must have the right to keep and bear arms.”	“The Founding Fathers wanted us to be able to defend ourselves from our own government, if need be, and from all threats to our lives and property.”
Freedom of Speech	Libertarians believe in unrestricted free speech.	Why of course government censorship is wrong, but private organizations can do all they want to silence someone provide it is within reason.	Believes in unrestricted free speech.	Believes in unrestricted free speech.
Social Security	Libertarians believe there should be Individual Retirement Accounts.	Oh yes, please kill social security! It is stupid. Privatization is a great first step to fixing the problem!	Do not tax social security. Fix solvency.	Completely eliminate all federal income and payroll taxes including social security. Privatize into individual retirement accounts.
Taxes	Taxes should be lowered, because we believe the government’s top priority should be to protect American’s and uphold the constitution.	Here we go, I believe the income tax is unconstitutional as it was intended. A simple decrease is not enough the Fair Tax is the answer to the tax problem.	Lower Taxes and Phase out the Fed. Eventually destroy all federal taxes.	The strongest Fair Tax supporter I have seen aside from John Linder and Neal Boortz. He also wishes to control spending and supports the line item veto. ( does Paul?)
Immigration	Open and free immigration would help better the country.	By no means should we have open borders! Immigration does help us, but many illegals do not wish to become citizens.	Secure the boarders end birthright citizenship enforce visa rules and rule of law. Etc.	Supports closed boarders, but also streamlining the legal immigration process. (Should I add the other standard issues? Let’s just say they are very similar in this area even in light to Huck’s criticism)
Foreign Aid	Aid programs slow down economic development more than help improve the lives of those living in countries receiving aid.	Agreed foreign aid is dumb when used incorrectly, but this is part of foreign policy, a very sticky subject. I feel there is need for private aid.	From what I gather he is against foreign aid to our enemies and supports open trade.	Against foreign aid for building infrastructure, but supports it for humanitarian efforts. Supports open trade.
Environment	Libertarians would hold the government responsible for their mess, but not for government regulation of business.	Can you say duh? Oh well I don’t know what their belief on Global Warming is, but I shun it.	Live and let live policy for corporate pollution BUT Paul calls for states’ role in carbon emissions reduction.	Huckabee thinks there needs to be a carbon cap and believes we need to be stewards of our natural forests.
Crime	Victims would be given more input into their case. Criminals would be required to pay restitution to their victims for the pain and suffering they’ve caused.	That and more for instance there needs to be a better jail system. Our current one is useless! We need therapists and advisors to help criminals recover financially so that crime is not their only option. Capital punishment is wrong, to an extent.	He is a bit teetering on rehabilitation of criminals, but he is against the death penalty and supports alternative sentencing.	Staunchly against the death penalty except in extreme cases such as Osama. Supports alternative sentencing and wants a stronger and more effective rehabilitation system. Also calls for prison privation and tougher juvenile punishments.
Drugs	The war on drugs should end.	Ok I will say yes and no to this. I’m divided here as well this “war” is a waste of money, but allowing it is like allowing society to kill itself. I think a better approach to the problem would be the best bet.	Legalize drugs.	More funding for drug war. Supports rehabilitation over incarceration and additional drug education programs. He basically supports changing how we view the problem.
Jail Time	Libertarians would make violent criminals serve their whole sentence.	Criminals are criminals you make a mistake you live with it! Read my “crime” position as well. I think whatever sentence they get they should take it.	I cannot figure this out, but it looks like, since he supports alternative punishment, he would be against parole. Someone inform me here…	Is against no parole, but supports more rehabilitation economically. Calls crime a failure of social education and the natural disposition of man.
Education	Libertarians would seek to improve education by providing alternatives to government-funded schools.	What the heck does this mean? There are alternatives. People just need to know about them, but I think the DOE needs to leave. Education is for the states. Our system worked for years under that ideal. Teachers unions should all just leave. Art education should be part of a required course and “sex-education” should absolutely not fall under the school!	Supports equal funds for abstinence as contraceptive-based education, guarantees parity for home school diplomas. Does not support school vouchers as alternative to public schools. Wants to eliminate the DOE!	Replace entire school board for failing schools. Equal funds for abstinence as contraceptive-based education. Supports character education and arts education. He does not want to kill the DOE However he is looking for a complete overhaul.

 

Let me explain taxes a bit. I think the income tax is unconstitutional. Our forefathers did not want a direct tax. The income tax is just that. There should have never been a 16th amendment it should be destroyed from the face of history as well as the IRS. It should be a memory never more to be a haunt to us all. I could go on forever about the Fair Tax, but I think a true Libertarian would agree that the Income tax is unconstitutional and the Fair Tax works.

The “Bretton Woods System” or in layman’s terms “Gold Backed Curency” was discontinued because of the instability it spawned. under this system the US reserves dwindled to nothing and from there trade deficits grew. People knew that given time the dollar would simply collapse. So we no longer have a gold backed currency. The old gold backed standard worked for a while, but as evidenced with the Bretton Woods System such an action will not help us. I suggest you read up on you history mate…

I suggest you read what John Maynard Keynes had to say about lazzie-faire. Keynes states that the natural state of the economy is not full employment as first believed and that a live and let live policy can only lead to frequent recessions. Think of it as a car rolling down hill. Normally the car will speed up as it goes down, but Keynesian economics applies the brakes to the car so that it does not hit the tree at the bottom of the hill. Read about economic policy. Classic economic policy has been disproven time and time again. Read up on it from both sides, but see that only one side has precedence on its side.

I hate government sponsored health care, but I won’t need to worry about that unless Hillary is in office. All in all I think the government has no right to regulate us. The only problem I have with true Libertarianism is social policy economic policy and foreign policy. Call me what you may I will never vote for Ron Paul! I already shunned how many of his supporters are dishonest and inflammatory, but that is a problem for their campaign if they want support they need to deal with that, because insulting is never the key.

Have a great day everyone. I will see you later!