Montana's Primary
For Ron Paul Supporters: A Bitter End
By Robert Struckman, 6-03-08
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In a corner of an upstairs room at the Iron Horse bar and grill in downtown Missoula, Ron Paul supporters vented their frustration.
“His values are more in sync with Montana than any other candidate,” said Ty Marbut emphatically. “But more than any other issue, it’s economic for me.”
He wasn’t talking about his own pocketbook but U.S. monetary policy. The Federal Reserve Bank is foreign-owned, chimed in his friend Tim Bernard. “It’s legalized counterfeiting,” Bernard added with disgust.
All this came on a night that some hoped would give a symbolic victory to Paul, a tenacious underdog opponent to presumptive Republican nominee John McCain. After all, Paul took second to Mitt Romney in Montana’s Republican caucus in February. Paul handily won some Montana’s counties, including Missoula and Flathead.
Plus, Paul supporters have been organized and enthusiastic. Ron Paul yard signs grossly outnumber McCain’s. In Republican circles, Paul’s supporters have been compared—because of their newness to the political process and their passion—to Barack Obama’s.
All this has Republican insiders happy. Montana Republican head Jake Eaton said, “It’s exciting to see, from a political perspective, the organization. They’re very fervent in their support, and they’re proud of it. It’s energizing the party. I’m glad we have this opportunity to have that internal debate. The key is to keep it civil. Competition makes everybody stronger.”
About Paul’s supporters, Will Deschamps in Missoula said, “Stay engaged. We need you. But you can’t change the Party from the outside. You’ve gotta be inside.” His precinct-level view seems to indicate that quite a few of Paul’s volunteers and supporters will remain active Republicans.
For some of the newcomers, though, the outside feels more right. David Hart is a 48-year-old political novice who put aside his career in real estate investing to lead the Ron Paul campaign in Montana. It wasn’t easy. “We had a steep learning curve,” Hart said. “I’ve never felt there was a candidate worth giving my support. Ron Paul is impeccable. He never wavers. He gets criticized for that, but a lot of us don’t believe we should compromise at all on our principles.”
Early Tuesday evening, as the primary vote came in, Hart was sanguine. “Win or lose it’s the same result. For him to receive the nomination is not in the cards,” he said. “It’s been a lot of fun to shine the light on and expose the lack of principle of the Republican old guard, the ones who are more concerned with the Party than the principals.”
Ellen Finnigan, who organized Missoula for Ron Paul meet up group, harbored some bitterness about the way the Republican nomination played out. “It doesn’t matter. The Republican Party has gone to great lengths to ostracize him. I’m not exactly pumped.”
Finnigan said she didn’t plan to gather with fellow Paul supporters to watch the vote come in. She just wasn’t interested. She recently graduated with a master’s degree in fine arts from UM. The process involved a nonfiction thesis; a lot of work, she said.
“You may want to mention that Ron Paul came in second in Montana in February. He beat McCain. This is completely divorced from the 25 national delegates. The Republican Party took the power out of the hands of people and into the hands of the Party elite,” Finnigan said. “This has been a long election season.”
Back at the Iron Horse, the faithful had thinned out a bit. There was just a few Ron Paul supporters with leftover CDs with conspiracy theories on things like the Federal Reserve Bank and the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. As the final ballots were tallied, Paul had only about 19 percent of the vote.
Correction: A previous version of this story misspelled Ellen Finnigan’s name in one instance and misidentified the group she organized. Also, David Hart’s age was incorrect. We apologize for the errors.
[End of article]Atlas Shrugged
Comment By Parke, 6-04-08Im not disappointed. This was our learning curve.. Im not going away and neither are alot of other Paul supporters.
'Advertisements are the only truths to be relied upon in newspapers.' Jefferson
Doesnt anybody that votes question anything anymore? What happened to dissent?
War.
Inflation.
Civil liberties stolen.
Loss of sovereignty.
38 Million illegals.
National Debt.
Nobody other than Paul has any solutions to our problems. Its to bad that Paul didnt get a fair shake from the media. The only people that lost were Americans.
What happens if the dollar fails and we have no rights? What happens when our leaders abuse Habeus Corpus against political and personal enemies? Im not living in la-la land... paint the picture of the future in your mind and tell me you see an oasis and Ill recommend a few good head doctors.
God help us all.
We are not bitter, and this is not the end.
By the way, the "bitter end" is the end of the rope that attaches to a ship. Hanging onto one is precarious. If you're going to write in clichés, learn what they mean.
