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Title: Happy Birthday, Ron
Source:
Lew Rockwell
URL Source: https://www.lewrockwell.com/2019/08/jeff-deist/happy-birthday-ron/
Published: Aug 21, 2019
Author: Jeff Deist
Post Date: 2019-08-21 07:48:38 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 5197
Comments: 52
The remarkable life of Ron Paul began in Pittsburgh 84 years ago today, in 1935—seven months after Elvis Aaron Presley came into the world. We wish him a very happy birthday, and many more years of health and productivity. It’s a rare person who peaks later in life, but Dr. Paul manages to do just that. Anyone who meets him notices his energy, his distate for waiting or standing still, honed by decades as a doctor. In his eighties he is exceedingly fit, riding his bike, walking, tending his garden, and frequently hosting family and guests at his home. His daily Liberty Report, live on YouTube, provides an excellent outlet for his pro-peace message without the constraints (and tedious travel) of Congress. Born into the teeth of America’s Depression, young Ron was fortunate that his father’s dairy business survived very tough times in the Steel City. His early years found him racing back and forth from the delivery truck early in the morning, in all kinds of weather, replacing empty bottles with fresh milk and cream. This earned him a few cents, as did cleaning bottles and inspecting eggs with a special lamp to discard those with blood spots. His work ethic carried over into a notable high school career as a track athlete, where he set the Pennsylvania state record in the 200 meter dash. During those same years in Pittsburgh he was doubly fortunate to meet his future bride Carol Wells. A teenage Carol summoned up the courage to ask him, in 1952, to escort her to a Sadie Hawkins party for her 16th birthday. They’ve been together ever since, and married more than sixty years. The couple sits atop of a family pyramid of children (5, including 3 MDs), grandchildren (19), and great granchildren (10 and counting). Ron points out that none of his children graduated from college with debt. Medicine was his calling, so after Gettyburg College in Pennsylvania the Pauls headed off to Duke medical school in the late 1950s. The Korean War interrupted toward the end of his residency, so rather than facing buck-private status as a draftee Ron reluctantly enlisted in the Air Force as a flight surgeon. His rationale was simple: intead of carrying a rifle and killing peope, he would be a healer. He likes to recall a memorable moment from his Air Force years, during a refueling stop in Afghanistan. A superior office looked up at the Khyber Pass mountain, and said, “See those mountains? These people have never been conquered.” Quite a prescient moment, considering what the Soviet and American incursions into that country would bring decades later. I had the great fortune to meet Dr. Paul in 1988, as a young college student enthused by his first presidential campaign (on the Libertarian Party ticket). The crowds were small back then; a poorly-lit meeting room in a downscale Ramada Inn in Santa Ana, California hosted maybe 40 of us. Cell phones and email didn’t exist, and thus organizing a third-party campaign on a shoestring budget was not easy. But Ron persevered, getting quite familiar with Southwest Airlines and budget motels. He was laying the groundwork—after years in Congress, countless small gatherings, and endless appearances on tiny media outlets—for bigger things many years later. I stayed in touch with Ron through his campaign manager, the late Kent Snyder. Kent, a quiet hero who died far too young, would go on to lead Ron’s much bigger and better 2008 presidential campaign. Sadly Kent missed out on the 2012 campaign. But I recall one early evening that year, a few hours before an important CNN debate in Washington DC at Constitution Hall. Mitt Romney was huddled nearby in a hotel suite with dozens of staffers and advisors, doing last minute testing of words and phrases and thinking about how to evade or deflect questions. “What tie to wear? How does my hair look? Will Wolf Blitzer ask us about healthcare first? Will anyone bring up Massachusetts?” Ron, by contrast, was utterly unperturbed as he enjoyed a simple can of soup in his condominium. He already knew how he would answer any questions thrown at him, and didn’t need to worry about obfuscating or contradicting past statements. It wasn’t about him, it was about the message. His distinct lack of parsed words and smooth talking were in fact what attracted so many people to that message. He never sounded like a politician. His consistent philosophy meant Ron didn’t pander to particular audiences. He advocated drug legalization, for instance, despite running for Congress in a conservative south Texas district. And he advocated it on the grounds of personal liberty and sovereignty over one’s body, not just the bad societal effects of prohibition. His opponent in the 1996 congressional election, the late Charles “Lefty” Morris, tried to paint him as a dangerous libertarian. But Ron was too well-known as an obstetrician throughout the district; with his white lab coat and All-Amercan family he was anything but a radical. I recall dining with him in restaurants several times when someone would approach the table and say, “Hi Dr. Paul, you delivered me!” This was a huge political advantage, and a lesson for candidates. In fact he delivered roughly 4,000 babies over his career, and his daughter Joy carries on the tradition in her OB-GYN practice. Whether speaking at UC Berkely or BYU, to a black church group or a GOP dinner, his message was always consistent: peace, freedom, sound money, less government power, more personal liberty. Let’s hope that message still resonates. Happy Birthday Ron.
