The Economy

America became the greatest and most prosperous nation on earth in large part due to our respect for free markets and limited Constitutional government. However, we've strayed from those sound economic principles and our economy is in crisis. Ron Paul is the only candidate that predicted the economic collapse - we need the teacher, not the student.

"There are only two ways to conquer and enslave a nation. One is by sword, the other is by debt." - John Adams

The solution to our debt crisis is less government and more freedom. We need regulatory relief, real spending cuts, and a balanced budget. This market-driven, not government-driven, solution is the path back to a flourishing economy and more jobs for Americans.

When Ron Paul is President, he will:

• Cut spending $1 Trillion in year one by eliminating 5 unnecessary bureacracies (Energy, HUD, Commerce, Interior, and Education) and returning spending to 2006 levels.
• Cut taxes by lowering the corporate tax to 15%, allowing companies to repatriate capital without taxation, and ending the death tax and taxes on personal savings.
• Repeal ObamaCare, Dodd-Frank, and Sarbanes-Oxley.
• To stand with the American People, President Paul will take a salary of $39,336, approximately equal to the median personal income of the American worker.
• Achieve a balanced budget by year three.

Click here to read more about Ron Paul's Plan to Restore America

Find out more

Ron Paul Explains "Plan to Restore America" on Meet the Press

Ron Paul Interview with AARP on the Economy

Ron Paul on the World Debt Crisis

Official Ad - Plan

Learn Austrian Economics at TomWoods.com

Political Philosophy: The Economic Way of Thinking at LearnLiberty.org

End the Fed

Wealth, or property, is created by individuals through their time, energy, and talent. In the market place, we exchange that wealth consensually with one another by using currency. In order to uphold individuals' property rights, this currency, or money, must be sound. This means that each dollar must be backed by real assets like gold or silver. If it isn't, the value can be easily manipulated by those who have the authority to print the money. Without understanding this simple principle of economics, it is impossible to understand government.

"I believe the banking institutions having the issuing power of money are more dangerous to liberty than standing armies." - Thomas Jefferson

In 1913, just before Christmas, our Congress passed the Federal Reserve Act, reestablishing the central bank system and reliquinishing control of our currency to private bankers. The Federal Reserve prints money out of thin air to fund government and secretly bail out big banks and large corporations without any Congressional oversight or accountability. In the recent partial audit of the Federal Reserve, it was revealed that $16 Trillion in secret bailouts were given. This influx of capital in the economy causes inflation which means that you pay more for everything you buy.

Because of the Fed, the money that you and I work hard to earn and save becomes worth less year after year. This effectively steals your wealth. The so-called "stimulus" that politicians advocate only helps those that get it first - guess who that is? The big bankers and corporations.

Since the creation of the Fed, our crippling debt has risen to over $15 Trillion and is increasing at a rate of $2 Trillion per year. This is a direct consequence of the Fed's expansionary policies - it empowers government to grow because the federal budget deficit will be paid for without Congress having the difficult burden of raising taxes. These expansionary monetary policies lead to the drastic, artificial booms and busts that we experience today. With sound money, the Federal Reserve would not be capable of encouraging mass malinvestment, leading to a relatively stable economy.

The Fed is, by far, the primary cause of the economic collapse. It isn't the bust that we should be worried about, but the boom that caused it.

"Without the Fed, our money could not be inflated at the behest of big government or big banks. Your income and savings would not lose their value." - Ron Paul

Ron Paul is one of the foremost experts on economics. He has been championing the effort to audit and end the dishonest, immoral, and unconstitutional Federal Reserve for decades. The others are clueless.

Find out more

Money, Banking and the Federal Reserve - Must watch documentary on how wealth is created and how the Federal Reserve destroys it

A History of Economic Booms and Busts

Buy "End the Fed" by Ron Paul

"The Case Against the Fed" by Murray Rothbard (Free PDF download)

"The Case for Gold" by Ron Paul (Free PDF download)

Chapter on the Business Cycle from "Lessons for the Young Economist"

Taxes

Labor is simply the exchange of a person's time, energy, and talents for property, or money. Every American is entitled to the fruits of his labor. Isn't anything else slavery? High taxes stifle innovation, prevent saving, destroy production, crush the middle class and the poor, and discourage investment. Lower taxes allows more money to take care of yourself and your family, gives businesses greater opportunities to hire new workers, increase salaries, and expand.

Ron Paul has never voted for a tax increase during his over 20 years in Congress.

As President, Ron Paul will:

• Repeal capital gains taxes.
• Eliminate taxes on tips.
• Allow tax credits for private and home schooling, alternative energy vehicles, and health care.
• Lower and eventually eliminate the double-taxation on Social Security benefits.
• Repeal the 16th Amendment and abolish the income tax.

