Editing Ron Paul (section)

== Political positions ==
<!-- Before editing this summary section, please review WP: MOSBIO and WP:SUMMARY, and search the Talk page for recent discussion. Only major positions should appear in this section, which should remain brief. All other material should be added to the separate article [[Political positions of Ron Paul]]. -->
{{Libertarianism US|politicians}}
{{Conservatism US|politicians}}
{{main|Political positions of Ron Paul}}
Paul has been described as [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] and [[Libertarianism in the United States|libertarian]].<ref name=ny/> According to [[University of Georgia]] [[political scientist]] Keith Poole, Paul had the most conservative voting record of any member of Congress from 1937 to 2002,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://voteview.com/Is_John_Kerry_A_Liberal.htm |title=Is John Kerry a Liberal? |access-date=March 25, 2010}}</ref><ref>Keith Poole, "Estimating a Basic Space From A Set of Issue Scales," ''American Journal of Political Science'', 42 (July 1998), pp. 954–93.</ref> and is the most conservative of the candidates that had sought the 2012 Republican nomination for president.<ref>{{cite web |last=Poole |first=Keith T. |title=Ideological Locations of 2012 Republican Presidential Candidates (Updated January 5, 2012) |url=http://voteview.com/blog/?p=258 |work=Voteview Blog |access-date=January 24, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121020625/http://voteview.com/blog/?p=258 |archive-date=January 21, 2012}}</ref> Other analyses have judged Paul much more moderate. The ''[[National Journal]]'', for instance, rated Paul only the 145th-most-conservative member of the House of Representatives (out of 435) based on votes cast in 2010.<ref>{{cite journal |last=House |first=Billy |title=The Most Conservative Members of the House: Each is a Confirmed Budget Hawk and as a Group They are not above Being a Little Strident |journal=National Journal Daily |date=February 24, 2011 |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/member/daily/the-most-conservative-members-of-the-house-20110224 |access-date=January 24, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723031856/http://www.nationaljournal.com/member/daily/the-most-conservative-members-of-the-house-20110224 |archive-date=July 23, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Vote Ratings 2010: How Did Your Member of Congress Vote? |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/2010voteratings?person=P000583 |work=National Journal |access-date=January 24, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216033001/http://www.nationaljournal.com/2010voteratings?person=P000583 |archive-date=February 16, 2012}}</ref> The ''National Journal''<nowiki/>'s analysis gave Paul a 2011 composite ideological rating of 54% liberal and 46% conservative.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/296/ron-paul#.W2tS-9JKiUk |title=Ron Paul's Ratings and Positions |website=votesmart.org}}</ref>

The foundation of Paul's political philosophy is the conviction that "the proper role for government in America is to provide national defense, a court system for civil disputes, a criminal justice system for acts of force and fraud, and little else."<ref>{{cite journal |last=Paul |first=Ron |title=Political Power and the Rule of Law |journal=Texas Straight Talk |date=February 5, 2007 |url=http://paul.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1106&Itemid=69 |access-date=January 28, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327092107/http://paul.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1106&Itemid=69 |archive-date=March 27, 2012}}</ref> He has been nicknamed "Dr. No", reflecting both his medical degree and his insistence that he will "never vote for legislation unless the proposed measure is expressly authorized by the Constitution."<ref name="drno" /><ref name="2008bio">{{cite web |url=http://www.ronpaul2008.com/about/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023173254/http://www.ronpaul2008.com/about/ |archive-date=October 23, 2007 |title=About Ron Paul |publisher=[[Ron Paul 2008]] |year=2007 |access-date=October 23, 2007}}</ref> In 2008, Paul spoke at the [[John Birch Society]]'s 50th-anniversary celebration.<ref name="Campbell 2008">{{cite web |last=Campbell |first=Walter |title=Birchers celebrate 50th |website=La Cañada Valley Sun |date=2008-07-10 |url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/la-canada-valley-sun/news/tn-vsl-xpm-2008-07-10-lnws-johnbirchsociety710-story.html |via=latimes.com |access-date=2021-09-16 |url-access=limited}}</ref><ref name="CBS News 2011">{{cite web |title=Ron Paul: The new teflon candidate? |website=CBS News |date=2011-12-22 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ron-paul-the-new-teflon-candidate/ |access-date=2021-09-16|author-first1=James|author-last1=Kirchick}}</ref>

