How to Become a Paulbot

One of the great things about becoming a Paulbot is that you suddenly find yourself surrounded by a lot of other people who are also paying attention.
By Roger F. Gay

First off, I have to say that I like robots. They outperform humans at many tasks and are rarely snooty about it. People interested in robots sometimes discuss what's referred to as the “singularity,” a point at which artificial intelligence generally becomes more intelligent than humans. While reading and listening to some of the political discussions going on, it seems almost certain that day has already arrived.

I've been called a “Paulbot” even though I haven't declared my support for any party or politician. That's something I haven't done for a very long time. I haven't campaigned for Ron Paul. I am however, using my knowledge to help with the public process of vetting candidates. That is something I have done for many years and would be doing whether Ron Paul was in the race or not.

I sense however, that some of the people who seem to use the term “Paulbot” disparagingly really want to belong to something, and just don't know how to join up. The other candidates make it easier. You don't have to know anything – in fact they don't want you to know anything. Just listen to the carefully crafted slogans, milled through millions of dollars in focus groups, and respond with your feelings. If you're part of the market they've focused their advertising to capture, get on board little doggie!

If you think picking the people who will write the laws and run the government is worth a little time and effort and the task of thinking for yourself, then most of the campaign hoopla can be ignored. Most of the talking heads on TV should be ignored, especially those who prey on your need to belong, nudging you not so subtly toward a projected winning team by using the term “front-runner” too many times when their guy is polling well or declaring their unfavored candidates losers from the start. This should have absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with your choice. You're not betting on a horse.

No matter that I do not qualify as a true Paulbot, at least not yet. I believe I've started the journey and no matter where I end up, I've learned a little something about the process. At the very least, I can call on my early experience and what I concretely see ahead. (And I have many years head start on understanding the characters that I disparage.)

If you lived in Ron Paul's district in Texas, it would be much easier for you. I lived near his district for years and can tell you that's where Paulbot zero lives. Before that time, I had never heard people talk with such passion and enthusiasm for their representative. I'll assume that you're from elsewhere.

My journey started with what to me is obvious: The rest of the Republican presidential field is horrible. It seems possible that an old corrupt RINO might be nominated to continue Obama's legacy merely because he's wrapped the agenda in conservative sounding rhetoric. Many other articles discuss why we must not continue down our current destructive path. In reality, it doesn't matter which brand is stamped on the politician. Republican or Democrat, painted blue or red, what we need is a different product. We need to dare to wander into unfamiliar territory, to examine candidates that aren't the same as the ones chosen last time and the time before that. We need to think for ourselves and know what we want (need).

I suggest that you should start by asking yourselves where you stand with respect to the Constitution. Are you for it or against it? At this point, there are no in-betweens. We've accepted "lesser-of-two-evils" arguments too many times before. We'll either fix it now or abandon hope of recovery, drifting aimlessly in an uncontrolled sea of corruption. If you think you're for Nancy Pelosi's or Barack Obama's Constitution, the ever-flawed “living document” that is arbitrarily interpretable and easy to ignore, then you're against it. If you want to praise it with words while destroying it with deeds, like Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney, then you're against it.

I'm for it, and by process of elimination, that leaves me with only one candidate from either of the two parties to consider. Based not only on his campaign commentary, but on his 24-year history as a US Congressmen, that candidate is Ron Paul.

Now I realize that not everyone can come to this conclusion so quickly. That brings me to the main point. You really must know that you're willing to put forth an effort because the stakes are high. Voting, to select the people who represent you, who write the laws and implement them, who make major decisions that will deeply effect your life and all around you, is not something to be taken lightly. There is more, even beyond the basics of understanding the Constitution, why it's important and how it's been defeated by greed and corruption. If the Constitution litmus test is passed, what about issues?

I learn from my mistakes. I was visited recently by a Paulbot, before I started down the path. I wasn't prepared for the conversation, but as is my normal habit, spoke openly about my sense of things, particularly those things that bothered me about “crazy uncle Ron.” I was wrong about all of them.





That brings me to my final bit of guidance on becoming a Paulbot. You'll never learn the truth about Ron Paul by listening to his opposition. You won't learn about him by listening to the talking heads who want to decide for you. The only way you can learn about Ron Paul is to listen to Ron Paul.

That may seem odd advice. I'd say pretty much the opposite about nearly every other politician. But for decades, Ron Paul has been consistent in word and deed. He's a different product, well worth the time and effort that it takes to seriously consider whether or not to vote for him.

If you decide he's right, you too can be a Paulbot.

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