Paul presents presidential platform

Paul presents presidential platform

	2.22.12
	Paul presents presidential platform
	Katy Sword | uiargonaut.com
	Christine Paulsen said she attended Friday’s rally in the Student Union Building ballroom to support Ron Paul and the youth of America. “I think it’s great so many young people (are) here today,” Paulsen said. “It gives me — as a baby boomer — hope for the future generation.” Ethan McManus, 15, from Deary, Idaho, said he volunteered for the event because Paul always votes for the Constitution. Valerie Johnson, from Lewiston, said she is a fan because Paul seems to support liberty. Paulsen, McManus and Johnson, along with more than 1,000 others, attended the impromptu rally by Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul. Paul added the University of Idaho to his Pacific Northwest tour at the last minute, arriving Friday to a large crowd. Phil Howard, UI senior, is the president of the Youth for Ron Paul 2012 on campus. Howard said the event was successful, considering how little time the group had to prepare for the candidate’s arrival. “It went really well considering we had two days to get ready and promote,” Howard said. “Unfortunately we had more people than expected. It’s a good problem, but unfortunately there were some who couldn’t get in.” Howard said there were about 900 reserved places, but with the 1,000 capacity in the SUB ballroom, about 900 had to be turned away. Howard said without the 45 area volunteers, the event would not have been possible. Upon arrival, Paul was met with cheers, clapping and excitement. “We are blessed to live in a country based on liberty and love of mankind,” Paul said as an introduction to his speech focusing on liberty, freedom and governmental issues. Paul asked the audience how the nation, got into its current situation. “The government is doing what it is not supposed to be doing,” Paul said. “We didn’t get into this problem overnight.” Paul proposed the government ceases spending. “They say it will be passed onto the next generation, but I say aren’t each of us suffering, causing equal underminement of the Constitution?” Paul said. Paul also said that as president he would never go to war without a declaration. He said he would bring the troops currently deported home “as quickly as we can get ships over there.” Paul continued discussing entitlement rights. “Entitlements are not rights, even if we send the IRS to get it for us,” Paul said, referring to personal property. Paul moved on to income tax, stating he believes income tax and the Federal Reserve should be repealed. “Income taxes are based on the assumption that everything you earn belongs to the government. Therefore they control your property, they control your lives, and it undermines the economy,” Paul said. “There is no reason to give up defense of this if you believe in people.” Although Paul said he promotes drastic change, he said the country does not have to start from scratch. “Failure is all around us,” Paul said. “This is obviously the time we have to challenge the status quo.” This thought brought Paul to the recent Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). “They heard your voices, and withdrew the bill from the House and Senate,” Paul said. “We still have enough freedom in (our) country to have influence over the government. There is nothing unpatriotic about challenging the government when the government is wrong.” Paul addressed budget cuts, stating he would cut $1 trillion in the first year. He also said he would repeal the Patriot Act and restore the Fourth Amendment. Paul closed with the idea of freedom. He said legalizing freedom of choice doesn’t mean agreeing with what someone does, but that it’s how to restore liberty. “If I could have freedom and less prosperity, I would take my freedom,” Paul said. “The wonderful thing is we don’t need to choose.” Katy Sword can be reached at arg-news@uidaho.edu