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Opinion

Return to honest politics -- elect Ron Paul 

Monica Granger
Opinion Columnist

The Roman poet Juvenal predicted the downfall of a society that eats up the "bread and circuses" spectacles created by the powerful elite more than 1,880 years ago, but this is more relevant to the 2008 elections -- and you -- than you may realize. 

Fox reported Sunday that former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney lead the GOP pack in terms of financing, with more than $10 million in the bank and $20.7 in donations, respectively. 

Giuliani, one may remember, whipped up the public spectacle that mounted to humiliate and dehumanize Leona Helmsley and her husband for tax evasion by goading the media to selectively ignore bits of relevant information -- such as that they actually paid huge sums of income tax -- in order to poison future jury wells. 

The public ate up the vitriol then, and we now have them to thank in part for Giuliani's subsequent successes and the fact that the statist is running for the U.S. presidency as a limited government Republican. 

Obviously, words do not amount to much when the power of the omnipotent state is up for grabs. But, for fun, here are some headlines from Giuliani's hometown as reported by columnist Steven Greenhut in a February 21, 2007 article, "Is that all there is?"

"‘Mayor defends growth of video surveillance.' In the article, Giuliani calls for putting surveillance cameras throughout the city to enable police to monitor the behavior of New Yorkers." This doesn't sound like limited government.

"Then there's this one: ‘Trying to get mayor to shed veil of secrecy.' We learn that Giuliani refused to provide even routine documents to the public, forcing people to file Freedom of Information Act requests to get information they are legally entitled to receive. The New York Daily News had to sue the city to get public documents about misbehaving government officials."

Greenhut further reported that Romney "signed into law a ‘universal' health care plan in his state, of the sort that would make Hillary Clinton proud." This solidifies the fact that the only choice in the 2008 elections -- the only chance for change -- lies with Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas. 

Contrary to the pandering tongues of career politicians, Paul made his start honestly, working as an obstetrician/gynecologist and delivering more than 4,000 babies. He also voluntarily yielded the congressional seat he won in the late 1970s, despite high incumbency re-election rates, to return to his useful private practice. 

Few of the current choices for president can honestly boast that accomplishment. Most of them seem determined to spend our money for us and tell us what we can and cannot do or otherwise control our lives.

Most importantly, however, Paul is consistent. His principles are clear and his votes follow them to a degree that should make most career politicians blush for shame. Check the Washington Post's Web site and its amazingly accessible Votes Database for Paul's (and others') records.

Paul's principled stance is precisely what this country needs in a leader. In the wake of "bread and circuses" spectacles such as those begun by Giuliani or the more recent 2002 persecution of Martha Stewart (from which she is returning with usual remarkable aplomb), the public can no longer ignore the decay visible in the highest echelons of government. 

Paul is the one to set the standard, but some say he is unelectable. But there is a plan: Eschew the notion that textual party affiliation defines the life philosophy underlying your politics and infiltrate Republican primaries across the country to vote for Paul in the primaries. 

This simple and low-cost democratic action will send the deafening message to America's leaders that we demand principled and consistent politicians. Their response will show whether this is a nation of responsible governance or abject slavery. 

Granger, an economics/political science senior, 
can be reached via dccampus@mail.uh.edu