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Pillars of Prosperity: Free Markets, Honest Money, Private Property
When the economic history of our times is written, one man will emerge as the prophet of both the financial collapse and the disasters associated with government Ron Paul. He alone among the political class sounded the warnings and sees the way out.This economic manifesto collects his greatest speeches and debates over the last 30 years, and provides documentary evidence that he is not only a master of the topic; he has provided a coherent explanation of nearly everything the government has done wrong in this area since he first entered public office. He also provides a way out, as implied by the free market, honest money, and private property.Dr. Paul has consistently battled for all three.Economics is topic about which most politicians are abysmally ignorant. As this books shows, Ron Paul is a master of the topic and the nation's teacher on a vast range of economic issues. He addresses monetary policy during critical times such as the late 1970s inflation mania, and was a lone voice pointing to the real cause of Federal Reserve monetary policy.Whereas most members of Congress are intimidated by Fed officials, Paul's confrontations with Greenspan are documented here word for word. In addition, he reveals the social and economic effects of loose credit, and shows the ill-effects of bailouts. He addresses high taxes, regulation, trade restrictions, and bravely denounces sanctions against foreign countries for fueling international tensions.He also explains his view of free trade, for the real thing but against misnamed treaties that embroil international traders in bureaucracy.He covers welfare, bureaucracy, war, and a a host of other economic topics in what is surely the most comprehensive, intelligent, and revealing book on economics ever written by a U.S. political figure -- all informed by the Austrian tradition of thought that has so influenced his thinking.
494 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2008
15 people are currently reading
500 people want to read
About the author
Ron Paul
102 books557 followersRepublican United States Congressman from Lake Jackson, Texas, a physician, a bestselling author, and a former 2008 U.S. presidential candidate.
Originally from the Pittsburgh suburb of Green Tree, Pennsylvania, he studied at Duke University School of Medicine; after his 1961 graduation and a residency in obstetrics and gynecology, he became a U.S. Air Force flight surgeon, serving outside the Vietnam War zone. He later represented Texas districts in the U.S. House of Representatives (1976–1977, 1979–1985, and 1997–present). He entered the 1988 presidential election, running as the Libertarian nominee while remaining a registered Republican, and placed a distant third.
Paul has been described as conservative, Constitutionalist, and libertarian. He advocates a foreign policy of nonintervention, having voted against actions such as the Iraq War Resolution, but in favor of force against terrorists in Afghanistan. He favors withdrawal from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the United Nations, citing the dangers of foreign entanglements to national sovereignty. Having pledged never to raise taxes, he has long advocated ending the federal income tax, scaling back government spending, abolishing most federal agencies, and removing military bases and troops from foreign soil; he favors hard money and opposes the Federal Reserve. He also opposes the Patriot Act, the federal War on Drugs, No Child Left Behind, and gun control. Paul is strongly pro-life, and has introduced bills to negate Roe v. Wade, but affirms states' rights to regulate or ban abortion, rather than federal jurisdiction.
While Paul was a leading 2008 presidential candidate in some Republican straw polls, he saw substantially less support in landline opinion polls and in the actual primaries. Strong internet grassroots support was indicated by his popularity as a web search term, his lead in YouTube subscriptions, and, on December 16th 2007, the largest one-day fundraiser in U.S. political history, netting over $6 million in 24 hours through an independently organized effort. His book commenting on the presidential run, The Revolution: A Manifesto, became a bestseller immediately upon release and went on to be #1 on the New York Times nonfiction best sellers list.
Judge Andrew Napolitano calls him "the Thomas Jefferson of our day."
Ron Paul, the New York Post once wrote, is a politician who "cannot be bought by special interests."
"There are few people in public life who, through thick and thin, rain or shine, stick to their principles," added a congressional colleague. "Ron Paul is one of those few."
Originally from the Pittsburgh suburb of Green Tree, Pennsylvania, he studied at Duke University School of Medicine; after his 1961 graduation and a residency in obstetrics and gynecology, he became a U.S. Air Force flight surgeon, serving outside the Vietnam War zone. He later represented Texas districts in the U.S. House of Representatives (1976–1977, 1979–1985, and 1997–present). He entered the 1988 presidential election, running as the Libertarian nominee while remaining a registered Republican, and placed a distant third.
Paul has been described as conservative, Constitutionalist, and libertarian. He advocates a foreign policy of nonintervention, having voted against actions such as the Iraq War Resolution, but in favor of force against terrorists in Afghanistan. He favors withdrawal from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the United Nations, citing the dangers of foreign entanglements to national sovereignty. Having pledged never to raise taxes, he has long advocated ending the federal income tax, scaling back government spending, abolishing most federal agencies, and removing military bases and troops from foreign soil; he favors hard money and opposes the Federal Reserve. He also opposes the Patriot Act, the federal War on Drugs, No Child Left Behind, and gun control. Paul is strongly pro-life, and has introduced bills to negate Roe v. Wade, but affirms states' rights to regulate or ban abortion, rather than federal jurisdiction.
While Paul was a leading 2008 presidential candidate in some Republican straw polls, he saw substantially less support in landline opinion polls and in the actual primaries. Strong internet grassroots support was indicated by his popularity as a web search term, his lead in YouTube subscriptions, and, on December 16th 2007, the largest one-day fundraiser in U.S. political history, netting over $6 million in 24 hours through an independently organized effort. His book commenting on the presidential run, The Revolution: A Manifesto, became a bestseller immediately upon release and went on to be #1 on the New York Times nonfiction best sellers list.
Judge Andrew Napolitano calls him "the Thomas Jefferson of our day."
Ron Paul, the New York Post once wrote, is a politician who "cannot be bought by special interests."
