WI: Ron Paul a leftist

JoeMulk

Banned
Suppose that Ron Paul at some point in his youth is converted to leftism. What would a Ron Paul be like that was the same kind of outlier within the Democrats as a Bernie Sanders or Dennis Kucinich? He probably wouldn't move to Texas ITTL.
 
Left and Right are really insufficient to describe outliers like Ron Paul. For instance, he's against the various wars the US has presently involved itself with, and has been irrespective of whose administration they're begun or prosecuted under. He's also against corporate welfare for banks and financial institutions. To top it off, he's generally against funding both sides in the Arab/Israeli conflict. It isn't surprising therefore that a good chunk of his support comes from the Left---specifically the more far left. It'd be interesting to make up a matrix of 1930's FDR democrat, contemporary mainstream democrat, 1930's Republican, and contemporary mainstream Republican and compare & contrast the differences
 
What kind of leftist? Someone like Bernie Sanders? An actual socialist? (as opposed to a Social Democrat).

I think a very interesting question is what if he embraced leftist politics AND Austrian Economics? Austrianism doesn't reject the welfare state, or even socialism (provided it can get around the calculation problem somehow) per se (even though Austrian economists propose laissez-faire policy, the economics itself is neutral, or is supposed to be.)

I believe there are actually some "Austrian thinkers" who are out and out socialist, and of course, guys like Lange said they owed Mises a statue in the future Central Planning Administration or whatever because he discovered there was a calculation problem for socialism to solve!
 
He already exists IOTL
Dennis_Kucinich_Official_Photo.jpg
 
I think a social liberal Ron Paul is not too far fetched. Many of my kin live in Brazoria Co where Paul has his home. Many of my relatives have been Paul supporters. He just has some kind of weird folksy appeal. He could back almost anything and get enough support to get by.

It's not too hard to imagine him as a Texas surfer boy Kucinich.
 

MAlexMatt

Banned
There hasn't been a left libertarian in a position of power since...well, I don't think there has ever really been a left libertarian in a position of power.

So, if Ron Paul were a leftist, he probably wouldn't be a Congressman.
 
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