I met with a fellow CD3 alternate yesterday, and as with any gathering of political nerds, the question that usually arises at some point is: "What got you into politics?"
Two simple words, one life-changing man: Ron Paul. Now I assure you this blog is not a Paul-love-fest (for those who may not be fans, don't worry; however for those of you who are supporters, you may like my references to him), but his influence in my awakening is paramount.
In 2007, I was starting on my Master's work (which surprisingly ended up being about expanding government and dwindling liberties) and I remember tuning briefly into some of the GOP debates and hearing clips of Paul speak and watching other candidates mock and roll their eyes at him. I don't recall if I agreed with anything he said then, but I admit most of the "news" I read or watched came from mainstream media (MSM), and they painted him in a negative light. Sadly, I was one of those "sheeple" that I comment on now - easily swayed by what I'm fed on television. But this sheeple (if it can still be termed that when referring to one person... sheep-person... sheeperson?) was dipping her toes into the liberty movement with her thesis research revolving around post-9/11 film studies and focusing on the messages of tyrannical government and insurgent freedom in V for Vendetta and Equilibrium (both excellent movies if you have not seen).
After that, I kind of floated away from politics yet again after O was elected into office in 2008. The world seemed happy with him (giving him a Nobel Peace Prize for... well, I'm not quite sure what!), so I was apathetically so as well.
Three years would have to pass before waking up to the full decline of our country. I must forever be grateful to the summer of 2011 when I decided not to take on a summer job or classes and simply relax and refuel for the following school year (I forgot to mention, finished my Master's in 2009 and continued into a PhD program). Within a month's time, with the internet as my news source and my Facebook turning from a socializing site into a political/social commentary network, my life changed.
Other than my own personal research on Paul and watching many of his old and current YouTube videos, I recall hearing a lot about his book The Revolution: A Manifesto. I purchased it, read it, and fell in love with the idea of restoring America to it's Constitutional roots and fighting for true freedom and liberty.
If you do not support Ron Paul, I highly recommend the book.
If you love our Constitution and want to get back to following it, I highly recommend the book.
If you are alright with the US interventionist foreign policy, I highly recommend the book.
If you believe in any personal freedoms, I highly recommend the book.
If you consider yourself a Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative, or if you have not read the book... I highly recommend that you do.
This is the short story of how I joined the r3volution. What is your story?
"Ron Paul cured my apathy"
ReplyDeleteI'll have to think about this to figure out what drew me in. I think it was my attraction to the US Constitution through Michael Badnarik that really did it. It was obvious that there was only one Repupublican presidential candidate (sans Gary Johnson) that was remotely serious about the Constitution.
Ron Paul cured my apathy too.
ReplyDeleteBefore this year, I have not been active in politics. I have had an opinion about politics but never really got active in promoting what I know to be true.
Over the past 10 years I have slowly but surely come to identify myself as a Libertarian/Voluntarian. It wasn't an easy journey but the more I learned about government and the more I listen to people like Ron Paul, Alex Jones, Judge Napolitano, John Stossel and Adam Kokesh the angrier I got.
I woke up and now its time to get involved.