Ron Paul's Texas Straight Talk 12/31/12: New Year's Message to Congress: Follow the Constitution!

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New Year's Resolutions for Congress
by Ron Paul


As I prepare to retire from Congress, I'd like to suggest a few New Year's resolutions for my colleagues to consider. For the sake of liberty, peace, and prosperity I certainly hope more members of Congress consider the strict libertarian constitutional approach to government in 2013.

In just a few days, Congress will solemnly swear to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against ALL enemies, foreign and domestic. They should reread Article 1 Section 8 and the Bill of Rights before taking such a serious oath. Most legislation violates key provisions of the Constitution in very basic ways, and if members can't bring themselves to say no in the face of pressure from special interests, they have broken trust with their constituents and violated their oaths. Congress does not exist to serve special interests, it exists to protect the rule of law.

I also urge my colleagues to end unconstitutional wars overseas. Stop the drone strikes; stop the covert activities and meddling in the internal affairs of other nations. Strive to observe "good faith and justice towards all Nations" as George Washington admonished. We are only making more enemies, wasting lives, and bankrupting ourselves with the neoconservative, interventionist mindset that endorses pre-emptive war that now dominates both parties.

All foreign aid should end because it is blatantly unconstitutional. While it may be a relatively small part of our federal budget, for many countries it is a large part of theirs--and it creates perverse incentives for both our friends and enemies. There is no way members of Congress can know or understand the political, economic, legal, and social realities in the many nations to which they send taxpayer dollars.

Congress needs to stop accumulating more debt. US debt, monetized by the Federal Reserve, is the true threat to our national security. Revisiting the parameters of Article 1 Section 8 would be a good start.

Congress should resolve to respect personal liberty and free markets. Learn more about the free market and how it regulates commerce and produces greater prosperity better than any legislation or regulation. Understand that economic freedom IS freedom. Resolve not to get in the way of voluntary contracts between consenting adults. Stop bailing out failed yet politically connected companies and industries. Stop forcing people to engage in commerce when they don't want to, and stop prohibiting them from buying and selling when they do want to. Stop trying to legislate your ideas of fairness. Protect property rights. Protect the individual. That is enough.

There are many more resolutions I would like to see my colleagues in Congress adopt, but respect for the Constitution and the oath of office should be at the core of everything members of Congress do in 2013.

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[minnesotachris]

I've attempted to block the troll IAMHEWHOAM and remove his comments, but some of them remain for some reason. Please don't feed the trolls.

[banlindane]

Ron Paul is my President

[MrLongshotlouie]

Hate that I missed IAMHEWHOAM's comment.

Bring him back so that I can pound his ignorant ass.

[ruth b]

Dear Dr. Paul, Please don't stop these vital messages! Please keep praying and saying what's on your mind. God bless you and answer all your prayers in the affirmative. Peace, joy, and LIBERTY to you and all your loved ones.

[Liberty4Ever]

I'm very glad to hear that these recorded messages will continue. I have a "got freedom?" bumper sticker on my truck with the phone number, and I've seen a lot more around town.

Sadly, Congress not only doesn't make respect for our Constitution and their oath of office the core of everything they do, almost NOTHING Congress does is constitutional any more.

[efrem1]

He Supertroll, a supertroll, a supertrolli.  Whoa, oh, oh!!

[lust4design]

Great. You understood perfectly.

[lust4design]

You must be one of Bill O'Rilley Nemesis!

Clean the garbage from that fragile skull you Idiot!

Educate yourself and think! It ain't illegal Yet..

Question your beliefs and definitions if you dare!

[ZionistNWOJewsDid911]

Answer my questions. Weak attacks & ignoring my questions proves I'm right about you being a traitor. Why do you want to kill every person like Ron Paul who follows the CONSTITUTION? Why are you calling true Americans filthy animals who follow the Constitution? What is your agenda? Who are you working for? Are you a traitorous Zionist Jew? Tell us why you are here traitor.

ps One day I hope all traitors like you are dealt with with true justice by the rope around your traitorous necks.

[IAMHEWHOAM]

You're nothing but a fuckin' clown. 

[engine2truck6]

@IAMHEWHOAM stunning argument. How could I be so wrong? I see now (based on you lucid, tactful, and reasoned argument) that I should shun and disavow Ron Paul. Thank you for saving me. Dickhead.