I have seen numerous posts, articles, blogs and charcoal scratchings on sidewalks here on 'Titanic Super Titanic Tsunami Tuesday Brought to you by PepsiTostitosChaseBankVerizonTacoBell' about the Ron Paul Presidential Campaign. Some have called for a Third Party Bid, some have called for a 'stay the course' strategy, some have called for Ron Paul to shut up and go away, while some have called for abandoning the fight (Stupid Trolls!). But mostly, many are wondering "What Now?".
Here is my take on where this campaign is now, and where it MUST go forward to. John Adams once pointed out that less than 1/3 of the original 13 Colonists actively supported the Original American Revolution! The lesson of that fact is that all it takes is a well-motivated minority to effect real change. I liken Ron Paul's position right now to that of Ronald Reagan in 1976. He was labeled a 'kook', 'Dark Horse' and shunned by the Republican Party elite. We all know what happened over the next four years. Reagan criss-crossed the country, quietly laying the groundwork for the 'Reagan Revolution'. He rarely got 'national press' (when he did it was dismissive and mocking), was virtually ignored and shunned by the party elites, and was looked at as an outsider and a loser who was rejected by the party soundly in the '76 election.
But a funny thing happened on the way to the White House. Ronald Reagan used the base of supporters and his contacts gained in the '76 election to build a local, grassroots and State-Based organization. He bypassed the traditional Power-Brokers (they wanted nothing to do with him, anyway!), and took his ideas directly to the people. By the time 1980 rolled around, the lessons of 1976 had been learned, and the groundwork had been laid for the overwhelming victory in 1980.
Even as early as the spring of 1980, the National Media were wondering why this 'washed up actor' was trying again for the White House. But their mocking tone was soon muted, as the momentum that the groundwork had been laid for during the previous four years rose to be a tidal wave of grassroots support. Even today the 'Mainstream Media' discounts and belittles Ronald Reagan, but in 1980 they were forced to begrudgingly acknowledge his accomplishments, and the fact that an overwhelming majority of Americans supported him personally, as well as his 'Radical' ideas.
As more and more people are forced to wake up to the reality of the lies they have been fed by their government and the media, and as they see this once-great country swirling in an ever-growing cesspool of debilitating corruption, corporate greed and soft fascism encroaching on their lives, they will begin to listen to their friends, neighbors and family about the man who tried to warn everyone and stop this madness before it became too late- Ron Paul. Now, not everyone will be willing to 'take the red pill' as they say in the Matrix Movies, but that isn't necessary.
As I noted earlier, less than 1/3 of the Colonists supported the First American Revolution. Those that continue to choose to swallow the 'Blue Pill' of ignorance will themselves no longer be able to count on blissful ignorance to salve their economic and liberty-challenged wounds! Enough people will be shocked into sense by the deterioration of not only the country, but their own personal situation, and a critical mass of people will rise up to attempt to effect TRUE change, not the Corporate-Backed pseudo-change that is being peddled to them once again this year.
So I say take heed of the coming tidal change in American politics and society. These opportunities only come around once every three or four generations, and we must SEIZE THE DAY or lose our opportunity until our grandchildren are grown, if ever! NOW is the time to become active in local politics. Get to know those who run things in your town, city and state. Network with others who share your outlook and views, but also do the same with those who DO NOT share your views- because eventually you will have to work with them to achieve our goals! And, as Sun Tzu said in 'The Art Of War', "Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer!"
The last thing we need right now is a third-party run. I think Dr. Paul realizes this, and has commented repeatedly about this as the clods in the media ask him over and over again about it. The deck is stacked against anyone successfully challenging the status quo from an outside position, no matter the strength of their message or the support for their cause. No change can be effected from outside of the putative two-party system in this country. The only solution is to wrestle the dragon and conquer it ourselves. We must now take it upon ourselves to usurp the political power barons by working from the Grassroots up. We all need to plan for the long term, and prepare to take over the party. It may take time to build, but the message of Freedom and Liberty is strong, and those that truly hear it never stop believing in it!
The very best part about this strategy is, just like in 1980, they will never see this coming until it's too late!