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 44.
#1. To: Deckard (#0)
(Edited)
You should be FAIR, by congratulating Bernie Sanders on his birthday, since Ron Paultard and Sanders have one thing in common... they are political KOOKS that are so kooky, both, in all the years elected, only wrote and passed one legislative bill. Although, both have rabid asshole supporters that call themselves a “revolution”... but only Socialist Sanders managed to get 1/2 of our youngest voting sheep, to buy his kook bullshit. Paultard still attracts just 6%.
Writes Tom Woods: The heroic Ron Paul turns 84 today. I thought I’d share this with you: it’s a reflection by the young(ish) Michael Heise, the founder of the Mises Caucus of the Libertarian Party. “How many bills did Ron Paul get passed” is a dumb metric. Most of these bills are evil, and many others are fleeting or insignificant. He changed the way many people thought. He got them reading important works (seriously, what other presidential candidate ever accomplished that?).
why did he WASTE his time then?
Perish the thought. He became a multi-millionaire. That's not a waste of time.
Perish the thought. He became a multi-millionaire. That's not a waste of time. He didn't make his money catering to lobbyists if that's what you are insinuating. Total net worth: $2.4 to $5.4 million While nowhere near the poor house, Ron Paul has more modest assets than some of his deep-pocketed rivals. The Texas congressman also has a personal loan out from the First National Bank of Lake Jackson that totals $250,000 to $500,000 with a 5-year term. Paul lists a Washington-area condo worth $100,000 to $250,000 as an asset, and has an investment portfolio stuffed full of mining stocks. For example, the sound-money advocate holds $100,000 to $250,000 in Barrick Gold Corporation and $500,000 to $1,000,000 in Goldcorp Inc., two publicly traded mining companies. In all, the congressman is invested in more than 20 separate companies that have the words "mining," "mines," "gold" or "silver" in their name. Furthermore, he is one of the few congressmen who have declined an annual pension from the gooberment. Representative Ron Paul (R-TX) today reaffirmed his opposition to what he calls the “immoral” congressional pension system by refusing to participate in it. While serving in Congress from 1976 to 1984, Paul chose not to participate in the system, despite a taxpayer-funded pay-out which is more lucrative than any private system. He said high-dollar perks like the pension are areas that could be safely cut immediately, without hurting a single American taxpayer. You might even like to know that Dr. Paul's ...medical practice refused big carriers like Medicare and Medicaid payments, and Paul instead worked pro bono, arranged discounted or with custom payment plans for patients in need.
Total net worth: $2.4 to $5.4 million RP's money comes from his gold investments, largely from the years he practiced medicine when he wasn't serving in Congress. RP also did not allow his children to go into debt. He paid for their college himself, got 3 children an MD, and they started their careers debt-free. Admirable.
[Gatlin #5] why did he WASTE his time then? [nolu chan #27] Perish the thought. He became a multi-millionaire. That's not a waste of time. [Deckard #30] He didn't make his money catering to lobbyists if that's what you are insinuating. Total net worth: $2.4 to $5.4 million ... You might even like to know that Dr. Paul's ...medical practice refused big carriers like Medicare and Medicaid payments, and Paul instead worked pro bono, arranged discounted or with custom payment plans for patients in need. [Tooconservative #31] RP's money comes from his gold investments, largely from the years he practiced medicine when he wasn't serving in Congress. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Paul ... served as the U.S. Representative for Texas's 22nd congressional district 1976 to 1977 and again from 1979 to 1985, and for Texas's 14th congressional district from 1997 to 2013. I merely observed that, as almost all career politicians, Ron Paul became a multi-millionaire. As everyone knows, congress critters do not get rich on their salary, but by application of their near universal business acumen. I am in awe at the financial ability of all of them, even those who work pro bono.
As an ob-gyn and as a gold investor. I think he did make a little money writing too. He was more successful in his business and in investing than other far better known House and Senate leadership members in both parties. Ron Paul does own a lot of gold but he is primarily a mining investor, mostly gold. And there is a difference between a gold trader and a gold mining investor.
