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[abdiel]

I alternate between amazed and a little annoyed with the crowd of Ron Paul zealots that dominates so many news aggregating websites lately. I’m really surprised by how readily his supporters advance and accept the position, “He thinks it should be left up to the states or local governments,” or, “He’s personally against it, but he doesn’t think the

Comments

[inhumandecency]

Well, Libertarians would argue that in a deregulated market, you'd have some drug companies that rushed products to market and were thus cheaper and edgier, and some that were more cautious. Some would be secretive and some would be deliberately transparent. Some would be competing to produce the best antacid, while others would try to find the next tiny niche that no one had worked on yet. People could make their own choices about how much risk they were willing to tolerate, and if they weren't being served by the existing companies, then a fleet little startup or a separate accreditation agency working on the street performer protocol would rise up to fill the demand

[abdiel]

Your description does make it sound pretty attractive in some ways. I can see how if people had the time, money, and ability to take responsibility, and if people were willing to take certain risks, this system might optimize certain really desirable things.

(and this one libertarian principle you mention sounds like a great idea).

[adupont]

I think Ron Paul is riding the success that comes from being the only Republican candidate that answers the question that was asked of him. Giuliani, for instance, will respond to a question about health care with a meandering answer that somehow eventually lands on 9/11 or the War on Terror. Romney will use his time to say how awesome America is, then get in a jab at Obama or John Edwards.

It's a problem on both sides of the aisle, but I've been especially struck by the detachment of nearly all Republican presidential candidates from any sort of candor with the listening audience. Meanwhile, Paul uses logic - that old, cagey tactic - so that even if you disagree with him, you respect that he doesn't treat you like a child.

Incidentally, the only other prominent Republican who seems to be doing this right now? Newt Gingrich. He's still a crazy, contemptible bastard, but to hear some of the things he says makes me long for him to throw his hat in the ring just so we'd see some actual policy debates.