Friends of Ron Paul in Japan

Confessions of a Ron Paul supporter and Chuck Baldwin voter

Yes there are several good reasons to celebrate an Obama win…if not quite an Obama presidency:

1. Skin deep but not entirely superficial, he will be America’s first black president.  True, as a libertarian I think it would be better not to have a presidency…or at least a very weak one such as under the Articles of Confederation.  But if we have one, it should be open to people of all colors.  Congratulations Mr. Obama!

2. The intelligent and diligent Obama campaign has rid America (at least temporarily) of two of the most obnoxious icons of the political class: Hilary Clinton and Mad Jack McCain.  Unfortunately this election cycle has also raised up the rather idiotic Ms. Palin.  Oh well, two steps forward one step back.  Congratulations anyway Mr. Obama and staff!

3. To the extent that this election was a referendum on the Bush presidency, providence and the American people evidently used the Obama campaign as an instrument to shame the man who used emergencies and executive powers to shread the Constitution and erect a right-wing socialist state.  True, Obama’s presidency may turn out to be a left-wing version thereof but the precedent was initially set by Bush.

4. Obama is an ideologue.  What, you say, this is supposed to be a good thing!?  Well of course, not if he leads us into far left kookoo land.  But what if he changes his ideology, as idealists are know to do.  (As indeed, this writer been know to do in the past.)  Keep in mind that members of the political class in general and presidents in particular are notorious for doing exactly the opposite of what their voters gave them a mandate to do.  Socialism will only be continued and deepened if reality cooperates…which Austrian economics predicts it won’t.  Historical note:  Half of Eugen Bohm-Bawerk’s students followed him into free market economics, the others became what was known as the “Austro-marxist” school.  Idealists cross the line all the time and I suspect that Mr. Obama has an old textbook packed away somewhere with the title “Karl Marx and the Close of His System” by Eugen Bohm-Bawerk.  Marxist professors in Eastern and upper Midwestern universities often assign it to their students to refute its refutation of socialism.

Mr. Obama, can you refute the refutation of the refutation?  I know that sounds rather heroic, but after all they’re calling you a hero these days.  And if that is a little too abstract consider this: Jimmy Carter, that most “leftist” of presidents, actually reduced government more than any president since WWII, including Regan.