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Laura Trice

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Why Dr. Ron Paul's National Defense Plan and Foreign Policy Are the Only Humane Options

Posted: 03/29/2012 2:10 pm

I often hear people say, "I'd vote for Ron Paul if it weren't for his lack of national defense and foreign policy." I realize that people who make this statement have fallen prey to the clever and effective political spin that twists a candidate's message inside out. The truth is that Rep. Ron Paul has the most moral, rational, and constitutional approach to protecting the U.S. and interacting with the world. Consider this from his website: "In Congress, Ron Paul voted to authorize military force to hunt down Osama bin Laden and authored legislation to specifically target terrorist leaders and bring them to justice." Dr. Paul wants to "[m]ake securing our borders the top national security priority" and "[a]void long and expensive land wars that bankrupt our country by using constitutional means to capture or kill terrorist leaders who helped attack the U.S. and continue to plot further attacks." Does that sound like someone who doesn't care about national defense?

The U.S. needs to stop giving money we do not have to other countries, and we need to stop sending our citizens (fathers, sons, brothers, husbands, wives, daughters, and mothers) to be slaughtered or injured unnecessarily. The U.S. debt is currently at $15.6 trillion, or over $50,000 per person.

The last time the U.S. formally declared war was for World War II in 1941. Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya were not formally declared. But look at this chart to see the numbers of deaths and wounded soldiers over the history of the United States. There are often four to 10 times as many soldiers injured as are killed. If we are going to deprive parents of their children, children of their parents, husbands of their wives, wives of their husbands, etc., don't we owe it to the families who will suffer that loss to only send their sons and daughters, mothers and fathers into a real, legitimate war? Dr. Paul is the only president who will honor this serious and sacred responsibility.

The wounds that soldiers return with, from physical limitations to psychological trauma, can last a lifetime, just like the loss of a grown child or parent in combat. Veterans have a much higher rate of suicide. They suffer brain injuries, blindness, and traumatic amputations, and their families suffer. We owe it to the people who chose to defend our country to only risk their lives in the actual defense of the United States.

Dr. Ron Paul is the only candidate, Democrat or Republican, who is a veteran. Dr. Paul saw the horror of war and would only risk American lives overseas if war were formally declared. To whose campaign is 87 percent of the active military contributing? Ron Paul.

That is reason enough to vote for Ron Paul over all others. The U.S. must stop electing politicians who so carelessly devastate American families.

"I love peace, and am anxious that we should give the world still another useful lesson, by showing to them other modes of punishing injuries than by war, which is as much a punishment to the punisher as to the sufferer."
--Thomas Jefferson

"Nations have recently been led to borrow billions for war; no nation has ever borrowed largely for education. Probably, no nation is rich enough to pay for both war and civilization. We must make our choice; we cannot have both."
--Abraham Flexner

Laura Trice, M.D. is the CEO of Laura's Wholesome Junk Food. She is the author of The Wholesome Junk Food Cookbook.

 

Follow Laura Trice on Twitter: www.twitter.com/LaurasWJF

 
 
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Just-a-Guy
'cuz youd rather talk to someone you disagree with
02:44 PM on 05/04/2012
Dr Paul is the best choice available right now.

The Big 2 parties are done...
12:34 PM on 05/04/2012
Ron Paul is the first and only candidate to whose campaign fund I have ever contributed. I continue to do so. I'm 26 and I'm one of the people who voted Obama. I learned the error of my ways (Sorry but there was no way I was letting Palin into the white house) and you can do it too.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
montreauxg
Control freaks are losing control
10:44 PM on 04/28/2012
Well said. Unfortunately, reason and morality left the mainstream American political discussion on foreign policy long ago. Both democrats and republicans agree that neither longer apply, since we have American exceptionalism.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
zambiland
11:31 PM on 04/21/2012
Ron Paul would be a disaster as a president. His economic policies and environmental policies would ensure that the US would become a third world toilet in no time. I think the EPA has done a fine job and he would do away with them. We get a $1.2 trillion return on a $50 billion investment.

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/01/04/10-reasons-not-to-vote-for-paul/
01:20 AM on 04/25/2012
LOL... yeah right, like the current run of the government will not ensure we are a third world toilet? Are you referring to all the federal agencies, such as your beloved EPA... (who send out King John's Green Police among the Free-Market Enterprises and individual citizenry alike, laying outlandish fines, sucking the lifeblood of America's industries as well as its people)?
Agency's which are administered and dictated by hand-picked activists who push destructive agendas and seek to further enslave the American citizen by acting as the agents of those wanting to remove capitalism, and aiding in the destruction of founding principles of this nation?