"The income tax is based on the assumption that the government owns you, owns all your income, and provides the conditions on which they allow you to keep a certain percentage. That, to me, is immoral and the founders didn’t like it. That’s why the Constitution had to be amended in 1913." - Ron Paul

Find out more

Chapter on Sales and Income Taxes from "Lessons for the Young Economist"

Learn Austrian Economics at TomWoods.com

Foreign Policy

Our Constitution entrusts the national defense of our nation to the federal government. It is probably the greatest role of our federal government and Ron Paul's policies will help us do so while being cautious of military lives, economic resources, and civil liberties here at home. In fact, Ron Paul has received more financial support from active-duty military personnel than either Obama or ALL of the other Republican candidates combined.

"Ron Paul is one of the outstanding leaders fighting for a stronger national defense. As a former Air Force officer, he knows well the needs of our armed forces, and he always puts them first. We need to keep him fighting for our country." - Ronald Reagan

Ron Paul knows that Thomas Jefferson had it right when he advocated "peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations" and "entangling alliances with none". This is not isolationism, but the foreign policy of peace and prosperity. Anything else makes us less safe by generating hatred (known as blowback) around the world for our forceful violations of national sovereignty. What if there were armed Chinese troops in Texas? (must-watch video!)

After 9/11, Ron Paul voted for the authority to target Osama bin Laden. However, he doesn't approve of the endless wars that are needlessly taking lives and bankrupting us financially. Why spend billions of dollars overseas in the midst of this economic crisis while we aren't even dealing with our own border security needs? Defending our nation starts at home, not in over 130 foreign nations policing the world and nation-building. Dr. Paul supports our troops and would bring them home.

"We can achieve much more in peace than we can ever achieve in these needless, unconstitutional, undeclared wars." - Ron Paul

As President, Ron Paul will:

• Secure our borders.
• Only wage wars that have been declared by Congress and have clear objectives.
• Avoid long and expensive land wars and nation building.
• Stop transferring wealth from Americans to rich dictators and the military-industrial complex through foreign aid.
• Repeal the Patriot Act.

"Sometimes it can be very uncomfortable to ask the right questions and face the truth. When a slick politician comes along and gives a much more soothing, self-congratulating version of events, it is very tempting to simply believe what we would like to hear. But listening to lies does not make us safer, even though it might make us feel better about ourselves. The truth is that ending these misguided wars and occupations will make us safer, more prosperous and more free." - Ron Paul

Find out more

Armed Chinese Troops in Texas - must watch speech by Ron Paul!

You Like Ron Paul, Except on Foreign Policy

"What If?" Speech on House Floor by Ron Paul

This is Why Troops Support Ron Paul

Ron Paul Discusses Foreign Policy on CBS "Face the Nation"

New Hope for Foreign Policy

Official Ad - Secure

Official Ad - He Served

Ron Paul on Blowback

The Original American Foreign Policy

Foreign Occupation Leads to More Terror

Ron Paul's Reading List on Blowback

2nd Amendment

The right to keep and bear arms is not only essential to a free society, but is the guardian of all other rights. Surely inappropriate use of weapons is subject to the law like all other wrongful initiations of force, but the right to defend oneself is critical to preserving liberty.

"No member of Congress pays more attention to Second Amendment issues than Dr. Ron Paul." - Dudley Brown, Executive Director, National Association for Gun Rights

Ron Paul has never voted for any legislation that would infringe on the right to keep and bear arms. In fact, during his time in Congress he has:

• Introduced legislation to repeal the "Brady Bill" and the so-called "Assault Weapons Ban."
• Authored legislation to end U.S. membership in the anti-gun United Nations to ensure American tax dollars are not used to fund global gun control schemes like the so-called "Small Arms Treaty."
• Written a bill that would allow pilots and specially trained law enforcement personnel to carry firearms in order to protect airline passengers and help prevent future 9/11-style attacks.

Education

Ron Paul holds the Constitutional view - the federal government has no authority to oversee education. Just look at the mess that the central-planning bureaucracy has gotten us: education costs more than ever and the quality has dropped significantly - two results that are seen time and time again when government gets involved. It is the families' role to educate their children and all government involvement should take place as close to home as possible.

As President, Ron Paul will abolish the federal Department of Education and return the role of education to the states, local communities, and parents.

"I think that the smallest level of government possible best performs education. Teachers, parents, and local community leaders should be making decisions about exactly how our children should be taught, not Washington bureaucrats." - Ron Paul

Dr. Paul also supports tax credits of $5,000 per child for parents who wish to homeschool their children. Why should those parents be subject to paying for the education of others while they incur the entire cost of educating their own children?

Additionally, Ron Paul would phase out all federally-backed student loans. This wealth-transferring government attempt to help people get a college education has generated an economic bubble much like the housing bubble that just collapsed. The government involvement has driven up costs and driven quality down. American college graduates have over $1 Trillion in debt and there are no jobs. When government gets out of the way, prices will drop significantly and alternative forms of education like apprenticeships will rightfully hold more value.

