Freedom is not defined by safety. Freedom is defined by the ability of citizens to live without government interference. Government cannot create a world without risks, nor would we really wish to live in such a fictional place. Only a totalitarian society would even claim absolute safety as a worthy ideal, because it would require total state control over its citizensโ lives. Liberty has meaning only if we still believe in it when terrible things happen and a false government security blanket beckons.
Ron PaulBy the way, when I say cut taxes, I don't mean fiddle with the code. I mean abolish the income tax and the IRS, and replace them with nothing.
Ron PaulWe should respect each other as rational beings by trying to achieve our goals through reason and persuasion rather than threats and coercion.
Ron PaulYou know, freedom is a very popular idea, and young people love it, and they're open to ideas. And they like principled answers to our problems.
Ron PaulWhat is not conservative about saying, 'Don't go to war unless we go to war properly with a full declaration of war and no other way?'
Ron PaulYou can at least let sick people have marijuana because it's helpful. But the compassionate conservatives say, well we can't do this, we're going to put people who are sick and dying with cancer and are being helped with marijuana if they have multiple sclerosis - the federal government is going in there and overriding state laws and putting people like that in prison.
Ron Paul