You might want to remember that the "return on investment" you are referring to came about as a result of the sweat of American workers, as well as the extortion of funds from America's businesses by these unelected, unrecallable, dictators sitting in the directors chair of the innumerous federal agencies.

Your arguments against Ron Paul are old news.. they are repeated constantly as a mantra by those who would remain under the status quo of Statist rule. Those who are intent on expanding the government power at the expense of the middle class American. -

Take from the folks who are making it barely, and give it to those who wait with their hands out. "Gimme More..."

America is just about third rate now
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
montreauxg
Control freaks are losing control
11:04 PM on 04/28/2012
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or sometimes USEPA) is an agency of the federal government of the United States, started in 1970, and charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations related to air, land, water, endangered species, and toxic waste.
Here's some data:
The unaltered or crude cancer death rate per 100,000 US population for the year 1970 is 162.8; in 2009, 178.7 per 100,000 men and women per year. This is an increase despite research and technology advancements.
http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/all.html
Common Substances Allowed in Water: arsenic (10 ppb), Cryptosporidium (parasite), chlorine and its by-products, flouride (up to 4mg/L), lead and copper (15 ppb), pharmaceutical substances (no major studies done).
You really want to examine the effects of an agency with a monopoly on environmental protection?
06:24 PM on 04/30/2012
Santorum already dropped out. Romney has yelled at a wheel-chair bound person, Obama is stretch-arm-strong tied up with endless wars, Ron Paul is smart and sane, the choice is not that difficult for us fans of critical thinking. Restore America, vote Dr. Paul.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
zambiland
12:24 AM on 05/01/2012
Tell me, how we would sustain a legal system that would withstand the stresses of relying on property and contract for all of the protections we now get from federal agencies? How would ordinary people stand up to the legal might of corporations bent on polluting? From my perspective as a law student, the legal system is stretched thin as it is and to expect it to bear the weight of keeping a lid on pollution, corruption, etc. means that there would have to be some kind of radical transformation and availability of resources for the common (wo)man that just isn't there, especially given the slow death of the class action law suit.

I find it really dismaying that fans of Ron Paul can't talk about him without insulting everyone who isn't a fan of him. It is perfectly reasonable for someone to apply critical thinking and come to the conclusion that Ron Paul would be a detrimental president. Smug divisiveness is not an attitude that will put this country back on the right path.
08:02 PM on 03/30/2012
Watch out everyone- he is not only a danger for his views on foreign policy, he is the only republican to say "sure" to the question of if gay people should be able to get married, he thinks women that get raped should have a choice to prevent pregnancy. He is also the only one who would stop the war on drugs, and shut the backdoors that companies like Monsanto and Pfizer use to control the FDA and so many other departments. Oh he is dangerous alright- dangerous to the 1% dangerous to all the military contractors that own media corporations in our country and bombard our citizens with vapid spin. Americans used to give more to charity then all the world- now our government forces us to do it, so corporatist can shave off profits for themselves and their ruthless friends. I say let us all keep what we earn, treat everyone the same and show the world that we do not give the most because we are forced too- we will once again give the most because we will once again prosper under freedoms that generations have fought and died for.
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10:07 AM on 03/31/2012
Fanned and Faved!
Well stated!
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
zambiland
11:32 PM on 04/21/2012
He's dangerous to the environment and the middle class. Depending on the court system to keep polluters in check is simply insane. Our courts can't keep up with that kind of litigation and citizens don't have the resources to fight corporate polluters.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
wowwhatajoke
06:23 PM on 04/24/2012
if the environment is all you care about then you need help... understand that this economy is in far worse condition and will crumble way sooner if something is not done soon.
09:07 PM on 04/24/2012
And Obama and the EPA let BP get away with paying only a fraction of the $20 BILLION promised. And how much went to the fishermen and those destroyed by the spill?

Let me spell out the problem:

C-O-R-R-U-P-T-I-O-N.....Rampant in BOTH PARTIES.....One term in Congress; and it is CADILLAC Health Care coverage for LIFE...Even if later found guilty of a crime.

