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2005 Ron Paul Chapter 60
Not linked on Ron Paul’s Congressional website.
Congressional Record [.PDF]
Belief In The Constitution Is A Conservative View
14 June 2005
2005 Ron Paul 60:1
Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. DUNCAN)
for participating, and thank him
for his leadership, his votes and his energy
that he puts in in trying to keep
this Congress straight and the budget
straight.
2005 Ron Paul 60:2
I think the points the gentleman made about the issue of whether the
conservative position is for the war or
against the war is, I think, very appropriate,
because too often it is assumed
if there is a war going on, the conservative
position is you have to promote
that war.
2005 Ron Paul 60:3
As a matter of fact, sometimes I like to think of the term, which is conservative,
and that is belief in the Constitution,
which is a very conservative
view. I believe if we adhered more
strictly to the Constitution, we would
probably be involved much less so in
these kinds of wars.
2005 Ron Paul 60:4
During the time when this resolution came up, I am on the Committee on
International Relations, I offered an
amendment to declare war, not that I
supported the war nor would I vote for
the amendment, but to make the point
that if this country, this Congress
wants to go to war, they ought to be up
front with it and make a declaration of
war, decide what we have to do and go
and win it. But not one single person
voted to declare war. As a matter of
fact, it was turned back to me and said,
why would I think of bringing up such
a frivolous notion about the Constitution
and declaration of war? Another
Member said, That part of the Constitution
is anachronistic. We don’t
look at that anymore.
Mr. DUNCAN. If the gentleman will
yield, just one brief comment. Probably,
unfortunately, one of the weakest
arguments up here against any legislation
is that it is unconstitutional, but
it should be the strongest argument.
2005 Ron Paul 60:5
Mr. PAUL. If we do not use that argument, what good is our oath of office?
What good is our oath to our people
when we talk to them at home? I
think that is our obligation. Sometimes
I will take a vote that I am not
particularly happy with, but I will do
it because I believe I am adhering to
my oath of office and believe it is the
process that is not correct and we have
to change the Constitution if we need
to do it. I think this is so important,
because I do not think we have the authority
in the Constitution to start
preemptive war, to go into nationbuilding
and to change regimes. I just
cannot see that it is there. I think that
has led us to get into these problems
since World War II especially.
2005 Ron Paul 60:6
Of course, I did mention in my prepared text that declaration of war is
important but also if we would restrain,
as the Constitution does, the
monetary authorities from printing
money at will to finance wars like this,
I think we would be fighting a lot less
wars.
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