The Ron Paul movement has accomplished far more than any individual thought possible just a year ago, the time has come for Paul to ask himself if he is still on the right path. The economic situation in this country has descended into a seemingly uncontrollable tailspin, with the dollar at all-time lows and oil at all-time highs; conditions are ripe for a complete economic meltdown. And just at this country’s worst moment, a moment that is redefined with the rise of each day’s sun, there is a strong and determined coalition of people hell bent on change and victory over the establishment, namely Ron Paul’s supporters. Unfortunately that coalition and their movement have gone relatively dormant compared to their peak just several months ago.

When Ron Paul appears in public he constantly warns the American people that the economic situation in this country is extremely serious and the clock is ticking for the U.S. to return to a sound monetary policy. Yet he is unwilling to run outside of a party that has been largely successful in laughing him off the stage. I know Ron Paul is a principled man and I know that he believes he is on the morally superior side in a battle to win back the Republican Party, but ultimately he is engaging in a losing battle. The Republican Party in the United States is a cavernous tomb filled with apathetic votes which are a product of our increasingly apolitical society. Does Ron Paul want to make his statement in the battle for a tomb? Or does he want to rejuvenate his grassroots supporters to spread the universal message of freedom and to build a brand new coalition in American politics. The landscape in American politics is ripe for Ron Paul’s message, particularly in this coming election with the Republican candidate John McCain largely alienating the right of the Republican Party. This is the year to sow the seeds of a new coalition. I would rather see a step away from the Republican Party by Paul supporters than the humiliating step towards a long term battle inside of the Republican Party.

The Ron Paul campaign has made small strides forward in collecting delegates in the Republican Nomination race; however, these delegates are being collected despite the American people voicing their overwhelming support for McCain, Romney and Huckabee in the Republican primaries around the country, with Ron Paul collecting less than 10% of the popular vote nationwide. So any revolt at the Republican National Convention staged by Ron Paul supporters will be against the voters as much as it would be against McCain or the establishment.

In a recent development Ron Paul’s fellow Republican Congressman Bob Barr announced today that he will seek the Libertarian nomination for the Presidential race. It will be interesting to watch how Barr’s candidacy will develop and if ultimately if he will receive the support of Ron Paul supporters in the general election. Unfortunately Barr does not have Paul’s squeaky clean record, because of votes such as a yes vote for the Patriot Act.

Whether it is eventually Ron Paul or Bob Barr or even Jesse Ventura it will be important to set aside differences and work to build a formidable opponent to McCain and Obama in November. Without this coalition the American people are promised more U.S. military intervention around the globe, the devaluation of our currency in the U.S. and the overall continuation of the military, pharmaceutical and prison industrial complexes that promise to bring this country to its knees not in decades but in years.

Shaun Booth can be contacted by writing to boothshaun@gmail.com

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