"There are few people in public life who, through thick and thin, rain or shine, stick to their principles," added a congressional colleague. "Ron Paul is one of those few."
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 14, 2014
A highly recommended collection of Dr. Ron Paul’s speeches while in Congress between 1976 and 2007.It is a nice overview of several key topics that make up his platform, and very much worth the time to read. A consistent, scathing rebuke of corporatism and of the Republican Party particularly.
Also, it became amusing ( you gotta laugh, what else can you do ? ) when one considers how many creative ways Dr. Paul expressed to his colleagues the fact that the U.S. Government is flat broke. It was also in some ways discouraging when you look at the dates that certain speeches were given, and realize how closely the prophecy of impending problems became a reality.
Note: One thing I did not realize is that this book contains Dr. Paul’s pamphlet on Mises and Austrian Economics: A Personal View.
Also, it became amusing ( you gotta laugh, what else can you do ? ) when one considers how many creative ways Dr. Paul expressed to his colleagues the fact that the U.S. Government is flat broke. It was also in some ways discouraging when you look at the dates that certain speeches were given, and realize how closely the prophecy of impending problems became a reality.
Note: One thing I did not realize is that this book contains Dr. Paul’s pamphlet on Mises and Austrian Economics: A Personal View.
October 14, 2008
I read this book as a participant of http://www.freedombookclub.com
The message that resounds throughout this collection of speeches is that the federal government of the United States ought not to intervene in true free market capitalism. It was a very consistent book. A key theme of this book is how the Federal Reserve supports the federal government's deficit spending by printing more and more money (backed by nothing but the threat of nuclear annihilation [that's what I say, not Ron Paul]), which is, by definition, INFLATION. This has been the way out of many a financial crisis, as is cited in the book. When more and more "dollars" are chasing the same amount of consumer goods (like bread, gasoline, or any number of commodities) PRICE inflation occurs. Inflation is a hidden tax, which hurts mostly the middle class, and decimates those already having trouble making ends meet.
There were a few words that sent me to the dictionary to gain a clearer understanding. Words like fungibilty (p. 425), profligate, and sop (p. 443). So not only did it underscore my understanding of the way a free market (if allowed to) will operate, it illustrated the unintended consequences of government intervention in the marketplace.
In general I found this book easy to understand, except for in Part 7: International Affairs, in a speech entitled "Reaffirming Committment of United States to Principles of the Marshall Plan." That left me scratching my head. But maybe I shouldn't read this stuff so late at night.
In summation: A bit long, excellent content, big words make you smart.
I plan on releasing this book someplace through bookcrossing.com, see my bookcrossing entry for this book.
The message that resounds throughout this collection of speeches is that the federal government of the United States ought not to intervene in true free market capitalism. It was a very consistent book. A key theme of this book is how the Federal Reserve supports the federal government's deficit spending by printing more and more money (backed by nothing but the threat of nuclear annihilation [that's what I say, not Ron Paul]), which is, by definition, INFLATION. This has been the way out of many a financial crisis, as is cited in the book. When more and more "dollars" are chasing the same amount of consumer goods (like bread, gasoline, or any number of commodities) PRICE inflation occurs. Inflation is a hidden tax, which hurts mostly the middle class, and decimates those already having trouble making ends meet.
There were a few words that sent me to the dictionary to gain a clearer understanding. Words like fungibilty (p. 425), profligate, and sop (p. 443). So not only did it underscore my understanding of the way a free market (if allowed to) will operate, it illustrated the unintended consequences of government intervention in the marketplace.
In general I found this book easy to understand, except for in Part 7: International Affairs, in a speech entitled "Reaffirming Committment of United States to Principles of the Marshall Plan." That left me scratching my head. But maybe I shouldn't read this stuff so late at night.
In summation: A bit long, excellent content, big words make you smart.
I plan on releasing this book someplace through bookcrossing.com, see my bookcrossing entry for this book.
September 18, 2011
I love all of Ron Pauls books, but this one has a lot of congressional excerps which makes it a hard read because they arn't explained thoroughly. It mostly just shows how bad congress is. Ron Paul explains something happening and they say don't wurry we got it. Then he asks them later about it and they brush him off like he's crazy. Eventhough the congressional notes prove he warned them. It also shows some bills he tried to pass like social security preservation act. A simple bill that states government can't steal money from social security. Why would that not pass? The system is terrible.
Read
August 4, 2011I actually read this when it first came out. Dr Ron Paul, while earning the approbrium of America, is the only politician talking sound money (pun intended). Ron Paul pointed out last year that the inflationary dollar is robbing Americans of their savings and will generate crises unimagined. The world laughed. Well, after October the world was wrong and Dr Paul was right.
Dr Paul's book is like a lite version of Ludwig von Mises applied to America.
Dr Paul's book is like a lite version of Ludwig von Mises applied to America.
Want to read
September 25, 2012I remember sitting down to watch a Republican Presidential Debate for the first time. There was Gingrich, Santorum, Romney, and Paul. I remember thinking that all that was being said was rubbish... until Ron Paul began to speak.... but then he was cut off or ignored or seen as unimportant. When I googled him, I wasn't at all surprised to see I wasn't the only one who'd noticed the similarities between him and the youth of America- so often overlooked, ignored, and underestimated.
April 10, 2009
Excellent: illustrates his principles of following the constitution and not redistributing wealth. Somewhat repititious in places, but congress needs it.
September 30, 2009
This is a compilation of Ron Paul's speeches in congress. So it's not the best format, but it covers a lot of ground and has interesting points, especially about monetary policy.
November 10, 2012
As a fun read, not so much since it is predominantly Congressional transcripts. As proof of Mr. Paul's prescience, excellent. You will be missed in Congress Mr. Paul.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews