Congressman and GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul demonstrated how the perennial concept of liberty would be applied to modern America under his presidency — socially, economically or internationally – on Friday at the Union Theater.
Paul visited the University as the first stop on his Campus Youth Tour.
“We have to take the concept of liberty and put it back into one piece,” Paul said, as he addressed the crowd of University students.
The best way to achieve prosperity is through true freedom, he said.
“I believe we have been an exceptional country,” Paul said, adding that the nation could be exceptional again. “When the example is set, others will emulate us.”
The “exceptional” aspects of the nation have been mitigated by the federal government, he explained.
“The First Amendment is pretty clear,” Paul said as he discussed the various ways the federal government becomes socially involved with the American people.
Using food as an example, Paul said the federal government is regulating everything the American people consume.
“Why shouldn’t you be able to make up your own mind?” he asked the audience.
Paul applied the idea of freedom to all facets of American life, namely economics.
“We need a new system of economics, absolutely,” he said. “Freedom is economic liberty and personal liberty.”
While the concepts of freedom and liberty have always been staples of American culture, Paul explained how it has recently grown after years of being undermined.
 
“I believe the idea of liberty is spreading,” he said.
He described how “amazing” it was that the message has spread, especially among college students and young Americans.
“People are now studying free-market economics,” Paul said.
The U.S. has not had “true emphasis on liberty” for a century, he said.
Paul seeks to end what he referred to as the “interventionist plan” of economics and entitlements.
While speaking of welfare programs and bailouts for banks and bankrupt nations, Paul said, “Eventually the burden comes back to the American tax-payer.”
Paul hearkened back to the 1930s when he said it was “permissible to let someone go bankrupt.”
He also declared his support for the abolition of income taxes. With this, Paul had to pause to let the crowd quiet down.
“Now I know why my favorite place to campaign is college campuses,” Paul laughed.
 
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