“Given that you advocate a smaller government, what do you see as the government’s role in scientific areas such as Space Exploration and NASA? To adequately do reasearch and make advances in these areas, scientists need massive amounts of monetary and infrastructure support, it seems to be unlikely that true advances can be made in the private sector. So do you feel the US should ignore federally funded scientific endevours such as the work done by NASA, or should the US continue to do so as science helps everyone.”

what a framed question. but please ask if you get a chance. This will give great insight. It’s tough to tell if he is a man of science or a man of faith. This will help solve the problem. He can be pro-science without tainting the image of faith.

Why don’t you ask him if Jesse Jackson, Rosa Parks, Stevie Wonder and Dick Gregory are anti-Semites and racists for appearing at the Million Man March with Louis Farrakhan?

Perhaps Dr. Paul simply believes that the issues he raises are important enough that he ought to present them to anyone who is willing to listen to him, without first vetting their suitability with the Political Correctness police.

How will Ron Paul get things done in the White House with as radical ideas as he has? How can he counter act the influence that corporations’ money has on our government policies?

Ask him why he shaved his long white beard and left the land of Middle Earth.

Dr. Paul, since the value added by government to the state of nature is the existence of property rights beyond subsistence (subsistence property being homestead and tools which we possess through self-defense in the state of nature), why is it that I’ve never seen you suggest that the primary source of government revenue should be a use fee for assets beyond subsistence assets?

First, congratulations on getting to the event and engaging in a community process to plan your questions.

I like your first question. Unfortunately it’s one that I think he’s already answered as best he can, to the extent that he’s said the Meetup groups and so forth have sprung up outside of the “mainstream media”. By its very definition, “alternative media” is always going to be on the outside looking in (although “mainstream” and “alternative” views or publications can change places of course).

A variant of the second portion of that question that’s more interesting to me is “What can be done, within U.S. culture, to increase the people’s interest in current events and public policy and decrease their dependence on ever-more-monolithic corporate media?”

You should drop your second question now. I followed the link you gave to SPLC and didn’t find any credible justification to label Mr. Epstein as a “white supremacist”. And I notice in your resulting question, you don’t even bother to qualify that allegation but merely pass it along wholesale, adding credibility to the charge. I found a number of excellent criticisms of the name-calling at that link, but I’ll attempt to summarize my issues with your question as framed here, and believe it or not I think it’s actually part of the answer to your first question[3]:

This ad hominem stuff that passes for political discourse in our country has to stop, now. To treat any person or group as beyond the pale, as corrupted beyond redemption, as not worthy of notice, is both insulting and counterproductive. You lose, probably forever, any chance of de-radicalizing them, let alone bringing them to your point of view. And people who either privately sympathize with them or look past their identity and see a good point they made will see you throwing the baby out with the bathwater and ignoring that good point. They will be vicariously offended and dismiss you as shrill and unreasonable.

To judge someone by their associations is unfair and dangerous. Those of us that fought the Patriot Act and related encroachments by the police state realize this. When you give the state — be it the legislature; the executive; the judiciary; or the fourth estate, the media — power to make someone a pariah you are on a slippery slope where the offense that started it begins not to matter. How is it fair to defend someone who gave money to Hamas for Palestinian medical relief, yet attack this man for reviewing a book, or linking to an article, or for bringing up uncomfortable and difficult issues in a different light?

Ron Paul has said that he’ll speak whereever he’s invited, and he is a man of his word. The “front-runner” Republican candidates were excoriated, and rightly so, for avoiding the Morgan State debate. But in fact Ron Paul and those who attended were first subjected to a tirade celebrating the Barrabas-like release of the attacker in a brutal racially-motivated beating[1], and those that avoided it could probably say credibly that they assumed they would be pressured to support racial discrimination[2]. Ron Paul goes many places and speaks with many people, but he does not change his message, pander to his audience, or commit sins of omission.

I joined the “Serious Change” group hosted on this very site. I think it recognizes an important point: that as we advocate for change we can often be embarrassed or misrepresented by fellow-travelers with different motivations and goals, and that the media unfairly allows the sideshow to obliterate the message. In fighting your enemy, take care you do not become him.

Notes:

[1] For the record, the little I’ve read on the Jena 6 indicates that the school was a powder keg and the local police were biased; Ron Paul also held forth in that debate against racially disparate sentencing that disadvantages minorities.

[2] In the form of affirmative action.

[3] Meaning that if “alternative media” wants to supplant “mainstream media” it must not do so by antics and upping the ante, but rather by listening before speaking, and respecting the intelligence of its audience.

In all seriousness, I’m a 100% Ron Paul supporter.

Ask him if he’s a racist and what he feels about racism today. Also ask him to comment about the houston chronicle article that was written about him almost 10 years ago.

I think this would squash many racist questions looming all over the internet (including dailykos)

To judge someone by their associations is unfair and dangerous.

I agree with this only to a point. Certainly to throw out someone’s ideas just because of the company they keep is unfair. However, the people Ron Paul chooses to associate himself with is something others should think about when deciding whether to support him. It shouldn’t be the be all and end all, but it does deserve some consideration. As we all know, being President is much more than just being “the decider.” In a large sense, we aren’t electing just a President, but an entire slate of people to run the executive branch. The company Ron Paul keeps is very important, because some of that same company might end up being on his cabinet, for instance.

