Why No Membership in World Trade Associations?

A View of the World Trade Association

Here's something to consider!

A 'New' Way To Run Things?

Politics as usual is something we say because of expecting government to run pretty much as usual. Well, a couple of months ago I looked at ghostwriting a book for someone about a political candidate. My first thought was 'who is this person'. The more I learned the more fascinated I became. Even though he came in third in the 1988 presidential race there was little about him in the main line media.The contract for writing the book fell through but I still had this information. Then I was asked to ghostwrite an article about this candidate, for free, which I did. So, after gathering the information, I could at least make use of it. Then there were other areas where his name came up. So, I thought I'd make use of the information and post it on an ongoing basis because he has turned out to be the 'not politics as usual' candidate nor has he been the usual government employee in the House of Representatives. He's obtained international recognition and a growing number of supporters from every aspect of society.

A New Hope In An Unexpected President?

A little rebellion now and then is a good thing…God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion. The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions, it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty. …And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? …The remedy is to set them right as to the facts, …The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time,…Thomas Jefferson

Dr. Ron Paul

Fringe Element

or

Modern Day Statesman?

Ron Paul a Traditionalist?

When Ron Paul is portrayed in main line media, that is, if and when he is, people have been known to say, “Dr. who?” Yet he is a Republican presidential candidate for 2008. He has one of the highest campaign fund raising records and supporters from all walks of life. So, why is he so popular and yet unknown?Originally from Pennsylvania, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas. In 1988 he ran for the presidency representing the Libertarian party while still a Republican.The Congressional Record shows a history of his voting according to what his website refers to as Constitutional lines. He votes against big government, voted against going to war in Iraq and is for a constructive withdrawal, and promotes states rights and individual rights. He says he uses the Constitution as his guide along with the wisdom of the people who started the country. And when you look at U.S. history he fits in with a long line of people who challenged government: the people who instigated the Boston Tea Party, Shay’s Rebellion, and the Whisky Rebellion, and people like Abraham Lincoln. This is why he is considered a ‘traditionalist’.So, how did he go from being a physician to a politician? He questioned the economics of government policies. Also, he is an individualist who challenges and asks people to question.In an interview with Jay Leno he pointed out that it’s the message people are excited about. He presents himself as a messenger telling people about individual liberty. He says that he is for human rights, that is ‘the rights of the individual’. His message is about freedom, prosperity, and hope. And he has a diverse following.

Beginning

Ron was born August 20, 1935 as Ronald Ernest in the small town of Green Tree in western Pennsylvania, near the city of Pittsburgh. The Paul dairy farm was home to his two older brothers, William being the oldest, then David, himself and two younger brothers, Jerrold, and Wayne. Inside the four room home the brothers shared a bedroom. Their births spanned seven years while the country went through the Great Depression and transitions in world relations.Peggy Paul, his Mother, was Margaret Dumont (1908-2001) before she married his Dad, Howard Caspar Paul (1904 -1997). His Dad’s father emigrated from Germany. His Dad’s brothers, Uncles Lewis and Arthur were owners, along with his Dad, of the Green Tree Dairy.Western Pennsylvania is a land of astonishing surprises from the beautiful fall color change of leaves to the hidden treasure of a mountain waterfall. The mountains are dotted with farms, towns, cities, and a very diverse people.But there are also the historical places like Fort Duquesne where Pittsburg was built. And a historical people who over the years disappeared but not entirely. People also migrated there from many places throughout the world whether the Middle East or Scotland and beyond. It has even had its rebels. Yes, even before Ron, there were people challenging a central government telling them what to do. This was also the land where the Whisky Rebellion took place, Western Pennsylvania. People who converted produce to alcohol for barter and shipping in the 1700’s. The central government tax on the alcohol was challenged as being unfair. There was a close time frame between this and Shay’s Rebellion and even the Boston Tea Party.Over the years economic difficulties influenced the region. Agriculture, lumber, mining, and industry in general were affected. The steel industry was king in Pittsburg, along with oil, but both of those went their way leaving a declining city. People were without jobs or even the opportunities for jobs. Those who could left. Then there is the migration to the south and southwest.The Western Pennsylvania life consisted of a hard work ethic both on the part of Ron’s family. On a dairy farm that extends to seven days a week. Animals don’t take a day off. It is a way of life that teaches self-reliance.

Government Involvement

One of Ron Paul's issues has to do with the extensiveness of government. He states that in general people do better with less government involvement.

Those who question this think that there should be more government involvement for things to work right.

"Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws."
- Plato (427-347 B.C.)

Compassion Is Not Religious Business

Compassion is not religious business,
it is human business,
it is not luxury,
it is essential for our own peace and mental stability,
it is essential for human survival.
Dalai Lama

Is the Voice of Reason Being Shunned?

by

Joan Reinbold

Enemy of the People is an eighteen hundreds play about polluted public baths. Even though people got sick from the water the town’s people wouldn’t follow the doctor’s advice to close and fix them. A repair meant lost income and prestige. .

Even the news media and schools were involved in the ‘mass think’ of not wanting to listen to reason. Not so unlike today. Multiple individuals and groups have their own version of what they consider the truth and what should be stopped.

The decision for the baths safety was initially placed within the realm of the person who said they needed to be closed. But when he pointed out the need for the closing, no one wanted to listen. Not unlike today. People become acclimated to a way of life and even if a change would be for the better there is resistance to change. Whether it’s with health, environment, or politics, people are reluctant to change.

The mass media presents what the major controllers of their individual ‘businesses’ dictate, while schools are subject to broader guidelines at the national level. The voices of ‘reason’ can so easily be ignored in the light of ‘how it is’ and ‘how it benefits’ everyone.

Unlike the play, the real world actions of the ‘voices of reason’ have the internet to state their positions. Of course, even there, there are limitations but the availability of information is more widespread. Even though ‘special interests’ groups may control certain sectors of media outlets there are ways for people to communicate.

The voice of reason may be shunned but somehow it finds a way to emerge, to grow beyond the controls of the few to reach the many. This has been true throughout human history.

This writing started after I’d read and listened to interviews of the U.S. political candidate Dr. Ron Paul. If you were to just go by the headlines or short clips of what he says it would be reasonable to decide that there is no voice of reason. But if you go beyond that and hear, ‘the rest of the story’ then what he says takes on a whole new meaning.

Are the media and leadership, and all of the people who have become ‘comfortable doing the same thing’ just reliving the play from long ago? Is there a lack of listening to the voice of reason in order to prevent any changes in the status quo?

Ways of life do change even if the voice of reason is not part of the decision making. How you as an individual decide is based upon your knowledge. What do you know? How do you find out?

Dr. Ron Paul is a presidential candidate who is not widely covered by the news media but is widely known on the internet. He too has been stating that a change needs to take place. Is he the modern day voice of reason saying that the current state of affairs is hurting people? He contends that a change in how the government runs things must take place.

Dr. Paul’s point of view is to return control of issues to the local level, to an individual level. The local level of dealing with a concern allows for a unique perspective. This view is based upon local values and understanding from an individual’s perspective and involvement. A home voice empowers people to become involved.