Today Ron Paul’s book, The Revolution: A Manifesto comes out in stores. Many people wonder why Paul and his supporters continue their battle in the American political scene. The answer is actually rather simple – unlike McCain, Obama or Clinton, Paul’s campaign has never completely been about winning the nomination for the Republican ticket. Instead, it was a call for change. In his book he admits he did not know if enough people would respond to his campaign platform but was pleasantly surprised with how many did. While the remaining Republicans and Democrats pretend they are not two horns on the same beast, Paul and his supporters have accepted their loss and begun to move on in several interesting ways.
The Revolution: A Manifesto
Paul’s aforementioned book is not a call to arms, but rather his ideas on paper so his supporters can use them:
“The revolution my supporters refer to will persist long after my retirement from politics. Here is my effort to give them a long-term manifesto based on ideas, and perhaps some short-term marching orders.
At the same time, I am also describing what the agenda of George W. Bush’s successor should be if we want to move toward a free society once again. Our country is facing an unprecedented financial crisis precisely because the questions our political and media establishments allow us to ask are so narrow. Whether or not politicians actually want to hear them, it has never been more important for us to begin posing significant and fundamental questions.” Page 7
The book has already begun to become a bible for libertarians and old-school conservatives. Much like the Paul grassroots campaign, his book has already found a hardcore group of supporters who are trying to promote his book. Particularly one group called the Ron Paul Book Bomb is attempting to get the book on the New York Times bestseller list by having people pledge to buy it today.
Paul Ville
Perhaps an idea that is a little more extreme than simply keeping the Revolution alive, some supporters have created a group in an attempt to organize closed gate communities for Paul “supporters and or people that live by the ideals of freedom and liberty.” The idea is much like the Free State Project that was started several years ago for libertarians.
Personally the idea of ‘Paul Villes’ seem a little too cult-like and I believe it would have been better for the supporters to join up with the FSP instead. The Paul Ville people, however, have just made their first purchase of land in West Texas outside of Dell City.
So while the Ron Paul Revolution may be down, it is anything but out. Many of his supporters – at least one of my friends and myself included that I know personally – are still thinking of writing in his name come November, not because he can win but to give a middle finger to the established politico.
Although his bid for presidency may have ended, the Revolution still beats the drum for freedom and change.
-Ted Hamilton