What is the role of the federal government in the lives of the people?

How does this relate to the role of the state and locl government?

I rather like the focus of Peter’s question in the first post above. Though perhaps I would frame it more as:

“Dr. Paul, what do you think is Government’s role is supporting scientific exploration and innovation. If you think there isn’t one, how do you propose to sustain advanced scientific growth and discover given that a business run scientific infrastructure may be subject to a opacity of research?”

Ask him what we should do to encourage our elected representatives to make decisions based on the Constitution and basic ethics instead of political convienience and global economic dominance.

“You seem very adept at raising money in unconventional ways. How do you plan on spending this money to maximize the number of votes you get during the primaries.”

If you win the Presidency how will you accomplish any of your stated political goals? Indeed how would you avoid almost instant Impeachment? With the Legislative, Judicial branches of government plus the leadership of all powerful governmental Agencies staunchly Neocon how could you function effectively?.

Ask Dr. Paul what are his plan for the people working in the different branches of federal government that he plans on eliminating. He has made some points on some branches of government being unconstitutional and that they should be eliminated, so what are his plans for the people who currently work there.

In a large sense, we aren’t electing just a President, but an entire slate of people to run the executive branch. The company Ron Paul keeps is very important, because some of that same company might end up being on his cabinet, for instance.

That’s an excellent question. Luckily Ron Paul already did an interview where he explained some of the people he’d put in his cabinet and why:

part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1slo0cGKAYc
part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV648-02MVU

What will you do to be an honest broker in the middle east?

Subject: Re: Ron Paul Eliminates The IRS! jJPQIBD

He voted against the Iraq war ! What does he expect the United States to do, continue to allow our oppressors, such as the terrorist, to attack and kill out people,right here at home? It is sad to know that there are some people who are willing to sit on their hands and allow, what happened September 11,2001, to continue with out a thought to our country, the safety of our people. Why don’t people like
Ron Paul, love our country enough to stand strong and fight the oppressors? Don’t any one realized what our freedom has cost in the past.Our ancestors were proud and stood strong for our country.
They came here to have a better life and fought hard to keep the freedom that this great country cherished. I say cherished as past tense because so many have forgotten those brave people who new our freedom was well worth the fight, to keep it and to keep it safe. I am very proud of the military men and women who are in Iraq, doing a job that our Government should be doing here at home,supporting our country. Supporting the men and women, military or civilian, here and across the oceans, who are willing to fight for our countries freedom,safety,and honor. Honor to those, in the many years past, who fought against those who wanted to hurt and destroy our country. Putting politics aside,
this country as a whole should stand up proudly and fight for those who have passed before us and for those who are growing up beside us. those who stood strong for our BEAUTIL AMERICA , wether you are Democrat or Republican.
God Bless Our Beautiful America and May God Bless those who are willing to fight for it !

Proud To Be An American,
Joan Corson

PS. I would like to know what Ron Paul feels about abortion.

——-Original Message——-

From: burch Gregg
Date: 10/29/2007 5:11:12 PM
To: jomicor@centurytel.net
Subject: Ron Paul Eliminates The IRS! jJPQIBD

Hello Scott,

Ron Paul is for the people, unless you want your children to
have human implant RFID chips, a National ID card and create
a North American Union and see an economic collapse far worse
than the great depression. Vote for Ron Paul he speaks the
truth and the media and government is afraid of him. This is
the last honest politican left to bring this country out of
this rut from the War Profiteers and bush Administration has
created. Get motivated America, don’t believe the lies of the
media he has also WON the GOP Debate On Sunday! Value Freedom
and Liberty instead of corporate lies and corruption. Bypass
this media blackout they are doing to Ron Paul, tell your family
and friends and get involved in a local group at meetup.com make
your voice heard! He will end the War In Iraq immediately,
He will eliminate the IRS and wasteful government spending, and
eliminate the Federal Reserve and restore power to the people
and the only person not a member on the CFR. Can any other runner
make these claims or give Americans the true freedom we were all
raised to believe? We are all economic slaves to the banks and the
illegal federal Reserve. This is why our currency is worth nothing
because of Hidden Inflation Tax and the IRS taking everything
you make!

** RON PAUL WILL STOP THE IRAQ WAR IMMEDIATELY! **

He has NEVER voted:
* to raise taxes
* for an unbalanced budget
* to raise congressional pay
* for a federal restriction on gun ownership
* to increase the power of the executive branch

He HAS voted:
* against the Iraq war
* against the inappropriately named USA PATRIOT act
* against regulating the internet
* against the Military Commissions Act

He will eliminate the IRS, Wasteful Government Spending &
Stop The Iraq War Immediately!

Most importantly, he voted NO on anything in Congress that
is not allowed by the Constitution. And he Despises any
politican that does not do their job for the people and lives
up to the constitution!

Google.com & Youtube.com Search: “Ron Paul”
Join The Revolution!

***************************************
We Need A Real President That Will Restore And Protect
Americans! Stop The War! Protect Our Borders!
*********VOTE RON PAUL 2008************

amen brother. *** Ron Paul all the way ***