=== Foreign policy ===

An anti-war activist, Paul promotes a [[noninterventionist]] foreign policy and an end to [[American imperialism]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Patriotism |url=http://archive.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul388.html |work=[[Congressional Record]] |publisher=[[U.S. House of Representatives]] |author=Paul, Ron |date=May 22, 2007 |access-date=October 23, 2007}}</ref> He advocates [[American Sovereignty Restoration Act|withdrawal]] from the [[United Nations]] and from the [[NATO|North Atlantic Treaty Organization]], for reasons of maintaining strong national sovereignty.<ref>{{cite web |last=Paul |first=Ron |date=January 6, 2009 |url=https://www.lewrockwell.com/2009/01/ron-paul/opportunities-for-peace-and-nonintervention/ |title=Opportunities for Peace and Nonintervention |work=LewRockwell.com}}</ref>

Paul voted for the [[Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists]] in response to the [[September 11 attacks]], but suggested war alternatives such as authorizing the president to grant [[Letters of Marque and Reprisal]] targeting specific terrorists, in lieu of launching an [[United States invasion of Afghanistan|Afghanistan invasion]]. An opponent of the [[Iraq War]] as well, and potential war with [[Iran]], he has criticized [[neoconservatism]] and U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, arguing that both inadvertently cause terrorist reprisals against Americans, such as the 9/11 attacks. Paul has stated that "Israel is our close friend" and that it is not the place of the United States to "dictate how Israel runs her affairs". Paul, a critic of the US's implementation of most [[foreign aid]], said in 2011 that "it was our foreign aid that helped [[Mubarak]] retain power to repress his people in the first place."<ref name="Israel">{{cite press release |url=http://eon.businesswire.com/news/eon/20110519007204/en |title=Ron Paul Responds to President Obama's Middle East Speech |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523070454/http://eon.businesswire.com/news/eon/20110519007204/en |archive-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref>

Following the [[Orange Revolution]] protests in 2004, which led to [[Viktor Yanukovych]]'s ouster from government, Paul accused the [[National Endowment for Democracy]] of having staged a coup in Ukraine.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kirchick |first1=James |date=May 9, 2014 |title=Is Rand Paul a Secret Hawk? Or Maybe Not a Total Dove? |work=[[The Daily Beast]] |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/05/09/is-rand-paul-a-secret-hawk-or-maybe-not-a-total-dove.html |access-date=March 16, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Paul |first=Ron |date=December 9, 2004 |title=What Has NED Done in Ukraine? |work=lewrockwell.com |url=https://www.lewrockwell.com/2004/12/ron-paul/what-has-ned-done-in-ukraine/ |access-date=March 16, 2020}}</ref> Paul supported the [[2014 Crimean status referendum]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kirchick |first=James |date=2014-03-16 |title=Ron Paul Is Supporting Russia's Illegal Occupation of Crimea |language=en |work=The Daily Beast |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/03/16/ron-paul-is-supporting-russia-s-illegal-occupation-of-crimea |access-date=2022-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325210215/https://www.thedailybeast.com/ron-paul-is-supporting-russias-illegal-occupation-of-crimea |archive-date=2022-03-25}}</ref> for which he was called a friend of [[Vladimir Putin]] by [[The Atlantic]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Journal |first=Lucia Graves, National |date=2014-07-21 |title=Ron Paul Is Putin's New Best Friend |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/07/ron-paul-is-putins-new-best-friend/439533/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101161740/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/07/ron-paul-is-putins-new-best-friend/439533/ |archive-date=2021-11-01 |access-date=2022-04-08 |website=The Atlantic |language=en |url-access=limited}}</ref> and has objected to [[International sanctions during the Russo-Ukrainian War|sanctions during the Russo-Ukrainian War]] and [[List of military aid to Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian War|foreign aid to Ukraine]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Jon |date=2022-03-07 |title=Ron Paul says Putin replaced COVID as excuse for government's failures |url=https://www.newsweek.com/ron-paul-says-putin-replaced-covid-excuse-governments-failures-1685490 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402120719/https://www.newsweek.com/ron-paul-says-putin-replaced-covid-excuse-governments-failures-1685490 |archive-date=2022-04-02 |access-date=2022-04-08 |website=Newsweek |language=en |quote=He went on to write that sanctions imposed on Russia gives the government an excuse to raise gas prices, even while it doesn't ban Russian oil imports. Paul also suggested that the Putin-ordered invasion gave the Federal Reserve an opportunity to postpone what he said were "planned interest rate increases." "The Ukraine crisis also provides an excuse for Congress to do what Congress does best: increase federal spending. President Biden has requested Congress provide an additional $10 billion in emergency military aid to Ukraine," the former congressman wrote. "Congress will likely quickly approve the President's request. This will not likely be the last time Congress rushes billions of 'emergency' money to Ukraine." He theorized another consequence of the invasion could be lobbyists for military industries seeking to expand the country's military budget, in which Congress would likely agree to, he said.}}</ref>