The Federal Reserve is the problem not the solution!
Sign and forward our Ron Paul Is Right: Abolish the Federal Reserve Petition at
http://www.petitiononline.com/fed/petition.html to all your pro-freedom friends and associates.
The collapsing dollar, falling housing market, the subprime mortgage and growing credit crisis and stock market weakness are all a result of earlier Federal Reserve actions designed to maximize Wall Street and banking profits at the expense of productive, working Americans.
Ron Holland, The Swiss Confederation Institute, Wolf Laurel, NC
PS Check out the July Las Vegas FreedomFest Conference http://www.freedomfest.com
Parke - No, no one is interested in those things.
They are only interested in: U
ndefined cult-like Obama-style "Change",
Global carbon taxes
Universal socialized healthcare forced upon them,
Being called "my friends" countless times,
"hey, look, we have a war vet for a hero!",
Decades of occupation in Iraq (Obama might pull troops but the occupation will never end)
Extensive loss of freedoms
End of our soveriegnty
At least that is what I can tell by the two "presuptive" nominee clowns we are left with.
The lesser of two evils - for the umpteenth time!
Vote for RP in as a write-in or Barr in November.
We're not bitter at all...the message is spreading, and we're marching on Washington, D.C. on July 12, 2008! Ron Paul has definitely made an impact!
Comment By FreedomLiberty, 6-04-08Get your facts straight. The issue about the Federal Reserve is NOT a conspiracy theory. Brush up on your reading...please...
Comment By CH, 6-04-08So now facts are conspiracy theories, nice.
"conspiracy theories on things like the Federal Reserve Bank"
The Federal Reserve doesn't exist, it's just something that conspiracy theorists and Ron Paul nutballs dreamed-up.
This author is a friggin moron!
The rEVOLution Rolls On!
According to Ben Bernanke himself, the Fed's actions caused the Great Depression and aggrevated it, as well as the current economic situation we are in by causing the dot-com and housing bubbles.
Conspiracy or not, the Fed is a privately held group of member banks that control interest rates and therefore the entire economic structure of the United States.
Thomas Jefferson and our founding fathers warned against letting private banks control the money supply. We should have listened.
The author of this article is an idiot! Keep sticking your heads in the sand America, keep watching American Idol, keep thinking everything is OK. That's what this country needs, a bunch of uninformed idiots like this author, who like to call Ron Paul and his supporters a bunch of kooky consipiracy theorist. That's really going to solve our problems. Thanks America. I can't wait to see which President you idiots elect. Unfortunately for us, we shall reap what we sow. It's too bad the majority are IDIOTS that believe everything that the MSM and government tells them. WAKE THE F*%K UP AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!
VOTE FOR RON PAUL....WIN A FREE COUNTRY!
Thomas Jefferson was concise in his early warning to the American nation, “If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issuance of their currency, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all their property until their children will wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.”
"let it not be said that no one cared, that no one objected once it's realized that our liberties and wealth are in jeoprady"
Congressman Ron Paul
“WHAT LUCK FOR RULERS THAT MEN DO NOT THINK”
Adolph Hitler-1939
“Strange times are these in which we live when old and young are taught in falsehoods school. And the person that dares to tell the truth is called at once a lunatic and fool.” ~ Plato
"Make yourselves sheep and the wolves will eat you." ~ Benjamin Franklin
'"Freedom is not free" ~ Unknown
I was misquoted in this article.
I never said “it doesn’t matter”. That makes it sound as if I think the Ron Paul campaign and everything his supporters did doesn’t matter. I wouldn’t have given countless hours to this campaign over the last year if I thought it didn’t matter! What I repeated (several times) to the journalist was this: the primary that was held for the Republicans last night in didn’t matter, as it would have no bearing on who wins the 25 delegates from Montana who go to the state convention.
Also, I said I was not going to gather with the Republicans at the Iron Horse, not because I was not trying to avoid my fellow Ron Paul supporters, but because I just wasn’t interested in watching the votes come in in a primary that was essentially a charade.
Also, my name at the end is misspelled.
Also, I did not organize the Students for Ron Paul chapter at the University. I organized the Missoula for Ron Paul meet-up group.
I look forward to writing Ron Paul's name on the ballot in November.
Ellen Finnigan
I meant the Republican primary in Montana would have no bearing on the 25 delegates who go to the Republican national convention (not state convention).
Comment By Cindy P., 6-04-08Ellen F., thanks for your hard work during this campaign! I, too, will be writing in Ron Paul in November.
