Ron Paul in Portland? (Eugene: taxes, place to live, moving to)

[caliexplorer]

I know that Portland is very liberal, and that the rest of Oregon (save for Eugene) is not. But I was wondering how people in Portland would react to a libertarian minded man in Ron Paul. I am a conservative in the sense that I believe in limited government, and I hate socialism. But I also believe in gay rights and legalizing weed and such. Basically, I am a libertarian.

I know Paul is very popular in Oregon, but what about Portland? Do people distinguish between Republicans and Libertarians?

[Bluesmama]

I am not a Libertarian (am non-party) but Ron Paul is still the one I supported and was anxious to vote for. I never enlisted as Libertarian because of one sole issue they support that I simply could not accept. Oddly enough, though, Paul didn't view it that way, either.

And, no, I'm not going to mention what it is because all that will do is start a fire, and Portland is perhaps the "touchiest" forum I've encountered on City-Data yet.

I don't know about eastern, but southern Oregonians were strong Paul supporters. A friend of mine was down there a few months ago and saw countless Paul signs all over the place.

[PNW-type-gal]

Driving up I-5 through North Portland, there were Ron Paul supporters flying banners and waving at the traffic for months (they may still be there for all I know). Far stronger presence in Portland than most places.

[AJLVT]

Originally Posted by caliexplorer

I know that Portland is very liberal, and that the rest of Oregon (save for Eugene) is not. But I was wondering how people in Portland would react to a libertarian minded man in Ron Paul. I am a conservative in the sense that I believe in limited government, and I hate socialism. But I also believe in gay rights and legalizing weed and such. Basically, I am a libertarian.

I know Paul is very popular in Oregon, but what about Portland? Do people distinguish between Republicans and Libertarians?

I think you'll find a fair "Ron Paul" contingency pretty much anywhere. I am moving to Portland and am libertarian (well, in the anarchist sense more than the Ron Paul sense, but I like Ron Paul too and think he is a good guy).

Basically all libertarianism is is the idea that people should be left to their own device. Live and let live. Both "liberals" and "conservatives" embrace this in a way. My impression of Portland is that it's a free spirited place; but for the most part people probably haven't thought about Ron Paul and his ideas much. So they might be with you at heart, even if they still think supporting democrat politicians is how you get peace, and fairness, and compassion.

But basically, I wouldn't worry about libertarianism having a "republican" stigma. It's worlds different. If people make the mistake of lumping them together, you can talk to them about what you really value.

[Cat_Person]

Obama had the biggest crowd here than anyone else in the USA. Ron Paul? Who's he?

[Rickers]

Ron Paul is not electable on the national level, he should run for mayor of some town or just fade away.
As far as Portland goes I wouldn't even stop there for gas. The whole place is dominated with vegan liberal hypocrites. Why do so many runaway kids end up there shooting up heroin right on the sidewalks. The city is an embarrassment to the entire state of Oregon according to a couple I know who just got the heck out of there.

[Rob Allen]

One of my co-workers still has his Ron Paul button on his coat. Ron isn't going to fade away; he's back in Congress doing his job as a Representative.

I was registered Libertarian for years and voted Libertarian in '92 and '96, and no one would ever mistake me for a Republican. I'm a proud meat-eating anarchist, and I've never seen anyone shoot heroin here in Portland or anywhere else.

[caliexplorer]

Thanks for everyone's response.

Good to see someone like you around Rob. I to am a tax paying meat eating anarchist. You can call me a fiscal conservative and a social liberal if you want to make a generalization, but I don't think libertarians are quite so easily pinned down.

I think America will go through some VERY painful times in the future, and I think where you live will play a huge role on how things turn out for you. I like that Portlanders seem to be open minded and non-judgemental, but I also fear liberal tyranny as much as I do conservative tyranny. Surely Portland is not perfect, but I would rather live in PDX than LA during a depresion.

Basically, my version of the best place to live would be a place where there were social liberty (don't tell me what to do) and economic liberty (low taxes.)

[Venusian_Artist]

Libertarianism is only liberalism in the classical 18th century definition of the word. Today's liberals are social Marxists, looking to stamp out any and all those that disagree with them.

They use social pressure to quell free speech (everything's racist or a hate crime.) They go around the will of the people with activist judges and legislative bodies (imposing gay marriage on those who don't want it.) And they constantly push for more regulation and economic restrictions, to punish the wealthy and redistribute their earnings. Liberalism will always be about control, not about freedom.

Libertarianism is true Conservatism, not the present faux-Repubican kind of Conservatism. The Republican party has marketed to Conservatives and then abandoned them in the halls of Congress.

Neither major party knows what true freedom is. And looking at the Obamabots, it's clear many don't have the maturity to handle freedom, even if they get it. They want someone else to "fix things" for them.

[jread]

I am a Libertarian and a big fan of Ron Paul. He is HUGE here in Austin and it seemed like almost every car had a Ron Paul bumper sticker. Now that he's out of the running, all you see are Obama signs. I do think that he has the most sense out of any of the candidates and I truly wish his name were on the ballot next month.