=== Domestic issues ===

Paul endorses [[constitutional right]]s, such as the [[right to keep and bear arms]], and ''[[habeas corpus]]'' for political detainees. He was one of only three Republicans in the House to vote against the [[Patriot Act]]. Paul opposes federal use of [[Torture and the United States|torture]], [[presidential autonomy]], a [[REAL ID Act|national identification card]], warrantless [[NSA warrantless surveillance (2001–07)|domestic surveillance]], and [[Conscription in the United States|the draft]]. He has also called for shutting down the [[Transportation Security Administration|TSA]] and moving matters of [[airline security]] to private businesses.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/featured-articles/2019/february/04/shut-down-the-tsa/ |title=Shut Down the TSA! - Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity}}</ref> Paul believes that the notion of the [[separation of church and state]] is currently misused by the court system: "In case after case, the Supreme Court has used the infamous '[[separation of church and state]]' metaphor to uphold court decisions that allow the federal government to intrude upon and deprive citizens of their religious liberty."<ref>{{cite web |last=Paul |first=Ron |title=Restoring First Amendment Protections of Religion and Religious Speech to the U.S. House of Representatives |url=http://paul.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=330&Itemid=60 |access-date=December 8, 2010 |date=June 13, 2002 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205072817/http://paul.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=330&Itemid=60 |archive-date=December 5, 2010}}</ref> After the April 2013 [[Boston Marathon bombing]], Paul commented on the tactics used by governing forces into a harsh criticism that he has written as a "military-style occupation of an American city".<ref name="Camia" />

=== Economic issues ===
[[File:Paul LPAC 2011.jpg|thumb|Paul speaking at the 2011 [[Liberty Political Action Conference]] (LPAC)]]

Paul is a proponent of [[Austrian School]] economics; he has authored six books on the subject, and displayed pictures of Austrian School economists [[Friedrich Hayek]], [[Murray Rothbard]], and [[Ludwig von Mises]] (as well as of President [[Grover Cleveland]] and [[Chicago school (economics)|Chicago School]] economist [[Milton Friedman]])<ref name=will>{{cite news |title=A Cheerful Anachronism |url=http://www.libertypost.org/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=177422&Disp=41&Trace=on |author-link=George Will |last=Will |first=George F |date=February 18, 2007 |access-date=March 17, 2008 |work=[[Newsweek]] |archive-date=April 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408054649/http://libertypost.org/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=177422&Disp=41&Trace=on |url-status=dead}}</ref> on his office wall. He regularly voted against almost all proposals for new government spending, initiatives, or taxes;<ref name=saynot>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/08/AR2006070800966_2.html |title=Congressman Paul's Legislative Strategy? He'd Rather Say Not |author=Copeland, Libby |date=July 9, 2006 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=October 23, 2007 |url-access=limited}}</ref> he cast two thirds of all the lone negative votes in the House during a 1995–1997 period.<ref name=drno/>

Paul pledged never to raise taxes,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.atr.org/content/html/2007/april/042407pr-ronpaul_pledge.html |title=Rep. Ron Paul Signs Presidential Taxpayer Protection Pledge |access-date=October 23, 2007 |publisher=Americans for Tax Freedom |author=Kartch, John |date=April 24, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011150929/http://atr.org/content/html/2007/april/042407pr-ronpaul_pledge.html |archive-date=October 11, 2007}}</ref> and states he has never voted to approve a [[budget deficit]]. Paul believes that the country could abolish the individual [[income tax]] by scaling back federal spending to its fiscal year 2000 levels;<ref name=endirs>{{cite web |url=http://www.house.gov/paul/congrec/congrec2003/cr013003c.htm |title=End the Income Tax – Pass the Liberty Amendment |publisher=[[U.S. House of Representatives]] |work=[[Congressional Record]] |author=Paul, Ron |date=January 30, 2003 |access-date=March 8, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080301111946/http://www.house.gov/paul/congrec/congrec2003/cr013003c.htm |archive-date=March 1, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.antiwarpresident.com/ronpaul/Ron-Paul-less-government-abolish-IRS.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070705203920/http://www.antiwarpresident.com/ronpaul/Ron-Paul-less-government-abolish-IRS.html |archive-date=July 5, 2007 |title=Paul Want Less Government, Less Taxes, and Abolish IRS |date=September 13, 2007 |work=Antiwar President |access-date=October 23, 2007}}</ref> financing government operations would be primarily by [[Excise tax in the United States|excise taxes]] and non-protectionist [[tariff]]s. He endorses eliminating most [[Government agencies#Government agencies in the United States|federal government agencies]], terming them unnecessary bureaucracies. On April 15, 2011, Paul was one of four Republican members of Congress to vote against Representative [[Paul Ryan]]'s budget proposal, known as "[[The Path to Prosperity]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll277.xml |title=Final vote results for roll call 277 |publisher=Clerk of the House of Representatives |date=April 15, 2011 |access-date=April 23, 2011}}</ref>

Paul has consistently warned of [[hyperinflation]] and called for a return to the [[gold standard]] as far back as 1981.<ref>Five Myths About the Gold Standard, Congressman Ron Paul, Congressional Record. 97th Congress, First Session. Volume 127, Part II. February 23, 1981. No. 28: "I believe such a standard to be not only desirable and feasible, but absolutely necessary if we aim to avoid the very real possibility of hyperinflation in the near future, and economic collapse. But in Washington today we have five myths about the gold standard."<!-- {{cite web |url=http://www.knology.net/~bilrum/5goldmyths.htm |title=Archived copy |accessdate=December 14, 2009 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232747/http://www.knology.net/~bilrum/5goldmyths.htm |archivedate=March 3, 2016}} --></ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2012/08/24/gop-appeased-me-on-gold-standard-rep-ron-paul.html |title=GOP Appeased Me on Gold Standard: Rep. Ron Paul |first=Justin |last=Menza |website=[[CNBC]] |date=August 24, 2012}}</ref> From 1999 until his retirement, he introduced bills into each Congress seeking to eliminate the [[Federal Reserve System]] in a single year,<ref>{{cite web |title=H.R. 1148: Federal Reserve Board Abolition Act |url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h106-1148 |work=106th Congress, 1999-03-17 |access-date=January 23, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=H.R. 1094: Federal Reserve Board Abolition Act |url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h112-1094 |work=112th Congress, 2011-03-15 |access-date=January 23, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Paul, Ron |date=September 11, 2007 |access-date=October 23, 2007 |title=Question and Answer session following Keynote speech at the Johns Hopkins Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies forum "Foreign Policy: A View from a Presidential Candidate" |url=http://ronpaulaudio.com/rpaudio/RonPaulatJohnsHopkinsSchoolofInternationalStudiesSAIS091107.m3u |work=Ron Paul Audio |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324220848/http://ronpaulaudio.com/rpaudio/RonPaulatJohnsHopkinsSchoolofInternationalStudiesSAIS091107.m3u |archive-date=March 24, 2009}}</ref> a position he outlines in his 2009 book ''[[End the Fed]]''. Paul is a strong proponent of [[free trade]], once saying that "free trade is an answer to a lot of conflicts around the world".<ref name="Mic" /> He rejects membership in the [[North American Free Trade Agreement]] (NAFTA) and the [[World Trade Organization]] as "managed trade".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ontheissues.org/tx/Ron_Paul_Free_Trade.htm |title=Ron Paul on Free Trade |website=www.ontheissues.org}}</ref> He has also advocated for open trade and better relations with the country of [[Cuba]]. In addition, Paul argued in 2012 that "as well intentioned as [[Economic sanctions|sanctions]] are, they almost always backfire and hurt the people."<ref name="Mic">{{cite web |title=Ron Paul is the Only GOP Candidate Who Gets it Right on Cuba |url=https://www.mic.com/articles/3678/ron-paul-is-the-only-gop-candidate-who-gets-it-right-on-cuba |work=Mic |date=January 2012}}</ref>

