So I want to start a series of posts on why you should vote for Ron Paul. This will be an exceedingly difficult task for me and it is likely that I will not succeed because it will require that I set aside the time and energy to come up with 3+ posts on the subject in order for it to rightfully be labeled a series. I am not at all confident in my ability to accomplish this--not because of the inadequacy of the topic but because of the inadequacy of my personal diligence. So for now I will think of this writing as the post that is the first in what will hopefully be known as a series.
Now to get to the point.
You owe us. By "you" I refer to just about everyone in this country that makes up the generation composed of my generation's parents and before. Allow me to be frank about this: we're screwed and it's your fault. It is very well possible--I'd lean toward probable--that the state of the union is beyond recovery at this point. That means that whatever you do, whoever you vote for, there is no guarantee that it is even possible to rectify the situation at this late date. However, that sad reality does not relieve you of your responsibility to do the right thing and personally repent of the poor decisions you have made and the evils you failed to prevent. You and your peers contributed to bringing about the present dire situation; now own your mistakes like adults.
Many of you likely do not understand how dire the situation is--a fact which only adds to your guilt. You should have educated yourself a long time ago. People were counting on you--your children and grandchildren trusted you. You failed. At this very moment, according to usdebtclock.org, the total national debt stands around $15 trillion, just slightly more than total GDP. Now, there is no easy way for any of us to comprehend what a number like 15 trillion means (which should be a huge red flag already), but I'll try to help you conceptualize the problem. This could be thought of as just under $50k for every man, woman, and child in this country from nursery to nursing-home. Or it could be seen as the 136k for every tax-payer. That debt to gdp ratio tells us that even if the government stopped spending money tomorrow and taxed 100% of every dollar spent for a year, the national debt would almost be paid for. That is what is called an impossible situation.
Now I'm not going to go on about the implications of all this on a society (and they are legion). That is something you should have been figuring out decades ago. I'm also not going to use this post to touch on the myriad of issues related to civil liberties, unconstitutional powers, or social debasement. The simple facts of the fiscal situation in this country should be enough to make you realize that you screwed up--assuming you care. Of course, judging by the your actions the only reasonable conclusion is that you obviously do not care. Like spoiled children, you had the proverbial wealth of the American experiment handed to you and you managed to spoil it faster than would have been believed possible.
To bring this back around to the point of this post, Ron Paul is nearly the only person on the political horizon (and the only candidate for president) that both understands the situation and isn't himself one of the perpetrators. He is the only candidate that comes close to being serious about initiating the kind of action that is needed if there is even a chance of rectifying the tragedy you have created. I am not employing hyperbole when I say that if there is still any political hope whatsoever of salvaging this country through civil means it will be gone after this election. We are certainly approaching a tipping point, beyond which everything changes. For our sake, for the sake of those who are just beginning to inherit your disaster, do the right thing for my generation and your children. Turn off the television. Learn the cause of Liberty. Vote Ron Paul.
Now to get to the point.
You owe us. By "you" I refer to just about everyone in this country that makes up the generation composed of my generation's parents and before. Allow me to be frank about this: we're screwed and it's your fault. It is very well possible--I'd lean toward probable--that the state of the union is beyond recovery at this point. That means that whatever you do, whoever you vote for, there is no guarantee that it is even possible to rectify the situation at this late date. However, that sad reality does not relieve you of your responsibility to do the right thing and personally repent of the poor decisions you have made and the evils you failed to prevent. You and your peers contributed to bringing about the present dire situation; now own your mistakes like adults.
Many of you likely do not understand how dire the situation is--a fact which only adds to your guilt. You should have educated yourself a long time ago. People were counting on you--your children and grandchildren trusted you. You failed. At this very moment, according to usdebtclock.org, the total national debt stands around $15 trillion, just slightly more than total GDP. Now, there is no easy way for any of us to comprehend what a number like 15 trillion means (which should be a huge red flag already), but I'll try to help you conceptualize the problem. This could be thought of as just under $50k for every man, woman, and child in this country from nursery to nursing-home. Or it could be seen as the 136k for every tax-payer. That debt to gdp ratio tells us that even if the government stopped spending money tomorrow and taxed 100% of every dollar spent for a year, the national debt would almost be paid for. That is what is called an impossible situation.
Now I'm not going to go on about the implications of all this on a society (and they are legion). That is something you should have been figuring out decades ago. I'm also not going to use this post to touch on the myriad of issues related to civil liberties, unconstitutional powers, or social debasement. The simple facts of the fiscal situation in this country should be enough to make you realize that you screwed up--assuming you care. Of course, judging by the your actions the only reasonable conclusion is that you obviously do not care. Like spoiled children, you had the proverbial wealth of the American experiment handed to you and you managed to spoil it faster than would have been believed possible.
To bring this back around to the point of this post, Ron Paul is nearly the only person on the political horizon (and the only candidate for president) that both understands the situation and isn't himself one of the perpetrators. He is the only candidate that comes close to being serious about initiating the kind of action that is needed if there is even a chance of rectifying the tragedy you have created. I am not employing hyperbole when I say that if there is still any political hope whatsoever of salvaging this country through civil means it will be gone after this election. We are certainly approaching a tipping point, beyond which everything changes. For our sake, for the sake of those who are just beginning to inherit your disaster, do the right thing for my generation and your children. Turn off the television. Learn the cause of Liberty. Vote Ron Paul.
Dude, you’re frustrated. I get that. But stridently & arrogantly berating, belittling & blaming “just about everyone” substantially older than you is not a good motivator for getting people to do what you want, namely, to vote for Ron Paul. Motivational speech this is not. This is a mugging.
ReplyDeleteIf you want us to vote for Paul - other than for our supposed need for penance - why not try telling us why? “Ok, we screwed up! So we’ll vote for what’s his name, but please tell us you like us!” Really?
Gabe, you have many, many great things to say & I love your heart & love talking with you. But I’ve always been under the impression that a blog should be written in such a way as to encourage people to return for more reading. I’ll come back, but only because I love you & am confident that you can do better than this.
Brent does an excellent job of pointing out the tensions inherent in the crisis in our country. I can sympathize with you Gabe - I'm a ranter. I will proliferate my opinions across the forum of public opinion with a frenzy. But, the thing that Ron Paul does with a perfect mastery though is to point out our crisis, our dire circumstance, our errors and mistakes, without demagoguery. While pointing out errors and laying blame can be synonymous; they can have impacts that are antithetical on the population you're reaching out towards. I was already on board with the concepts before reading, but the delivery makes the product turn sour in my stomach.
Delete-Jae
Thanks for the great feedback guys. I concede that it is an ugly rant. I appreciate your patience and grace. I assure you that you won't find everything I post so distasteful, and my next submission on the subject of Paul will have less antagonism and more substance.
ReplyDeleteLOL your friends' responses were pretty funny. They sure do take Ron Paul seriously.
DeleteI've never been one to shy away from just saying it how it is. You have to be tactful, yes, but not sacrifice your point for flowers and candy.
I am bitter that we have been cheated. Our previous two or three generations cowardly sacrificed their freedom and our future for an illusion of security and utopia. They either were lazy enough to not do their homework and therefore, believed the lie of the supposed "well-meaning" leaders (who were likely more power-hungry than many give them credit for) who created this present society, or they were selfish enough to legitimize stealing from people (especially hard-working, successful people) under the guise of compassion and equality so that they could get what they wanted in the short-term.
I know that you know that not everyone who preceded us is to blame for this. But many of them are. So many of these programs that are sucking us dry now were passed with too little resistance.
I hear ya bro.