Cut it out!

A quick search on Google yields two dates for Ron Paul marches on DC. One on October 8, 2011, and another on March 3 2012. There is also a link to a site revolution march which is defunct. Please stop it.

In the quest for more freedom, people have taken their eyes off the prize and diverted resources away from more productive tasks. It is like some people think that someone should do something and they get all starry eyed and fantasize about a big something to do. There are four reasons why marches on DC for Ron Paul should be avoided: 1) Cost 2) Benefit 3) Principle 4) Mixed signals.

The first thing that should be thought about when considering a march on DC is the cost. There are not just the costs of a stage, bathroom facilities, speakers, advertising, etc. These costs alone should run in the thousands if not tens of thousands if done right. There are also the costs of the attendees. Imagine the costs to the attendees. If the event has moderate attendance of one hundred thousand, and we use a low ball estimate of $300 average travel, hotel, food expense per person, then that is $30 Million. Again, that's thirty million dollars! What could be accomplished with thirty million dollars? What could 100,000 Ron Paul volunteers each with $300 do for Ron Paul? This cost is tremendous and must be considered before any decision on action.

We should also consider the benefit. Do marches achieve their goals? What was the result of the marches for peace during the Bush presidency. Did Farrakhan's million man march accomplish anything. What about Glenn Beck, who was mocked by Steven Colbert? With the exception of Martin Luther King, it's difficult to identify a march that achieved its purpose. Why Washington DC? People remember a protest at Kent State, more readily than other DC protests. The benefit of DC marches is dubious at best.

If one has the goal of empowering individuals and protecting them from DC. Then Marches on DC are actually detrimental to that viewpoint. A march on DC brings attention to the federal government. Bringing attention to DC is suggesting that the federal government solve problems, not the states or individuals. It distracts people from the local successes of liberty, and draws their attention to the federal negation of it. At least in New Hampshire liberty has been far more successful at the state and city/town level. A march on DC is against the principle of personal empowerment.

A Ron Paul march on DC also sends mixed signals. A president is elected by voters, not DC. Marching on DC for Ron Paul, seems to suggest that the government should elect Ron Paul. Are Ron Paul supporters trying to circumvent the election? Is the government preventing Ron Paul form running? Why are people going to the government and not inspiring their friends and neighbors to vote for Ron Paul. Why not a Ron Paul t-shirt, or button day that does not require tremendous resources.

Another consideration is the risk of such an event. A poorly attended march on DC may suggest low support for Ron Paul. It was actually suggested to me by an acquaintance that if there is poor attendance at this October 8th event then I will be contributing to the detractors of Ron Paul. No I won't. If this event on October 8th is a flop, it means it was a bad idea and/or planed poorly. No one's idea of action will ever obligate me.