Paul has described his interest in ending wars and lowering [[military spending]] as partly an "economic issue", adding, "We'd save a lot of money by not being engaged [in overseas conflict] like this."<ref name="WAexaminer" />

=== Climate change ===

As a [[free-market environmentalist]], Paul asserts [[private property]] rights in relation to environmental protection and pollution prevention.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/JknlzNNnLAo Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20130728015942/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JknlzNNnLAo Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JknlzNNnLAo |title=Texas Straight Talk (01/06/2012) |website=[[YouTube]] |date=January 18, 2012 |access-date=February 5, 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He [[climate change denial|rejects]] the [[scientific consensus on climate change]] and has claimed that [[global warming]] is a hoax in a 2009 [[Fox Business]] interview.<ref name=":1">{{cite episode |network=Fox Business Network |airdate=November 4, 2009 |minutes=7 |credits=Anchor: David Asman |series=America's Nightly Scoreboard}}</ref>

=== Healthcare ===

Paul has stated, "The government shouldn't be in the medical business." He pushes to eliminate federal involvement with and management of [[Healthcare in the United States|health care]], which he argues would allow prices to decrease due to the fundamental dynamics of a free market.<ref>{{cite web |author=Paul, Ron |url=http://archive.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul175.html |title=Free market Medicine |work=LewRockwell.com |date=May 5, 2004 |access-date=November 14, 2008}}</ref> He also opposes federal government influenza [[inoculation]] programs.<ref>{{cite news |last=Malcolm |first=Arthur |date=April 30, 2009 |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/04/ron-paul-swine-flu-federal-government.html |title=Ron Paul pooh-poohs swine flu; yet another grab for more Fed control! |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408205818/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/04/ron-paul-swine-flu-federal-government.html |archive-date=April 8, 2016 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=October 7, 2009 |url-access=limited}}</ref>

=== Immigration ===

Paul endorses increased border security and opposes welfare for [[Illegal immigration to the United States|illegal immigrants]], [[Birthright citizenship in the United States|birthright citizenship]], and [[amnesty]];<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ronpaulforcongress.com/html/bordersecurity.html |title=Issue: Border Security and Immigration Reform |publisher=[[Ron Paul 2008]] |author=Paul, Ron |access-date=June 20, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100604030521/http://ronpaulforcongress.com/html/bordersecurity.html |archive-date=June 4, 2010}}</ref> he voted for the [[Secure Fence Act of 2006]]. In a 2019 interview, Paul expressed disapproval of President [[Donald Trump]]'s proposed [[Mexico–United States border wall|border wall]] along the southern US border, saying, "I don't like walls. I don't want to wall people in and wall people out."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/424321-ron-paul-removing-incentives-not-border-wall-will-deter-illegal/ |title=Ron Paul: Remove incentives for illegal immigrants instead of building border wall |work=The Hill |author=Samuel, Brett |date=January 8, 2019 |access-date=October 21, 2020}}</ref>

=== Ballots and voting ===

Paul is an outspoken proponent of increased [[ballot access]] for third-party candidates.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.house.gov/paul/congrec/congrec2004/cr071504.htm |title=End the Two-Party Monopoly! |publisher=House of Representatives |work=[[Congressional Record]] |date=July 15, 2004 |access-date=October 23, 2007 |last=Paul |first=Ron |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930110358/http://www.house.gov/paul/congrec/congrec2004/cr071504.htm |archive-date=September 30, 2007}}</ref> He has sought to repeal the [[National Voter Registration Act of 1993]], also known as the Motor Voter law.<ref>{{cite web |title=H.R. 2139: To Repeal the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 |url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h108-2139 |work=108th Congress, 2003-05-15 |access-date=January 23, 2012}}</ref>