None of them get rich from their congressional salary. That makes them well off, but not multi-millionaires. Bill and Hill made a fortune with their investments. Career politicians seem to have especially good instincts with their investments. They are incredibly successful. It almost makes one wonder why they selflessly dedicate themselves to public service. But clearly, Ron Paul did not waste his time. He was quite productive. Of the 620 bills sponsored by Ron Paul during his long career in the House of Representatives, only four have ever made it to a vote on the House floor and only one became an actual law. Dashiell Bennett [excerpt] Paul, who has served 11 terms in three different stages dating back to 1976, didn't get a single law passed until 2009, when he authored a bill that allowed for the sale of a customs house in Galveston, Texas. Allowing the sale of that customs house is a record of legislative success that Ron Paul's constituents and supporters can be proud of. As is becoming a multi-millionaire.
There are quite a few celebrated pols in D.C. who have had even less legislation passed than RP. And of the Congressmen who have passed a lot more items, typically the primary House committee chairmen of the majority party, they have indeed passed much more legislation. Unfortunately for the GOP, their record of "success" is a crashing failure to enact the policies they have pledged to pass to the gullible voters. So Ron Paul doesn't have a record of saying he wants less government and then conspiring with Dems to pass budgets with ever-increasing deficits. Or endless military adventures on the taxpayers' dime and taking donations from defense contractors. Or cutting taxes at the cost of exploding debt for the next generation. There was and is a huge value in just saying "NO!" to such examples of legislative "success". It isn't a success at all but a failure of government. And Ron Paul certainly did earn his title of "Dr. No" over the years. A few others have had the nickname since RP's retirement but it was far less known as a political tactic prior to RP's record. And how much both parties hated any such display of independence with both parties steadily trying to defeat Ron Paul. And failing to do so miserably. And for all these so-called successes that one might claim were passed by the alleged leaders of the House, where the GOP once again betrays its voters (but not its donors who crave tax cuts and military adventure/spending), these are where the huge federal deficits come from and the huge debt that is being passed to the next generation to pay off. This is where the power of government is hugely enlarged at the expense of private scope of financial freedom or domestic liberties. This is where our military adventures come from. I'll take Ron Paul, just saying "No, hell no!" any day over your apparent notion of what makes a congresscritter a legislative "success".
#45. To: Tooconservative, nolu chan, Ded Kennedy, a beautiful frendship, John Fn Kerry, *The Two Parties ARE the Same* (#44)
I'll take Ron Paul, just saying "No, hell no!" any day over your apparent notion of what makes a congresscritter a legislative "success". The REAL Republicans & Democrats love the legislative "accomplishments" of their name brand congresscritters.
As a constituent, I want a congress critter who can get something done. I do not need a congress critter whose signal accomplishment is making himself a multimillionaire. Just saying "No, hell no!" is an accomplishment in the same manner as members of the Squad saying "Resist!" or King Canute setting his crown by the seashore and ordering the tide not to come in.
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#3. To: GrandIsland (#1)
...in all the years elected, only wrote and passed one legislative bill.
#5. To: Deckard (#3)
Most of these bills are evil, and many others are fleeting or insignificant.
#27. To: Gatlin (#5)
why did he WASTE his time then?
#30. To: nolu chan, Gatlin, Tooconservative (#27)
(Edited)
why did he WASTE his time then?
#31. To: Deckard, nolu chan, Gatlin (#30)
(Edited)
He didn't make his money catering to lobbyists if that's what you are insinuating.
Furthermore, he is one of the few congressmen who have declined an annual pension from the gooberment.
#40. To: Tooconservative, Deckard, Gatlin (#31)
Paul served as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Air Force from 1963 to 1968, and worked as an obstetrician-gynecologist from the 1960s to the 1980s.
#42. To: nolu chan (#40)
I merely observed that, as almost all career politicians, Ron Paul became a multi-millionaire.
#43. To: Tooconservative (#42)
As an ob-gyn and as a gold investor. I think he did make a little money writing too.
Ron Paul's Long Record of Glorious Failures in Congress
Dec 27, 2011
#44. To: nolu chan, Deckard, hondo68 (#43)
Of the 620 bills sponsored by Ron Paul during his long career in the House of Representatives, only four have ever made it to a vote on the House floor and only one became an actual law.
Replies to Comment # 44. 
#50. To: Tooconservative (#44)
I'll take Ron Paul, just saying "No, hell no!" any day over your apparent notion of what makes a congresscritter a legislative "success".
End Trace Mode for Comment # 44.
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