Once again Ron Paul looses me on foreign policy. In some aspects, I think Ron Paul is correct. Why are we still paying for defense in Europe and Japan? Let these nations pay for their own military needs. We can no longer afford to pick up their slack. I also agree that when we prop up dictators we pay for it in the end. The number one reason why America plays footsie with dictators is because we lack energy independence. It is this lack of independence why we must compromise our principles of freedom and democracy .
However, even if we were energy independent, America simply cannot bury its head in the sand. As we retreat from the world stage others rush in to fill the void. In our absence the world gets shaped into ways unlike our own and eventually those conflicting views will come knocking on our door. It would be far better to get our energy independence and then engage the world with true principles of freedom and democracy.
Foreign policy aside, I think Ron Paul is a man ahead of his time on the spending issue and the Federal Reserve. Sadly though, Donald Trump is right, Ron Paul will never be president. I think on of the biggest stumbling blocks for Ron Paul getting elected is his supporters. It seems so many of them are brash and cult like. Some of them refuse to realize that winning a campaign means building a coalition. You cannot build a coalition by shouting down those you disagree with or insulting those you do not share your vision. If Ron Paul supporters truly want their guy in the White House, then they will have to take the time to win over some hearts and minds in the Republican Party. It's not impossible, they are a dedicated lot.