Comment By Jack D., 6-04-08What should be important to everyone is whoever gets picked should fulfill their job according the country's rule book, the Constitution.
When you are watching professional sports everyone expects the judges to not take sides or have their own agenda. They are expected to make sure that both sides stick to the rules. I don't see why a President or any other person "SWORN" to uphold and defend it should have a "platform" The platform has been laid out since 1776 and if the rules are to change, there are appropriate ways to do it and that doesn't mean voting for the next Dictator because you like the platform of that Dictator.
For those of you that think America is a Democracy or that the Federal Reserve is Federal, please do your country and the rest of us a favor by staying home on election day. You are far too uninformed to be choosing our next leader. America is a Republic and the Federal Reserve is privately owned with 12 member banks.
For those of you who just can't figure out what it is going through the minds of the Paul supporters I would suggest for starters watching the online videos Overview of America and America Freedom to Fascism.
I think I can speak for most Paul supporters when I say that living in this country is like being on an ice burgh where the majority of the people want to ride it out while the Paul people are screaming from the roof tops to get off the burgh and into the boat but Americans think the boat is too nutty of an idea. We have been playing this game of arguing over Democrat versus Republican with each having their left or right platform and we then tend to vote based on that and forget all about the Constitution as do our leaders.
No, no 'bitter end.' Aside from the fact that it isn't over until its over, the bitter ending will be for all those who prefer government fascism to liberty. http://www.squidoo.com/american-fascism
There are SO MANY that cannot, under any circumstances, vote for any of the 'annointed ones.' My hope is that both parties crumble in their own corruption.
Things will become increasingly clear before the actual election- IF we have one at all.
A meeting between Paul and Kelleher supporters might be more than interesting. Ridding Montana of Sen. Baucus is almost as important as eliminating the Fed and ending American imperialism. Kelleher is rock solid on Constitutional issues and individual liberties.
Comment By Ron Moss, 6-04-08The media silenced Ron Paul just like they did yto Andrew Jackson in 1835 when he paid off the national debt. The same reason exists today because we did not take seriously his advise warning about the intentions of the banking family terrorists. They have us enslaved again. Maybe Obama understands slavery and can free us
Remember it's not the color of our skin but the contents of our minds. Study The reformer, Protestant, Martin Luther. He had credentials. Compare to John Hagee McCain. Like Bush Jewish protector, Antichrist follower to the end.
Gee, why am I not surprised at the low percentage reported for Ron Paul in this state?? Wake up to vote count fraud, people. In mostly-hand balloted states, Ron Paul gets double or triple the percentage as the ones that use Diebold and ES&S;scanners....
"Released on December 14th, the $1.9 million EVEREST review found “critical security failures” in machines made by Election Systems and Software (ES&S;). Forty-four of Montana’s fifty-six counties use one or more ES&S;machines. M100 precinct counters are used in twenty-three Montana counties, the 650 central counters in eleven and the AutoMARK in all.
Researchers found the M100 optical scanners are “susceptible to attacks at the polling location that could affect election integrity,” and “an unauthorized individual could delete records of votes by zeroing out the vote totals.” The 650 central counter was, “successfully tampered to alter elections data in erratic ways and with obvious, but unpredictable results.” The AutoMARK’s sensitive inner machine was easily accessed by disassembling its cover.
A key finding of the review was that ES&S;had “failed to adopt, implement and follow industry standard best practices in the development of the system.” Many of these weaknesses have been known for several years, yet continue to exist in ES&S;systems."
In MO Ron Paul BEAT John McCain, but the GOP gave the delegates to Mitt Romney INSTEAD. http://abcnews.go.com/politics/elections/state?state=MT&ref=ipb
Romney isn't even running anymore.
I've blogged this issue before, http://mschaut.wordpress.com/2008/05/04/bizarre-msm-math-ron-paul-in-front-of-delegates/ and I'll have to do it again, but the truth is that the powers that be will do anything to avoid a RP presidency, no matter what the truth actually is.
The GOP is crumbling and its diehard supporters are bailing out in droves. Pro-life people can't, of course, vote democratic, but they also can't vote McCain who will solidify R v W instead of cancelling it out.
Clinton isn't conceding yet because she's waiting for the Michelle Obama hideously racist rant against whitey- a thing that will make the racist arguments against Ron Paul look like pablum.
Obama can't win, and he's too green to handle the issues that face America- the issues that will destroy us if we don't deal with them properly and immediately.
