Guide to Your Congressman: Ron Paul

ABOUT THE BOOK

This years Republican primary elections, a process that usually stretches across only a few states, have now spanned more than ten states. The candidate pool has withered from seven candidates to four: Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry, and Jon Huntsman bowed out early in the process and Herman Cain left the field before the first voters went to the polls in Iowa. At the time this ebook was written, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul were all still very much in the race. Though Romney was once considered a shoo-in frontrunner, Santorum has gained on him, and Gingrich adamantly refuses to step aside. But none of these candidates has captured young peoples attention nor generated the frenzy like Ron Paul.

This primary season each Republican candidate vying for the nomination has played a specific part. Romney is the out of touch, wealthy, flip-flopping former governor of a state with a health care system that was basically a blueprint for Obamacare. Santorum is the anti-contraception, anti-pornography, Bible thumping conservative. Gingrich is the grumpy and delusional insider who calls himself a cheerful reforming outsider. But among all of these competitors, there shines a light of authenticity and likeability that is Ron Paul, who has established himself as the wise, anti-war, anti-big government, completely bona fide libertarian.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Deena Shanker is a writer living in San Francisco. After moving to the west coast from New York City in the fall, she is loving San Fran's beautiful weather, colorful architecture, and never-ending vegetarian food options. She loves visiting the beach with her dog, Barley, and eating cheese (also sometimes with Barley). She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School and Barnard College.

EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK

In 1978, Paul ran for his own post, won, and was twice re-elected. In Congress Paul served on the House Banking Committee and advocated against the Federal Reserves actions. He fiercely opposed policies like federal intervention in world markets, earning himself the nickname of Dr. No. He was even invited to testify before the Senate Banking Committee about his position against the routine funding of the International Monetary Fund. As a freshman Congressman, this was an unprecedented event.

In the 1980s, Paul agreed with the Reagan economic theory of cutting taxes, but he also broke with party lines by calling for cuts in spending as well. Tax relief is important, but members of Congress need to back up tax cuts with spending cuts, Paul said. True fiscal conservatism combines both low taxes and low spending. His advice met deaf ears, though: under Reagan, the federal budget ballooned to almost twice its size, and the deficit almost tripled.

CHAPTER OUTLINE

Guide to Your Congressman: Ron Paul

+ Introduction

+ Ron Paul: More Than Just The Wacky Uncle At The Table

+ Ron Paul on the Issues

+ Words of Wisdom From Ron Paul

+ …and much more