=== Secession ===

Paul has stated that [[secession]] from the United States "is a deeply American principle" and that "If the possibility of secession is completely off the table there is nothing to stop the federal government from continuing to encroach on our liberties and no recourse for those who are sick and tired of it."<ref>{{cite news |last=Paul |first=Ron |title=Ron Paul: 'Secession is a deeply American principle{{'-}} |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/84058.html |newspaper=Politico |date=November 19, 2012}}</ref> Paul wrote the remarks in a post on his Congressional website in one of his final public statements as a member of Congress, noting that [[2012 state petitions for secession|many petitions]] had been submitted to the White House calling for secession in the wake of the November 2012 election.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Paul |first=Ron |title=Secession: Are we free to go? |journal=Texas Straight Talk |date=November 19, 2012 |url=http://paul.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2029&Itemid=69 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212032655/http://paul.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2029&Itemid=69 |archive-date=December 12, 2012}}</ref>

=== Social issues ===
[[File:Ronpaul1.jpg|thumb|Paul at the 2007 [[National Right to Life Committee]] Convention]]

Citing the [[Ninth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Ninth]] and [[Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Tenth Amendments]], Paul advocates [[states' rights]] to decide how to regulate social matters not cited directly by the Constitution. He opposes federal regulation of such matters as the [[Capital punishment in the United States|death penalty]]<ref name=americanview>{{cite web |url=http://theamericanview.com/index.php?id=916 |author=Lofton, John |title=Excerpts From Our Exclusive Ron Paul Interview |date=August 2007 |access-date=October 23, 2007 |work=American View |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008221735/http://theamericanview.com/index.php?id=916&PHPSESSID=ada7ce327a1a2259581f5b52578e6df2 |archive-date=October 8, 2007}}</ref> (although he opposes capital punishment),<ref>{{cite web |author-link=Lew Rockwell |last=Rockwell |first=Lew |date=December 13, 2010 |url=https://www.lewrockwell.com/lrc-blog/ron-paul-defender-of-human-dignity/ |title=Ron Paul, Defender of Human Dignity |work=LewRockwell.com}}</ref> of education,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Ron_Paul_Education.htm |title=Ron Paul on Education: Republican Representative (TX-14) |work=On the Issues |access-date=October 23, 2007 |date=September 1, 2007}}</ref> of drugs, and of marriage. Regarding [[same-sex marriage]], he stated in 2011 that "My personal opinion is government shouldn't be involved. The whole country would be better off if individuals made those decisions and it was a private matter."<ref name="Shoenberg 2011">{{cite news |last=Shoenberg |first=Shira |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2011/12/20/ron-paul-favors-states-rights-same-sex-marriage-issue/uUyPB49e0k1Yt0OcpBIvnL/story.html |title=Ron Paul favors states' rights on same-sex marriage issue |work=The Boston Globe |date=20 December 2011 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>  He endorsed revising the military's "[[don't ask, don't tell]]" policy to concern mainly disruptive sexual behavior (whether heterosexual or homosexual).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0706/05/se.01.html |title=Transcript of June 5 "CNN/WMUR/''New Hampshire Union Leader''" Republican presidential debate |publisher=CNN |access-date=November 14, 2008 |date=June 5, 2007 |author=Paul, Ron}}</ref> His abortion-related legislation, such as the [[Sanctity of Life Act]] in 2005, is intended to negate ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'' and to get "the federal government completely out of the business of regulating state matters."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Who+had+the+right+to+rule%3F+Accusations+about+the+abuses+of...-a0132162835 |title=Who had the right to rule? |publisher=American Opinion Publishing, Inc |work=[[The New American]] |author=Eddlem, Thomas R. |date=May 2, 2005 |access-date=October 5, 2007}}</ref> Paul says his years as an obstetrician led him to believe that life begins at [[Fertilisation|conception]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.teamliberty.net/id447.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018022258/http://www.teamliberty.net/id447.html |archive-date=October 18, 2007 |title=An Interview with Presidential Candidate Congressman Ron Paul |department=Muckraker Report |work=Team Liberty |author=Murtagh, Joseph |date=June 28, 2007 |access-date=September 27, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.fitsnews.com/2018/11/28/ron-paul-allow-americans-to-opt-out-of-abortion-and-war/ |title=Ron Paul: Allow Americans to 'Opt Out' of Abortion and War |last=FITSNews |date=November 28, 2018 |language=en-US |access-date=January 29, 2020}}</ref>