McCain is NO STATESMAN and will do as he is told by the puppet masters. Hillary will do ANYTHING to get the presidency- she sold us out at Chinagate and will do so again to satisfy her blind ambitions.
No matter how we slice it, the presidential elections and the candidates spell the death of America as we have known her, and the only options otherwise are either buried by media or discredited by lies, inflammation, distortions.
Amazing, isn't it? Ron Paul's supporters, who consistently offer intelligent explanations and offer rock-solid, verifiable evidence in favor of their positions are called nuts. The most compelling argument I have heard to date in support of Obama is, "Wow, he's such a great speaker!". I guess relevance, backbone, knowledge, integrity and experience are now less desirable marks of a viable candidacy than getting full marks in high school drama class. God help this country, whichever anointed puppet they haul into the Oval Office. In a few years, we won't recognize the US. And the "Change you can be believe in", will be the nightmare we wish we could wake up from.
Comment By mike, 6-04-08Paul-tards make me laugh.
Time to grow up kids.
John McCain 08.
Mike, I doubt you'll do any better with the economic mess coming our way than anyone else will, even if you spew the party line. Once they have it all they won't care about YOU or that you supported the powers that be. McCain knows NOTHING about economics, but the Economist has said that our current situation is far worse than the Great Depression: http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11453745
And that is just the tip of the iceberg...
Mike, you need to grow up. McLame is only going to make things worse! You should really do some research on your beloved McSame. I'll get you started. Click here: http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/51964
McCain's position on a host of issues is extremely problematic for the future of America. On immigration, John McCain joined with Ted Kennedy to sponsor an amnesty bill for illegal aliens. He voted to give social security dollars to illegal aliens. His Hispanic Outreach Director, Juan Hernandez, is a dual American-Mexican citizen widely known for his "Mexico First" declarations.
He repeatedly voted against the Bush tax cuts. He co-authored the McCain/Feingold campaign finance bill that was ruled to be an unconstitutional infringement of the First Amendment. Regarding the Second Amendment, the president of the NRA called John McCain the "worst 2nd Amendment candidate," and Gun Owners of America gives McCain a grade of F-.
John McCain co-sponsored the energy tax bill (along with his senate buddy Joe Lieberman), which would dramatically increase the cost of gasoline. He supports radical global warming legislation. He joined with Democrats (Gang of 14) to block the attempt to confirm conservative, strict constructionist judges. In 2000, he called Christian leaders "agents of intolerance." He has received the endorsement of the pro-abortion Republicans for Choice Political Action Committee. And let's not forget that John McCain was ringleader of the infamous Keating Five ethical scandal, which cost taxpayers more than $160 billion.
Consider, too, the top donors to John McCain's campaign. One will find many of the same multinational corporations that support Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton also supporting John McCain. Include in this list Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, Lehman Brothers, and JP Morgan Chase & Co. (By comparison, the top contributors to Ron Paul's campaign are [in order]: 1. Members of the U.S. Army, 2. Members of the U.S. Navy, 3. Members of the U.S. Air Force.) Source: click here
Even New York Post D.C. Bureau Chief Charles Hurt wrote, "[I]f history is any guide, the McCain we've seen of late on the campaign trail is the most conservative McCain we'll ever see."
To vote for John McCain is madness!
See also:
http://therealmccain.com/
“. . . the most reliable way to distinguish between lightworkers and darkworkers is to focus attention on the affect which they display rather than on the labels which they carry.” ~ Allisone Heartsong
VOTE FOR RON PAUL...WIN A FREE COUNTRY.
"Never doubt that a small group of committed, thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." ~ Margaret Mead, American anthropologist
Everyone be sure to sign this letter to the National GOP! Very Important.
We'll just let them know our position on matters...
http://www.lettertogop.com/
Here's a few more Mike...
http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com
http://www.realchange.org/mccain.htm
http://www.trueworldhistory.info/
"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." - Abraham Lincoln
"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." - Thomas Jefferson
I've been reading Dave Niewert's "In God's Country," and particularly about the "Freemen" and other out-there in right field conspiracy nuts. Seems to me that the Ron Paul candidacy has given a fresh voice to these folks. That's scary.
Comment By David Hart, 6-05-08I'm disappointed in the title and tone of this article, not in this campaign. After spending time with the author, my final words to him were "this is just the beginning of the Revolution".
