[tomdemaine]

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Ok. But when you vote for Ron Paul, that X is your signature on the social contract that the statists keep going on about. You're saying that certain forms of taxation are ok, you're saying that governments can do better than the market in some areas, you're saying that voting for the lesser of two evils is a worthwhile choice and that democracy can work. You're conceding the whole game and giving up the only bargaining chip we have, the moral high ground, for a fools hope that Ron Paul can somehow cause a change in the US.

If you give it up for any boy who comes along and whispers the right words in your ear you're going to become the school [censored].

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Well like I said, I probably won't be voting. But I wouldn't crucify fellow libertarians who do. A vote for Ron Paul isn't necessarily an endorsement of government, it's an endorsement of Ron Paul and a cry for drastic change. Like I said, hearing much of the stuff he's had to say, I would not be surprised if he's pretty damn close to being an anarchist, philosophically. He is the candidate who is in favor of maximum freedom, minimum govt' intrusion by far. A vote for him is a vote for a more free market economy and more individual liberty.

I don't completely disagree with you I just don't think guys like you and Nielso should be so quick to judge the methods of fellow libertarians who'd rather vote for Ron Paul than sit around with a holier than thou attitude while Big Brother continues to grow and is always looking over their shoulder.

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But the holier than thou attitude or at least convincing people that anyone who endorses the state is not holy and rather evil is the only chance we have of ridding ourselves of Big Brother. I'd love to vote for Ron Paul, wouldn't life be so much easier if democracy did what it said it did and the state could be used for good it'd be amazing. If voting for Ron Paul would do anything positive there may be a case for it but it undermines the AC position. If Ron Paul didn't exist he'd have to be invented. Supporting him is the perfect way to pacify libertarians and ACists in to thinking they're making progress when nothing of the sort is happening.

A vote for Ron Paul is an endorsement of government. This comes down to the things you say vs the things you do stuff that I've been trying to get across. Ron Paul doesn't know that you're an anarchist. All he knows is that you voted (a statist act) for a guy who has stated that there are good (as in morally good) ways to spend tax money.

To vote for Ron Paul then go back to saying participation in the system is wrong, the lesser of two evils isn't a choice and so on smacks of hypocrisy and completely undermines your argument (and whats worse mine too).