Ron Paul calls for "League of Non-Voters"

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Ron Paul made the following speech at the National Press Club today:
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The coverage of the presidential election is designed to be a grand distraction. This is not new, but this year, it's more so than ever.

Pretending that a true difference exists between the two major candidates is a charade of great proportion. Many who help to perpetuate this myth are frequently unaware of what they are doing and believe that significant differences actually do exist. Indeed, on small points there is the appearance of a difference. The real issues, however, are buried in a barrage of miscellaneous nonsense and endless pontifications by robotic pundits hired to perpetuate the myth of a campaign of substance.

The truth is that our two-party system offers no real choice. The real goal of the campaign is to distract people from considering the real issues.

Influential forces, th e media, the government, the privileged corporations and moneyed interests see to it that both party's candidates are acceptable, regardless of the outcome, since they will still be in charge. It's been that way for a long time. George Wallace was not the first to recognize that there's "not a dime's worth of difference" between the two parties. There is, though, a difference between the two major candidates and the candidates on third-party tickets and those running as independents.

The two parties and their candidates have no real disagreements on foreign policy, monetary policy, privacy issues, or the welfare state. They both are willing to abuse the Rule of Law and ignore constitutional restraint on Executive Powers. Neither major party champions free markets and private-property ownership.

Those candidates who represent actual change or disagreement with the status quo are held in c heck by the two major parties in power, making it very difficult to compete in the pretend democratic process. This is done by making it difficult for third-party candidates to get on the ballots, enter into the debates, raise money, avoid being marginalized, or get fair or actual coverage. A rare celebrity or a wealthy individual can, to a degree, overcome these difficulties.

The system we have today allows a President to be elected by as little as 32% of the American people, with half of those merely voting for the "lesser of two evils". Therefore, as little as 16% actually vote for a president. No wonder when things go wrong, anger explodes. A recent poll shows that 60% of the American people are not happy with the two major candidates this year.

This system is driven by the conviction that only a major party candidate can win. Voters become convinced that any other vote is a "wasted" vote. It's time for that conclusion to be challenged and to recognize that the only way not to waste one's vote is to reject the two establishment candidates and join the majority, once called silent, and allow the voices of the people to be heard.

We cannot expect withdrawal of troops from Iraq or the Middle East with either of the two major candidates. Expect continued involvement in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Georgia. Neither hints of a non-interventionist foreign policy. Do not expect to hear the rejection of the policy of supporting the American world empire. There will be no emphasis in protecting privacy and civil liberties and the constant surveillance of the American people. Do not expect any serious attempt to curtail the rapidly expanding national debt. And certainly, there will be no hint of addressing the Federal Reserve System and its cozy relationship with big banks and international corporations and the pol iticians.

There is only one way that these issues can get the attention they deserve: the silent majority must become the vocal majority.

This message can be sent to our leaders by not participating in the Great Distraction—the quadrennial campaign and election of an American President without a choice. Just think of how much of an edge a Vice President has in this process, and he or she is picked by a single person—the party's nominee. This was never intended by the Constitution.

Since a principled non-voter sends a message, we must count them and recognize the message they are sending as well. The non-voters need to hold their own "election" by starting a "League of Non-voters" and explain their principled reasons for opting out of this charade of the presidential elective process. They just might get a bigger membership than anyone would guess.

Write-in votes should not be discouraged, but the electoral officials must be held accountable and make sure the votes are counted. But one must not be naïve and believe that under today's circumstances one has a chance of accomplishing much by a write-in campaign.

The strongest message can be sent by rejecting the two-party system, which in reality is a one-party system with no possible chance for the changes to occur which are necessary to solve our economic and foreign policy problems. This can be accomplished by voting for one of the non-establishment principled candidates—Baldwin, Barr, McKinney, Nader, and possibly others. (listed alphabetically)

Yes, these individuals do have strong philosophic disagreements on various issues, but they all stand for challenging the status quo—those special interest who control our federal gov ernment. And because of this, on the big issues of war, civil liberties, deficits, and the Federal Reserve they have much in common. People will waste their vote in voting for the lesser of two evils. That can't be stopped overnight, but for us to have an impact we must maximize the total votes of those rejecting the two major candidates.