Paul was critical of the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]], arguing that it sanctioned federal interference in the labor market and did not improve [[race relations]]. He once remarked: "The Civil Rights Act of 1964 not only violated the Constitution and reduced individual liberty; it also failed to achieve its stated goals of promoting racial harmony and a color-blind society".<ref name=cr1964>{{cite web |last1=Paul |first1=Ron |title=The Trouble With the '64 Civil Rights Act |url=https://www.lewrockwell.com/2004/07/ron-paul/the-trouble-with-the-64-civil-rights-act/ |website=LewRockwell.com |access-date=November 14, 2015 |ref=cr1964}}</ref> Paul opposes [[Affirmative action in the United States|affirmative action]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/issues/candidates/ron-paul/#affirmative-action |title=Ron Paul on the Issues |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=December 22, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220182530/http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/issues/candidates/ron-paul/ |archive-date=February 20, 2009}}</ref>

Paul opposes the federal [[War on Drugs]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.house.gov/paul/tst/tst2004/tst051704.htm |title=The War on Drugs is a War on Doctors |author=Paul, Ron |publisher=U.S. House of Representatives |date=April 17, 2004 |access-date=November 14, 2008 |work=[[Congressional Record]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080802163713/http://www.house.gov/paul/tst/tst2004/tst051704.htm |archive-date=August 2, 2008}}</ref> and advocates that states should decide whether to regulate or deregulate drugs such as [[Medical cannabis in the United States|medical]] and [[Recreational marijuana|recreational]] marijuana, and other substances.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:HR02592 |title=H.R. 2592 |date=July 23, 2001 |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=November 14, 2008 |archive-date=July 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130722095428/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:HR02592 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/03/what-would-president-ron-pauls-drug-policy-look-like/253620/ |author=Kelsey Harclerode |title=What Would President Ron Paul's Drug Policy Look Like? |date=March 2012 |work=The Atlantic |url-access=limited}}</ref> In 2001, he joined with Democratic Congressman [[Barney Frank]] in helping pass the States' Rights to Medical Marijuana Act (H.R. 2592), an attempt to stop the federal government from preempting states' medical marijuana laws.<ref>{{cite web |author=Frank, Barney |year=2002 |url=http://www.house.gov/frank/medmar2002.html |title=Frank Calls for Action on Medical Marijuana Legislation |publisher=United States House of Representatives |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090329134329/http://www.house.gov/frank/medmar2002.html |archive-date=March 29, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Paul again partnered with Frank in support of [[online gambling]] rights. In 2006, both strongly opposed H.R. 4777, the Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act, and H.R. 4411, the Goodlatte-Leach [[Internet Gambling Prohibition Act]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.04777: |title=Thomas (Library of Congress): HR 4777 |date=September 22, 2006 |via=Thomas.loc.gov |access-date=August 17, 2020 |archive-date=October 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018013459/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.04777: |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.04411: |title=Thomas (Library of Congress): HR 4411 |date=July 13, 2006 |via=Thomas.loc.gov |access-date=August 17, 2020 |archive-date=November 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081125231725/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.04411: |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In June 2018, Paul posted a tweet containing a racist cartoon and a caption which invoked the [[Cultural Marxism conspiracy theory]]. The tweet read "Are you stunned by what has become of American culture? Well, it's not an accident. You've probably heard of 'Cultural Marxism,' but do you know what it means?" The tweet was later deleted with an apology, stating that a staff member had inadvertently posted what Paul described as an "offensive cartoon".<ref name="Tweets Racist Cartoon">{{Cite news |author=<!--anonymous author(s)--> |title=Ron Paul Tweets Racist Cartoon, Blames Staffer In Latest Deflection Of Bigoted Remarks Attributed To Libertarian Hero |date=2 Jul 2018 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/ron-paul-racist-tweet-newsletter-anti-semitic/ |access-date=February 19, 2023 |work=CBS News}}</ref><ref name="Riotta 2018">{{Cite news |last=Riotta |first=Chris |date=July 2, 2018 |title=Ron Paul tweets, then deletes racist cartoon |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/ron-paul-racism-republican-party-racist-tweet-cultural-marxism-libertarian-a8427781.html |access-date=February 19, 2023 |work=The Independent}}</ref><ref name="Mathis-Lilley 2018">{{Cite news |last=Mathis-Lilley |first=Ben |date=July 2, 2018 |title=Ron Paul Becomes Latest Republican to Post Literal Nazi Content |work=Slate |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/07/ron-paul-racist-caricature-tweet-republican-pattern.html |access-date=February 19, 2023}}</ref>