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The Revolution: a manifesto.

Article Excerpt
Ron Paul

New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2008

pp. xii + 173, bibliography, hardcover, $21.00

The Revolution was written by Ron Paul, U.S. Congressman from Texas, in the midst of his campaign for U.S. President in 2008. Paul outlines his philosophy of government consistent with the U.S. Constitution as it was framed in the eighteenth century. The "revolution" would be to return the U.S. government, which has long drifted away from its founding principles, back to those ideals of "liberty, self-government, the Constitution, and a noninterventionist foreign policy."

In Chapter 1, "The False Choices of American Politics," Paul describes a government of elitists and bureaucrats that offers the American people false choices, not in the genuine interest of the citizens, but in the interest of those elites. It is a picture of a government that views the people as "voters," a necessary encumbrance, rather than as "citizens" for whom it works. The Republican Party in the present time of President George W. Bush is virtually 180 degrees opposite to the Republican Party which Paul believes in, one described by 1920s Congressman Robert A. Taft as a party that supports the right of people to pursue life as they see fit without government interference, and with most political decisions made by citizens at the local level. Paul also argues for a non-interventionist foreign policy like that outlined by George Washington.

I doubt that the Republican Party ever really stood for these principles in practice. The party, started by Abraham Lincoln and his colleagues, has always been constituted by an uneasy coalition of freedom-loving constitutionalists such as those who worked for the abolition of slavery and large industries and corporations who have given significant financial support (Lincoln had been a lawyer for the Illinois railroad). One of the first actions of the Republican Party was to go to war to free the slaves and then consolidate the power of the federal government through post-war amendments to the Constitution limiting states' rights and opening the door for the Supreme Court to decide national economic and moral issues. For example, the 14th amendment (promoted to protect former slaves) was cited by the Court to give corporations the rights and protections of citizens without requiring corresponding duties, and to issue the abortion decision in Roe v. Wade. While freedom has always been a rallying cry for the Republican Party, the legislation passed has more often reflected the will of large industries with strong lobbies.

Paul garnered much support for his campaign because the principles he represents are close to America's founding spirit and the hearts of many citizens. They are the principles that enabled the United States to experience enormous economic growth. And, they are principles that attracted many Europeans, constrained by oppressive governments in their own countries, to immigrate to pursue happiness...

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