I never hinted I felt we belong on the "outside". Ron Paul supporters are NOT going away, and in no way do we see 22% of the Primary vote as failure. Over 20,000 Montanan's voted for Ron Paul and the principles of freedom, liberty, honoring the Constitution and the rule of law - in spite of overwhelming media attention given to McCain as if Ron Paul was no longer in the race. If the Republican Party is smart, they will embrace and welcome us to the table, as it's obvious the Republican base is shrinking due to it's lack of integrity in following its own party platform. Just look at the 2 to 1 voter turnout Democrats had over Republicans in Montana -with similar outcomes nationwide.
Time will tell how the GOP treats us at the State Convention, but I'm thinking they will be wise enough not to disinfranchise over 20,000 passionate and committed voters. They need us more than we need them!
By the way, I'm 46 years old, not 49, and I hope the author took home those CD's he mentioned. Perhaps he'll learn the reality of the Federal Reserve banking system he currently believes is "conspiracy theory".
In the not too distant future, articles like these will make the masses weep, including the writer, as they recognize the truth and facts were right there, all along, not just in the form of some Ron Paul supporter telling them via text, but so easily searched and verfied online and offline.
History will look back on this election as one of the most revealing of how things went so wrong for decades and decades... but people are starting to ask questions, and people long ago lost trust in the media, which spun them right into supporting a war they now realize was fraudulently and unconstitutionally started. And the media, right now, is playing that same role with this election, and it's heartbreaking to witness. The same journalists and reporters duped into spinning war propaganda and then getting outraged about being duped aren't asking the tough questions of themselves as to why they'd fall for the equivalent again. Have any reporters looked into the CFR and sovereignty yet? And Obama's speaking engagements with that council? Or the facts about the Federal Reserve? I beg of you - do the research.
Perhaps one has to be duped a few dozen times before they recognize themselves as the pawns in a game where nobody really wins. If anyone is going to be bitter at the end of this election, it absolutely won't be those of us out here trying our hardest and most compassionately to reach out to those being horribly manipulated by propaganda. Including the media. No matter the outcome of this election, the continued work to educate people with the facts will continue - there's nothing to be bitter about when you're dealing with the principles that united this nation. Those ideas remain solid, no matter what.
I remember a time in my life when I, too, would dismiss a candidate like Ron Paul - but, thankfully, I finally got concerned enough to investigate things right to the very core - and when you get there, "Robert Struckman", you'll understand why your article got so many hits, and why so many would respond, and hopefully your next article on Ron Paul will be one of just as much concern and as fact-based as the responses.
God you Ron Paul folks are dumb.
Let me ask you something: what is more likely, that you small, socially awkward band of merry men are the only people that truly understand what is going on in the world and the United States, OR, you small band of merry men are a delusional sect worshiping a cult of personality?
... let me guess, like fundamental jesus-freaks, you think only you have been blessed with the truth and only your leader can lead us all to salvation.
Get with it folks:
Paul-tards for McCain, 08!
Mike,
Research the claims that we Paul-tards make, then come back and hold this discussion when you can approach it intelligently. Can you refute even ONE point that is made by Dr. Paul's campaign? Just one legitimate point, instead of attacking rabid-dog style, without addressing any issues at all? No, hmmmmm. Better start educating yourself. This game is for big boys and girls.
Mike - It is often during times of strife that there are only a small few who take the time to educate themselves on the world around them. You do not seem to be one of them, as your silly attacks have no substance in fact or no arguments at all to refute the policies of Ron Paul. Name calling is what one resorts to when they have lost an argument. Therefore, you have lost.
Look back in history to times when people thought the world was flat, the sun revolved around the earth, and our solar system was the only one with a planet. Those claims have all been refuted, most recently only since 1989 proving that there are other planets in the universe when the first one was found. Since then over 200 planets have been discovered.
The point - a small handful of intellectual, thoughtful, intelligent astromers looked at the facts and tried to get others to listen. They were called kooks and nutjobs, and even arrested for their beliefs. History certainly shows that the majority is not always in the right.
Consider also the tens of millions of Obama supporters who could only say the word "Change" to describe what Obama's platform is. Now, who are the real cult-like followers??
Perhaps you are one of them, "my friend".
We may wake up intime to realize McCain, Hagee,etc serves a GOD
described in the Epistles of John, "Antichrist". The reference is only found in those letters. It describes a spirit, not a man as Hagee imagines. He has enough income to print his own Bible. But to check him out go to the protestant reformer, Martin Luther, see what he said about the Jews. Hagee can't tell the diference between the Jew, The Israelite, or the Hebrew.
