Anti-state, Anti-war and pro-market Libertarian thought leader Lew Rockwell (www.LewRockwell.com) joins Judge Napolitano to discuss the various reasons for why Ron Paul’s Constitutional philosophies are finally garnering recognition from the American public. While he may be running as a Republican, Paul’s positions on spending, war powers, economic policy, and civil liberties are starkly different from those of his political colleagues.

The ideas themselves transcend party lines. And as Paul himself noted in the Republican debate yesterday (video highlights available below), it is not necessarily he that is electable, but rather, the fundamentally American philosophies, like the rule of law, that voters will be casting their ballots for.

Lew Rockwell on the Rise of Ron Paul:

It’s actually two things. First of all, the economic crisis. This is what’s changed from four years ago when Ron said there was going to be a crisis and everybody laughed at him. But, of course he was correct. So after four years of economic terror we’re all afraid for ourselves, for our parents, for our children, we’re worried about the future. We know about the crony capitalism on Wall Street. We know about Goldman Sachs and Citibank and Bank of America, and all the big guys living at the trough at the expense of the average person.

People are angry about that, as well they should be.

Also, and it took them long enough, but today they realized we’re living in a police state. Not only is the government running a police state, in fact, around the world for many many countries, but they’re running one at home. And there’s nothing that’s beyond them.

Lew Rockwell points out what every American knows, but some are afraid to contemplate or admit. Whether you are republican, democrat or currently without party you can more than likely relate to Mr. Rockwell’s assessment for why Ron Paul is gaining recognition and why the American people are rebelling against their masters in Washington. We are in an unprecedented economic crisis, and no, it’s not just Obama’s fault. Our country is being locked down from the inside out – and it has happened under democrat AND republican administrations and Congresses.

It is the aversion to corruption in business and government that has driven tens of thousands of protesters around the country (and world) to the Occupy movement. It is the excessive taxation and interference by government into the lives of individual citizens that gave rise to the Tea Party movement three years ago. It is the realization that we have been robbed by our government of not only our wealth, but individual liberty, that drives individuals to vehemently argue their ideas in the streets, in internet communities and in their social circles. If there’s one elected representative in this country to whom we can attribute the expansion of awareness and consciousness of the American public to the degrading state of affairs it is Ron Paul. His message is one that few politicians are willing to bring to the forefront of discussion and debate, and even fewer who are willing to actually take the politically unpopular steps required to implement real change in America – a change that, in essence, requires nothing more than a return to our founding principles.

Ron Paul highlights from the most recent Republican debate:

Via Lew Rockwell.com:

The GOP contenders scuffled in Sioux City in the last debate before the caucuses. And FOX News may have felt it was wiser to give Ron more time to speak than to face a blitz of criticism for ignoring him again. And Ron did not disappoint – he looked and sounded presidential. He dealt with the questioners smartly and assertively. Some of the highlights include his take-down of Gingrich for this lobbying activities, and a smack-down of Bachmann over bombing Iran. No Michelle, we can’t solve these problems with mass murder. As Ron has always said, he wants to be a president with less power. Indeed, “I don’t want to run the world, police the world, or run the economy.” Another brilliant performance by a true statesman.

What it boils down to is trust. Who are you going to trust with your future, with the future of your children, with the future of your country? Choose wisely. We may only have one more chance.

References: Lew Rockwell, Patriot Trading, The Daily Sheeple