HON. RON PAUL
OF TEXAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
2006 Ron Paul 16:1
Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, America lost a great champion of liberty when Harry Browne
passed away on March 1, at the age of 72.
Harry had a passion for liberty and knowledge
of a wide variety of subjects. His communication
style, as he himself so marvelously put it,
focused on converting his opponents rather
than winning the argument. These attributes
helped make him one of the most effective
proponents of the freedom philosophy I have
had the privilege of knowing. Harrys numerous
books and columns, his radio and Internet
broadcasts, and his speeches educated millions
in sound economics and the benefits of
a free society. Harry motivated many people
to become activists in the movement to restore
American liberties.
2006 Ron Paul 16:2
Harry first came to public attention in the 1970 when he penned a best-selling investment
book, How You Can Profit From the
Coming Devaluation, which foresaw President
Richard Nixons abandonment of the gold
standard and the ways the American economy
would be damaged by the inevitable resulting
inflation. Harrys book helped many Americans
survive, and even profit, during the economic
troubles of the seventies. It also introduced
millions of people to the insights developed by
followers of the Austrian school of economics
regarding the dangers fiat currency poses to
both prosperity and liberty posed by fiat. How
You Can Profit From the Coming Devaluation
is generally recognized as the founding document
of the hard money movement, which
combined the insights of the Austrian economists
with a practical investment strategy.
2006 Ron Paul 16:3
Harrys third book, You Can Profit from a Monetary Crisis, reached number one on the
New York Times bestseller list. Other popular
books by Harry include How I Found Freedom
in an Unfree World, The Great Libertarian
Offer, and Why Government Doesnt Work. I
was pleased to write the foreword for one of
Harrys books, Liberty A–Z: Libertarian
Soundbites You Can Use Right Now, a collection
of direct, thought-provoking, and often humorous
responses to the questions advocates
of the freedom philosophy face.
2006 Ron Paul 16:4
During the nineties, Harry worked to advance liberty as a presidential candidate, columnist,
radio talk-show host, and columnist.
He also hosted an internet-based talk show
and founded DownsizeDC, a grassroots advocacy
group whose goals are accurately
summed up in its title. Even while struggling
with Lou Gehrigs disease, Harry maintained a
full schedule of writing, hosting his radio show,
and speaking around the country.
2006 Ron Paul 16:5
Harrys efforts were not limited to the economic realm. He understood the threat to liberty
and prosperity posed by global crusades
for democracy, as well as the importance of
opposing restrictions on civil liberties. Harrys
outspoken defense of civil liberties and the
Framers foreign policy of nonintervention took
on added importance in the last years of his
life when too many self-styled advocates of
liberty attempted to curry favor with the political
establishment by focusing solely on issues
of economic liberty or combined advocacy of
low taxes and regulations with active support
for militarism and restrictions on personal liberty.
2006 Ron Paul 16:6
In all his educational, financial, and political work Harry served as a model for everyone
who works for the free society. Harry was principled
and uncompromising in message, while
temperate and respectful of differing opinions
in delivery. He avoided the histrionics too
common in our todays talk show culture, and
he never personalized his arguments. Even
when an opponent resorted to ad hominem attacks,
Harry always kept his presentation on
the high ground of ideas and principles. In
conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I extend my sympathy
to Harry Brownes wife, Pamela, and
daughter Auburn, as well as the many he befriend
in his years in the freedom movement,
and I pay tribute to Harry Browne for his lifelong
efforts on behalf of individual liberty.