Ron Paul on GOP Fear of Pot Legalization: 'They still perceive that it's a risky political position to take'

On Wednesday's episode of The Independents, three-time presidential candidate, retired congressman, and hero of freedom Ron Paul appeared on the show (yet again!), this time to talk about the effects of drug legalization—and prohibition—on Mexico, and on U.S. foreign policy. At the 2:45 mark, I asked him when he thought Republicans—for instance those whose names rhyme with "grand fall"—would gin up the courage to go full legalization. Paul's answer below:

Reason on Ron Paul here.

Comments

[Number 2]

"...gin up the courage to go full legalization. "

Gin up the courage to legalize pot. Good one!

[Fist of Etiquette]

And, of course, the political considerations are paramount.

[Virginian]

The real question is: where are the morning links?

[sarcasmic]

Gone. Forever.

[Rich]

I'm waiting with bated breath to see who takes over for Matthew. Sloopy? FIST?!

[Gene]

I think HM has the best links going, I doubt we'd be able to get him up this early though.

[Certified Public Asskicker]

Fist AM links would have no links, just him commenting to himself until one of us comes along to post.

[Derpetologist]

Today on Derpbook, a prog responds to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCdgv7n9xCY

On the Social Security myth Freidman video.
Once again, this is another gripe I hear from conservatives over and over again, that social security is going broke, that it's a wasteful program, that it is paying out more than it is taking in, etc. Etc. Etc. You know what I NEVER hear though? Is of a conservative that refuses to accept or cash their social security checks when they arrive, even if they know full well they never paid as much in as they are getting back. In fact Republicans have been trying to cut and/or privatize social security for decades, which if Bush had succeeded in doing, the program would have been raped, pillaged, and left broke with the financial collapse. At the same time they are somehow able to convince their elderly voters that it's Democrats that are trying to destroy social security when they have only tried to defend and expand it. Fact of the matter is, you will find absolutely ZERO social security age voters that want to abolish social security or even reform it. Just like the ACA, Social Security was lambasted by opponents as one of the worst things ever, but now everyone seems to appreciate not having to house, feed, clothe and care for their elderly relatives. The only reason social security funds have had any

[Virginian]

Fact of the matter is, you will find absolutely ZERO social security age voters that want to abolish social security

"People like getting checks in the mail. This proves that the program is good and works. Suck it rightwing haters!"

[sarcasmic]

Those who rob Peter to pay Paul can always count on the support of Paul.

[Virginian]

Those who rob Peter to pay Paul can always count on the support of Paul.

Yep. But what amazes me is the amount of progs who think that Paul's support for a program is an argument. I've heard it many times.

"Why don't you go ask all the people who's jobs were saved by the GM bailout if they thought it was a good idea? Huh. Yeah, that's what I thought."

It used to be they made some kind of argument that the redistribution of wealth was better for the country as a whole. Which was bullshit, but at least it was debatable. Now apparently all one has to do is ask the leeches if the blood is to their taste.

[sarcasmic]

It used to be they made some kind of argument that the redistribution of wealth was better for the country as a whole.

I see that argument all the time. It is based upon the premise that accumulations of wealth are a bad thing. Whenever I ask them to explain their premise, they look at me like I've got three heads. It's self evident that accumulations of wealth are bad because, uh, WEALTH APOLOGIST! YOU LICK THE CORPORATE BOOTS THAT HOLD YOU DOWN!

[MJGreen]

"Why don't you go ask the king if he thinks paying the king's tax is a bad idea?"

[Pope Jimbo]

Social Security was lambasted by opponents as one of the worst things ever, but now everyone seems to appreciate not having to house, feed, clothe and care for their elderly relatives.

I bet his parents are so proud. Nice to know the little twat you housed, fed, clothed and cared for for 18 years isn't willing to return the favor.

Sadly, I don't think this jerk would even feel any shame if they told him he had to go collect the money personally from his neighbors to pay for his parents.

Twat: "Hey neighbor, under the new decentralized Social Security Act I'm empowered to come over and have you give me some cash to take care of my parents. If you don't fork over, the goon behind me will beat you and jail you. "

[Christophe]

What's the goon's cut? Offer him more than that to beat the twerp instead. You just saved money.

[Pope Jimbo]

Problem is that there are more goons in line to take the place of the one you bought off. Goons all the way down...

[Derpetologist]

Cont'd

issues is because previous administration's borrowed money for other things without ever replacing it. Lifting the $110,000 cap would make social security solvent for 75+ years. I believe everyone appreciates the fact that we don't have elderly people dying in the street or bring forced to live in our homes and eat cat food. I never understood why Republicans crusade against a program that literally everyone wants, and no one would ever give up.

Because of widespread Conservative propaganda attempting to hand social security funds over to the oh so responsible Wall Street bankers. Social Security has never failed to pay out to anyone who was due a check outside of clerical errors. Everyone who is promised social security, has gotten exactly what they were promised. You would be hard pressed to find any private investment firm that could do the same thing for people. You pay in, you get paid out when you need it most. Just like any other type of insurance. Unless of course you are saying that insurance is a ponzi scheme.

Except of course the government never runs out of money.

[Derpetologist]

I have told this fool before about Fleming v Nestor, which established the govt has no obligation to pay Social Security.

[Virginian]

literally everyone wants,

Except for any intelligent person below the age of 30 who can recognize a Ponzi scheme when he sees one.

[The Late P Brooks]

Bloomberg Bimbo is talking about Sterling the RACIST. Apparently, there is some bizarre thing called "due process" which may hinder the NBA's attempts to arbitrarily wrest control of the Clippers from the guy who owns them.

What is this country coming to?

[Virginian]

Well IANAL but from what I understand, the NBA is set up in such a way that a 3/4 majority of the owners can vote to force a sale. But obviously the current owner would keep all proceeds of said sale.

I wish someone would punish me by writing me a check for (probably) between 500 and 900 million. Maybe even more.

[Bones]

It's a private membership he's being stripped of by the private group whose agreement he signed. He is not being oppressed by the government and is afforded no due process in this matter. If 23 of 30 owners want him out, he's out. He'll fight it because that's what he does.

[The Late P Brooks]

Except of course the government never runs out of money.

Somebody is going to be quite disagreeably surprised, one of these days.

[Virginian]

Well, the government will never run out of money, that's true. You'll just need a wheelbarrow to carry your pocket change.

[sarcasmic]

Some people don't understand that money, wealth and value are not synonyms.

[The Late P Brooks]

I wish someone would punish me by writing me a check for (probably) between 500 and 900 million. Maybe even more.

I suspect some of my neighbors consider me a detriment to their property values. I would gladly allow them to buy me out for 500k.

[The Late P Brooks]

You'll just need a wheelbarrow to carry your pocket change.

This is why banning cigarettes is a bad idea.

[antisocial-ist]

One of my favorite hyper inflation stories was of a German man who left his wheelbarrow full of marks outside of a store. When he came back some one had stolen his wheelbarrow, but left all the money lying on the sidewalk.