Physician, Heal Thyself.

Republican Ron Paul will not endorse John McCain for President. That’s his right of course, but it still leaves a bad odor. In fact, I would have to say that it’s a classic case of sour grapes.

The Congressman says that he wants to engender greater support for third parties and again, that’s his prerogative. Maybe he is truly acting on a principle he believes in deeply. Yet it smacks of that foolish consistency which ultimately condemns libertarians and all third party candidates and voters to second class electoral status. When you demand absolute and unyielding adherence to a complete set of ideals you place yourself in jeopardy of never getting any of those ideals in place.

We live in an imperfect world. We can’t get everything we want; there are too many compteting factors working against us. We must compromise (except, of course, on the most basic and essential questions) or we will not move an inch, we will not progress. It’s a point which took me years to concede; still, it’s the way things are, and if we aren’t dealing in reality, what are we doing?

If the Founders had thought the way modern libertarians do, there would be no United States today. Think, Mr. Paul, where might you be without the good ol’ U. S. of A. In a gulag, perhaps, or under house arrest in China? Or, likely, I must believe, somewhere worse? As Ben Franklin said of himself and his peers, ‘We’re not demigods; we’re men, nothing more, doing the best we can under trying circumstances.’

Try a little harder to understand that. Then let's see exactly how much effect you can have on the greater society.