Having Faith in the Federal Government to be the sole means to right wrongs is a foolish and naive. We don't even INVESTIGATE never mind prosecute the Accounting Fraud criminals that brought the WORLD to its financial knees. Instead we jail and torture the likes of Bradley Manning for TELLING THE TRUTH!!!

Watch this short clip and tell me you have faith in the Federal Government to protect the interests of the common man without failure!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld5tERIBvsg

May I suggest a book?
http://www.amazon.com/Money-Power-Goldman-Sachs-World/dp/038552384X

They owned Clinton (Rubin-Summers-Geithner). They owned Shrub (Hank Paulson). Now they own Obama (Summers-Geithner)

See some REAL Democrats weed out the truth:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOZTXqtph3E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNXaeSu4lwo

Where is Obama and Holder on these issues? Like Shrub or Romney; they do NOTHING!!!!
04:55 PM on 03/30/2012
Thank you, Ms. Trace, for finally stating the obvious on a Mainstream media news website. This might be a first.
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JohnFromCensornati
Free your mind and your ass will follow.
04:17 PM on 03/30/2012
"To whose campaign is 87 percent of the active military contributing? Ron Paul. That is reason enough to vote for Ron Paul over all others."

I realize that people who make this statement have fallen prey to the not-so-clever and ineffective political spin of the Paul Cult.
06:55 PM on 03/30/2012
Ron Paul Military Donations Nearly Twice Those of His GOP Rivals and Obama—Combined!

Active-military men and women support Dr. Paul about three times more than Obama, and six times more than combined Republican opponents.

Paul raised $150,000 in the fourth quarter alone from active-duty military.

Paul received 87 percent of the active duty military donations given while Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich each received just a fraction, $10,000 each.
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JohnFromCensornati
Free your mind and your ass will follow.
06:32 AM on 04/02/2012
You're just spamming irrelevant info. In what way is this "reason enough to vote for Ron Paul over all others."? It isn't.
11:18 PM on 03/30/2012
It's actually the truth. No need for spin. 87% of all military contributions to GOP candidates are donated to Ron Paul. He gets more in donations from activie military than Obama and all of the GOP candidates combined.
A large gathering of hundreds of troops, active and retired, and a crowd supporting them numbering about 2000 marched on the White House on President's Day, in support of Ron Paul. As they marched on the White House, they chanted President Paul, President Paul, President Paul. When they reached the White House fence, they did an about face and saluted - the ultimate insult by the military to Obama.
The media ignored it, even as they pushed for another illegal corporate war with another country that has not attacked us.

No spin needed. The truth doesn't require it. That's a big difference between Ron Paul and the other military industrial complex corporate media candidates. Ron Paul tells us the truth.
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JohnFromCensornati
Free your mind and your ass will follow.
06:23 AM on 03/31/2012
Are you a parrot? You have failed to explain why "That is reason enough to vote for Ron Paul over all others."
01:39 PM on 03/30/2012
I was just thinking about this.....
I think the real reason the so called "powers that be" don't want to "bring all the troops home" from around the world is that the troops have sworn an oath to protect the Constitution and if they came home they may do Just That! They would have to take out the Domestic Enemies who have taken over the White House and usurped the reigns of power.
Down with the FED, Down with the Military Industrial Complex, Down with the Mega Corporations and Big Pharma!
Power to the People!!!
12:07 PM on 03/30/2012
Such a shame Rep. Paul has been marginalized by big media and political spin. He'd do wonders for the future of the USA. Thanks Huffington Post for getting this post right.
11:43 AM on 03/30/2012
nice article
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11:21 AM on 03/30/2012
First off thank you for a logical article based of fact and actions. Now if only the public could get this same unbiased factual reporting done on his other policies.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
refuse2fail
09:36 AM on 03/30/2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chqAJEAjYa4 More than 5,200 strong. Let's see Mitt, Newt, or Rick draw a crowd even half this size or enthusiastic........ never gonna happen!
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
refuse2fail
09:35 AM on 03/30/2012
If you like the NDAA taking away all of your Constitutional rights, endless wars fought under false pretenses, and adding BILLIONS of dollars every month to an already insurmountable deficit, then please vote for Mitt, Newt, Rick, or Obama. And they call Ron Paul ‘crazy’……..
09:24 AM on 03/30/2012
Laura, your articles are a breath of fresh air on this website. What a lucid understanding of Dr. Paul's moral and constitutional position on national defense!
09:16 AM on 03/30/2012
Wonderful Journalism Laura. A nice change from what the HP usually prints.