Ron Paul's Wild West

Topher Morrison

PurpleSerf.com

            As Ron Paul moves West he should grow stronger.  Western states have been traditionally less-establishment than eastern states mainly because of their separation from Washington D.C., but also because as one moves west the more suburban and rural one will most likely find their self.  It is a widely understood phenomenon that cities and especially D.C. tend to be more liberal as they are closer to the spigots of government largess.  

            There is a historical reason why there tend to be more libertarians out West than on the East Coast.  The West identifies itself more with traditional America as a pioneering culture than the East Coast, which has always had a continental feel. Moreover, the frontier experience of American settlers was of rugged individualism, self-reliance, but most importantly the frontier expanded quicker than the federal government could grow leaving most westerners on their own.  This experience is in sharp contrast to those left in New York, Pennsylvania, New England and the South.

From the early 1800s to the last lower 48 territory when Arizona became a state in 1912, the West was relatively untamed.  Private associations called land clubs dominated the scene.  Throughout the statehood process and before incorporation of towns and cities these land clubs enabled settlers to elect local officers and select arbitrators to resolve disputes.  Other than that you were on your own.

The best modern example of libertarian leanings in the West is the Libertarian Party itself, founded by David Nolan in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  He was originally born and raised on the East Coast, but disgruntled with Nixon’s Vietnam policies and his abandonment of the gold standard Nolan established the party of principle in his home in Colorado in 1971. 

Libertine cities like Las Vegas extol legalized and safe prostitution, relaxed gun laws, legalized gambling, strong property rights and manage to allow around the clock drinking 7 days a week all without the sky falling.  The famous libertarian think tank the Cato Institute was founded in San Francisco before moving to Washington D.C.  The libertarian Independent Institute, however, is in Oakland, C.A.  Reason Magazine, a leading libertarian publication, is based in Los Angeles.

            While coastal California, Oregon and Washington don’t necessarily scream for the libertarian economic ideals Ron Paul espouses his libertarian social platform of drug reform, gay marriage, freedom of speech and internet freedom will loom large in contrast with Mitt Romney who has been relatively mum on these issues.  Most of all, however, Ron Paul’s non-interventionist foreign policy will resonate in the libertarian west.  With regard to California, Ron Paul won the California straw poll unfortunately with little mention.

            While Utah is most assuredly in Mitt Romney’s corner with the majority of its citizens of the Mormon faith their strict state’s rights positions are very much in line with Ron Paul.  The state actually flirted with a soft repeal of the 17^th Amendment, providing the popular election of federal senators, in favor of their selection by the state legislature and confirmation thereafter by the people through popular vote.  Ron Paul feels the states were denied their representation as states in the federal system after the 17^th Amendment’s passage in 1913, the same year the Federal Reserve Act was passed.

            Polling hasn’t yet been forthcoming since Romney’s victories in Iowa and New Hampshire, but with other candidates sure to putter out and unable to sustain a nationwide campaign, unlike Ron Paul it will be interesting to see how polls will change in this back loaded primary season.