Mike doesn't comprehend the issues at hand...educating him is probably an exercise in futility.
March for Ron Paul: the Revolution is taking over Washington, D.C. on July 12, 2008 (Ron Paul is the keynote speaker).
http://www.revolutionmarch.com
"Historically, Revolutions are started by a select few, and are ignored by the mainstream for a long time — until they can no longer be ignored. That point has passed, and they can ignore us no longer.” - Ron Paul
Thanks for revealing how immature McCain supporters are, mike! You're only helping our cause...
Comment By Constitution Out-Dated, 6-05-08Mike, like Sean Hannity, the Neocons, John McCain and Bush/Cheney, we know you think the Constitution is outdated and simply shouldn't apply anymore. We know you think the government should make the laws, any laws it wants, instead of being held to the law. That way, we get to go to the nuclear war that you people want so badly. That way, the economy will be fixed... somehow. That way, the world will KNOW that AMERICA IS KING.
There are just lots and lots of us that think the government needs to obey the law of the land, the Constitution and if it does so, you don't get your nuclear war. You don't get all that testosterone surge, you don't get wealthy buddies that 'make' opportunities for slobs like the rest of us by taking the manufacturing elsewhere.
You're making your choice at the ballot box, and since there are so many like you, it is very likely you'll get your way.
We're making different choices, and we're going to do it at the ballot box too.
May the best patriots win.
Mike expresses it bluntly, perhaps too bluntly, but is, in essence, correct. Ron Paul's candidacy is (was) for the simple-minded, while real politics is too important and valuable to be trusted to such a mind-set. Sorry to have to break it to you, and I know this posting won't change any minds, but that's just the way it is...
Comment By brian, 6-05-08How is Paul's candiacy for the simple minded?
Let me throw out some lame attacks that aren't backed by anything...
Face it...McCain's candidacy was for those who didn't have a "hero" as a child
Romney's candidacy was for the slow-witted
Clinton's candidacy was for those with two X chromosomes
Obama's candidacy was for those with one-word politics (change)
Huckabee's candidacy was for the guitar players
Guiliani's campaign was for those who like to say "9/11"
The truth is that Paul's supporters became the most grassroots-oriented, educated supporters this country has seen in decades. They became masters of the delegate process, involved in the local politics, and are running for every office from city council to U.S. Senate. Can a single other candidate say the same thing about their supporters? No.
Hey folks,
I've removed a few out-of-line comments from the posts above. The point with the comments is to give you a chance to express yourselves on the subject of the story. Please do so in a constructive manner, without insults. If you're wondering what the rules are, read the comment policy below. I'm inclined generally to be pretty liberal with the rules, but, sheesh, tone it down a bit.
Thanks,
Bob Struckman
Paul has many good attributes but I can't support his agenda of liquidating public lands and other public natural resources.
Comment By Ron Moss, 6-06-08There is a solution. Obama offers Veep position to John McCain
That should accomplish both objectives, Experience and vacate
Only Ron Paul can solve the nations problems now
We are not bitter, and this is not the end.
Comment By Elliot, 6-08-08Timothy Border: Why? Individuals do not destroy natural resources when they own them. Paul is a strong supporter of property rights. People take good care of that which they own. Looking at rental housing makes this very obvious to me. When people own their land, they take the best care of it they can, because that will make it more valuable.
Comment By peter webster, 6-09-08Eliot:
Yes, people do destroy natural resources even when they own them. Think Anaconda. Think Boise-Cascade, Weyerhauser, and other timber companies. Millions and millions of privately-held timberlands in the Pacific Northwest were cut-over and then let go for back taxes. Think of the over-grazing on private ranchlands that spread onto public (read "our") lands throughout the west. To say otherwise is to ignore history. Private property is not the greatest thing since Creation—not by a long shot!
peter webster:
Ownership doesn't take care of the problem perfectly, but it does better than a centralized government plan. Your examples hint at some real problems: "back taxes" and "public lands." Some of these are examples of government failure to enforce private property rights. Enforcing these rights is not easy, but it's one of the important things government should do. At times, the courts decided that the "public good" was more important than private property rights, and thus allowed a certain level of pollution. This caused a lot of harm to the environment.
Also take a look at the Tragedy of the Commons. The worst destruction of natural resources occurred under the Soviet system, where private property wasn't respected.
One good way to improve the situation is to improve the quality and accessibility of information, so individuals can know how to better make sustainable use of their property.
I think this page has some interesting thoughts as well: http://blog.mises.org/archives/002175.asp