For me, though, my advice—for what it's worth—is to vote! Reject the two candidates who demand perpetuation of the status quo and pick one of the alternatives that you have the greatest affinity to, based on the other issues.

A huge vote for those running on principle will be a lot more valuable by sending a message that we've had enough and want real change than wasting one's vote on a supposed lesser of two evils.

[dalebert]

[jaqeboy]

Well, RP has come a long way over to the libertarian position, eh Dalebert? Now if he could just get to the point where he doesn't advocate voting for "the lesser of 6 evils" we'd have him on our side, eh? Some of 'em take a while to get it, though.

[Puke]

Except for comics! 
I really like that shirt Dale. Too bad it isn't available in yellow.

[Lloyd Danforth]

My plan has been to write in 'Ron Paul' to 'send a message'. I guess i won't bother now.  I'm beginning to think he is clueless about what he has done and, is still doing to throw inertia in front of the momentum his campaign, originally, created.

[K. Darien Freeheart]

I voted RP in the primaries because he's a lesser evil I wouldn't kick myself for supporting. That said, while he's done quite a bit to expose people to the message of liberty I always got the impression that he was compromising because of his stance on immigration and because when hit with the typical tough libertarian questions he would kick it down to the state. Probably a good thing for a Constitution based federal position but in the end he did what I think most Constitutionalists do and re-enforce the legitimacy of state-violence.

Oppression at the hands of the state people is no better than oppression at the hands of the federal people.

[Russell Kanning]

I do think that not voting sends a good message.

[dalebert]

I really like that shirt Dale. Too bad it isn't available in yellow.

Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?



I assume you are making some sarcastic joke that I'm not getting. Just re-blonded yesterday.

Oh, I think I just discovered a bug in Cafe Press' displays. For some reason, the white outline around the A and the slogan is showing up as transparent (yellow, in this case). I strongly suspect it will still be printed with the white outline. Be aware if you order something that there should be a white outline that will make everything show up better. It seems to show on the darker shirts. I'll contact them about this.

Example:

[Vitruvian]

I do think that not voting sends a good message.

Maybe now that Chairman Ron has said it, the message will start to sink in.

[Puke]

I assume you are making some sarcastic joke that I'm not getting. Just re-blonded yesterday.

Negative. I seriously couldn't find any in yellow. I didn't look at every version though.

EDIT = Ok, I'm an idiot. It's right there next to the green one on the main page. 
Anyway, I bought a t-shirt and a hoody. 

[dalebert]

Anyway, I bought a t-shirt and a hoody. 

Awesome! AIYH thanks you for your patronage.

BTW, folks, there were three other designs that I'm really proud of added at the same time, and they're all available on a very wide variety of styles and colors, including on mugs and bumper stickers! The mugs actually have a wrap-around design with images on both sides. Also, keep in mind that many of the shirts have color options that you can see when you browse that design. Look for "MORE COLORS AVAILABLE" under the preview image.

[Jared]

im writing in ron paul.

[error]

The MSM reported this speech entirely differently, where they bothered to report it at all.

[Kat Kanning]

... I always got the impression that he was compromising because of his stance on immigration

I don't think he's compromising.  It strikes me that he votes what he actually thinks.  Why compromise on one issue?  Seems like he's taking a strict constitutionalist route, and that might conflict with libertarianism sometimes.

[Lloyd Danforth]

I really like that shirt Dale. Too bad it isn't available in yellow.

Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?



I assume you are making some sarcastic joke that I'm not getting. Just re-blonded yesterday.

Oh, I think I just discovered a bug in Cafe Press' displays. For some reason, the white outline around the A and the slogan is showing up as transparent (yellow, in this case). I strongly suspect it will still be printed with the white outline. Be aware if you order something that there should be a white outline that will make everything show up better. It seems to show on the darker shirts. I'll contact them about this.

Example:

I'm thinking how cool it would be to wear one of these while performing my Supervisor Of The Checklist duties