Find out more

Ron Paul on Education and Economy

Education Is Not A Right

Health Care

The solution to the health care crisis is freedom, not force. When government gets involved quality drops and costs skyrocket, which is exactly what has happened in our health care industry. Regulation and immoral mandates have prevented the market from developing cost-effective solutions. Hospitals and insurance companies have become inefficient burdens on the doctor-patient relationship. Ron Paul wants to fundamentally change the system to fix that problem.

"Freedom can deliver medical care much better than a bureaucracy in government." - Ron Paul

Ron Paul knows health care - he is a physician and has delivered over 4,000 babies. His experience in the field gives him credible insight into the problems we face and the free-market solutions that will restore control of health care to the doctors and patients.

As President, Ron Paul will work with Congress to:

• Repeal ObamaCare and end the unconstitutional mandate that Americans must carry government-approved insurance.
• Allow purchase of insurance across state lines.
• Provide tax credits and deductions for medical expenses.
• Make all Americans eligible for Heath Savings Accounts.

Find out more

Ron Paul on Healthcare Reform (CNN American Morning)

The Unconstitutionality of Healthcare Vote

What's Really Wrong with the Health Care Industry

Immigration

Legal immigration is valuable to our country. It allows those that work hard and obey the law to become citizens of our country - bringing with them to our market their skills and energy. The 11 million Illegal immigrants, however, are a $113 billion annual drain on our society. Proposed solutions like the REALID act fail to turn off the magnets that attract illegal immigrants and further erode Americans' rightful civil liberties.

Dr. Paul knows that to truly correct the problem, the causes need to be addressed. As President, he will:

• Enforce border security at home instead of overseas.
• Deny amnesty - a policy which encourages more illegal immigration.
• Abolish the welfare state - a huge incentive for illegal immigrants.
• End birthright citizenship.

"You cannot simultaneously have free immigration and a welfare state." - Milton Friedman

Find out more

Ron Paul on Immigration (ABC News Interview)

Energy

Just like with nearly everything else, the solutions to our energy needs are found in the free market, not in government intervention.

Decades of federal intervention have led to higher energy prices. Regulations, corporate subsidies, and excessive taxation have permitted the government to pick the forms of energy that succeed instead of the market. This meddling has to stop. When we get the red tape out of the way, private companies will have the freedom to innovate and explore new sources for energy here at home.

"Subsidies divert resources towards certain politically-favored fuel types while ignoring others. If the market were left alone, private investors would put their own capital into the most promising alternative fuels." - Ron Paul

As President, Ron Paul will:

• Remove restrictions on drilling at home.
• Repeal the federal gasoline tax.
• Lift government roadblocks to the use of coal and nuclear power.
• Eliminate the EPA.
• Make tax credits available for the purchase and production of alternative fuel sources.

The market has the potential to produce the affordable, environmentally-sound, reliable energy that we need. Ron Paul will get government out of its way.

Find out more

Ron Paul on Energy Subsidies

Ron Paul on Energy Exploration

Abortion

"One thing I do know: that life begins at conception and also the legal rights of the unborn begin at conception." - Ron Paul

As an OB/GYN who delivered over 4,000 babies, Ron Paul knows firsthand how precious, fragile, and in need of protection life is. He knows that in order to champion a free society, life must be protected - born and unborn. He has consistently put his beliefs into practice and saved lives by helping women seek options other than abortion, including adoption.

As President, Ron Paul will fight for life by:

• Immediately saving lives by effectively repealing Roe v. Wade and preventing activist judges from interfering with state decisions on life by removing abortion from federal court jurisdiction through legislation modeled after his "We the People Act."
• Defining life as beginning at conception by passing a "Sanctity of Life Act."
• Prohibit taxpayer dollars from being used to support abortions or "family planning" clinics.

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Ron Paul on Abortion

Official Ad - Life

War on Drugs

For liberty to be upheld, we must collectively uphold individuals' rights to do as they wish with their own bodies so long as they aren't hurting others. It isn't the role of some people to dictate forcefully the behavior of others. Who gets to decide what is moral? Ron Paul knows that this adherence to the cause of liberty is what is important.

Additionally, the war on drugs has failed. Government attempts at mandating specific morality has only eroded away at civil liberties while generating a black market full of violence.

"The federal war on drugs has proven costly and ineffective, while creating terrible, violent crime. But if you question policy, you are accused of being pro-drug. That is preposterous. As a physician, father, and grandfather, I abhor drugs. I just know that there is a better way — through local laws, communities, churches, and families — to combat the very serious problem of drug abuse than a massive federal-government bureaucracy." - Ron Paul

As President, Ron Paul will halt the Drug Enforcement Administration from infringing on states' rights, allowing states to effectively govern themselves.

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Ron Paul on Marijuana and the Drug War

Ron Paul on Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition

Ron Paul on the "Complete Failure" of the War on Drugs