Ron Paul’s New Year’s Message To Congress: Follow The Constitution – OpEd

By

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 read 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 the special interests, they have broken trust with their constituents and violated their oath. Congress does not exist to serve the 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 the 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 preemptive war that now dominates both parties.

All foreign aid should end, which 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 taxpayers’ dollars.

Congress needs to stop accumulating more debt. U.S. 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 ever 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 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 every single member’s of Congress due in 2013.

Ron Paul

Ronald Ernest "Ron" Paul (born August 20, 1935) is an American physician, author, and politician who served for many years as a U.S. Representative for Texas. He was a three-time candidate for President of the United States, as a Libertarian in 1988 and as a Republican in 2008 and 2012.

5 thoughts on “Ron Paul’s New Year’s Message To Congress: Follow The Constitution – OpEd

  • January 1, 2013 at 11:28 am
    Permalink

    I doubt if any congressman/senator is even interested in anything but money and power. They can get both by serving “the Lobby” rather than their constituents.

    Reply
  • January 1, 2013 at 11:50 am
    Permalink

    Very nice words from an American politician …the big question remains..why you forgot to breach these ideal words of world order just few years back…..it is so funny because all American politicians are only interested in superior American domination at all fronts of everyday’s life of our world scene …..Mr. Ron Paul thank you for nice words …but reality will always be different…. when it come to American superior interest all around the world, you gays has only one thing in your mind: America to previl at all costs ….you sound like Jimmy Carter….the moment he started talking about the truth of reality of relation between Israel and Palestine , he became neglected by all US establishment and media…….Good Luck

    Reply
  • January 1, 2013 at 12:00 pm
    Permalink

    Very nice words from an American politician …the big question remains..why you forgot to breach these ideal words of world order just few years back…..it is so funny because all American politicians are only interested in superior American domination at all fronts of everyday’s life of our world scene …..Mr. Ron Paul thank you for nice words …but reality will always be different…. when it come to American superior interest all around the world, you guys has only one thing in your mind: America to previl at all costs ….you sound like Jimmy Carter….the moment he started talking about the truth of reality of relation between Israel and Palestine , he became neglected by all US establishment and media…….Good Luck

    Reply
  • January 1, 2013 at 1:40 pm
    Permalink

    President John Adams once said,
    “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” -October 11, 1798.
    Congress is not a judicious group of people, nor are they qualified to do anything but what they have already accomplished…destroy religion with their pens in hand, walking and talking something other than what was demanded by the 9th amendment.
    We as true citizens will accomplish what we may without a government or political party…period.
    Too late for Congress…good men never devise ways to live off the flesh and sweat of others…and then blame it on others like as the lame.
    Everyone have a wonderful day and new Year.

    Reply
  • January 1, 2013 at 5:00 pm
    Permalink

    We the People need to all heed Dr. Paul´s recommendations. Do not comprimise with something that we know is inherently wrong, to comprimise makes us evil for not standing up for ourgod given and constitutional rights. To live free takes responsibility. Let´s all join Dr. Paul in this resoultion to make ourselves and elected officials to follow the rule of law, not the rule of bankers or coporations.
    God Bless you Dr. Paul, you will be sorely missed in Congress.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to George Ronald Adkisson Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *