You could probably estimate how many lives would be saved if the US had a more sane and moral foreign policy versus how many lives would be lost if the US cut all aid to foreign countries, and compare them, but why take the chance? I'd just rather vote for someone who's better on those issues rather than going backwards on one or the other.
This idea of letting the "market" deal with people who can be cured for a couple of cents on the dollar is absolutely sickening, a type of morality on par with maybe Nazi doctors. This is especially true when markets are not even constructed by consumer choices anyway, but have always had a large, government hand in them. This is well known in the social sciences and certainly is known by many libertarians, yet they are absolutely furious and fumigating over foreign aid and social welfare, attacking first and foremost social programs - the kind of programs that actually build up an economy by stimulating weak demand.
We haven't lived in a real free market in years. The truest free market on this planet right now is the economy of Hong Kong. Its really easy to open up a business in Hong Kong compared to somewhere like New York or India ; Look at the wonders a free market has done for the living conditions of the people in Hong Kong. over 50 years ago , people were living in Huts and Hong Kong then looks like what Iraq looks like now. Now , Its not uncommon to see people driving a Roll's royce. The living standards of improve dramatically for the people of Hong Kong because of an economic free market.
The way some of Paul's fanatics prostrated themselves and worshipped the founding fathers is also interg esting and ahistorical. These people refer to FDR as a "fascist" and I believe WhoWee or someone similar linked to a heavily biased, revisionist account of fascism from a von Mises type web page (who's references were all well known revisionists like Jim Powell for instance, most of whom are not historians). FDR was far less "fascist" than the founders, who held racist beliefs, and Reagan, an out and out corporatist, yet these are the heroes of the libertarians.
FDR held racist beliefs. He forced patriot japanese americans to live in interncamps until the war was over. FDR is no saint. Many economists and historians believe that FDR prolong the depression rather than eradicate it. He spoke the same rhetoric that Obama is speaking now establishing "hope " and making people "feel good" during the Depression rather than bring any real solutions to the table. Ultimately it was WW2 that brought us out of the Depression, not of FDR's new deal programs. And he confiscated the gold of many americans ; he is no fan of mine.
Thats what I like about Ron Paul , he doesn't stray away from a certain group just because that group is perceived as 'racist' or a 'conspiracy' theorist. Unlike some candidates he is not into his image , only getting his message across to a wide diverse audience. Alex Jones is not completely insane. He had a nobel prize winning laureate in economics on his radio show.
Sure , many of the founding fathers were held racist beliefs, even believing that blacks and indians were beasts , but they founded a government that was like no other around during their time, where people worshipped kings and queens and religion ruled politics over rationalism and reason(hey alliteration). And they were very divisive over slavery , but many of the founders wanted the colonies to be united, so they put the slavery issue aside for now. But you must realize that congress had intense debates over issue of slavery , sometimes having fist fights over it.
So, they lose me there as well. And as for the gold standard, I agree, might as well use silicon or something else. That's another non-applicable issue Paul supporters go on and on about, and may things worse in several regards such as incompatible currencies etc...
see my post above.