Ron Paul on Belarus ‘Democracy’

The US Congress, in its wisdom, seems to believe that democracy means their power to control the affairs of every other nation.

Take Belarus.

Yesterday the US House debated the renewal of the “Belarus Democracy Act.”

Ron Paul spoke to explain what the act really means:

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the “Belarus Democracy Act” reauthorization. This title of this bill would have amused George Orwell, as it is in fact a US regime-change bill. Where does the United States Congress derive the moral or legal authority to determine which political parties or organizations in Belarus — or anywhere else — are to be US-funded and which are to be destabilized? How can anyone argue that US support for regime-change in Belarus is somehow “promoting democracy”? We pick the parties who are to be supported and funded and somehow this is supposed to reflect the will of the Belarusian people? How would Americans feel if the tables were turned and a powerful foreign country demanded that only a political party it selected and funded could legitimately reflect the will of the American people?

I would like to know how many millions of taxpayer dollars the US government has wasted trying to overthrow the government in Belarus. I would like to know how much money has been squandered by US government-funded front organizations like the National Endowment for Democracy, the International Republican Institute, Freedom House, and others meddling like the old Soviet Union in the internal politics of a country that has neither threatened nor attacked the United States. It the arrogance of our foreign policy establishment that leads to this kind of schizophrenic legislation, where we demand that the rest of the world bend to the will of US foreign policy and we call it “democracy.” We wonder why we are no longer loved and admired overseas.

Finally, I strongly object to the sanctions that this legislation imposes on Belarus. We must keep in mind that sanctions and blockades of foreign countries are considered acts of war. Do we need to continue war-like actions against yet another country? Can we afford it?

I wish to emphasize that I take this position not because I am in support of the regime in Belarus, or anywhere else. I take this position because it is dangerous folly to be the nation that arrogates to itself the right to determine the leadership of the rest of the world. As we teeter closer to bankruptcy, it should be more obvious that we need to change our foreign policy to one of constructive engagement rather than hostile interventionism. And though it scarcely should need to be said, I must remind my colleagues today that we are the U.S. House of Representatives, and not some sort of world congress. We have no constitutional authority to intervene in the wholly domestic affairs of Belarus or any other sovereign nation.

27 thoughts on “Ron Paul on Belarus ‘Democracy’”

  1. No candidate ever brought so many different groups together in one place.
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    1. It's true. Liberty is for everyone. When you boil down the issues in the broth of libertarian ideals, most of us will find the flavor to be palatable and everyone is invited to eat. Real principals not party rhetoric are what is needed for everyone. All the social issues are surmountable by people who are free to associate and decide for themselves. Force is not necessary for positive change, only open discussion and free action by the people themselves.

  2. You know what's really sad?….this is the first I've heard of it.

    Pathetic American media.

  3. Thanks Eric for the article.
    Just posted this on Daily Paul Twitter and Liberty Poet.

    keep up the good work!

  4. Once again Ron Paul gets it right.

    I'm not too worried, we will collapse soon enough and this kind of thing will end. The rats will flee the sinking ship and then "We the People" will take back our country.

    It could happen just as quicky as the end of the Soviet Union.

    1. Although I agree that we are past the point of no return, I'm not going down without a whimper, and neither should any of you.

      Ron Paul is the modern day Thomas Jefferson, who said:
      "The less we use our power the greater it will be."

      Empire building (Nation building) is not a new concept. It has been going on since the beginning
      of civilization. The only difference is that everybody else had the good sense to take the spoils of war they fought and died for. The U.S. on the other hand, takes over a country against their will
      and then pays to rebuild it in our version of democracy.

      No wonder the whole damn World hates us and thinks we are stupid. We are!

      We have got to get out of this situation. Help get Ron Paul nominated and then elected.

      Wouldn't it be nice to have an honest man in the White House and one who actually understands how the world and our Constitution works?

    2. The global fiat money experiment is about to go belly up. The fall-back….tangible commodities like gold, silver, land, machines, grain, anything that is real, tangible, and trade-able.

      1. Yep.

        I became a hard core prepper about 6 years ago. When silver was at about $8. I like junk silver coins. I also paid cash for a HUD forclosure with land. Orchards, grapes, garden spots, I hunt and fish, I have a green house and a large old fashioned hand pump. I raise bunnies, some for food and some for fiber that my wife spins. They also get traded for chickens, eggs and wool.

        I hope I never need to go completely off the grid but I can do it if I want and that is a great feeling to have. Not to mention it's just plain old fun. Spending time with familly and friends, working together to harvest and helping each other out is a great experience. Not to mention I never run short of fresh organic food.

        I won't miss the TV because I don't own one now, but I will miss the internet if it comes that far.

  5. For the grassroots to defeat the Big Gov't Party, Ron Paul needs your help. Spread the word. Donate at

    Thank you!

    Ron Paul 2012

    1. I am customizing another Fender Strat to Donate. Our local meetup group does a raffle with them. It was great last election. It brought in a lot more than if I had just sold it and made a donation and well I had maxed out what I could give anyway. If corporations can do an end run around the rules so can I.

  6. I love that he's still doing his job even while campaigning. You can bet your bottom that Obama will vacate the White House so he can go on his victory tour.

    1. Yep, he is a classic narcissistic that is why he shines while campainging and fails every where else.

  7. Whatever happens in Belarus, they will not be electing Republicans or Democrats, any more than Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, …
    Right on, Ron Paul.

  8. Please, anyone on, PLEASE for this one time, register republican and participate in the GOP primary and vote for Ron Paul – he very well could win it with all the "status quo" candidates out there. Endorse him, and do whatever you can. This man is serious about bringing our troops home. I am a Christian Constitutionalist, so I will be voting for him in the primaries for maybe many different reasons than you will, but one thing that brings us together is that he will end these needless wars.

    1. I am a Minarchist. (basic belief is that government is a neccessary evil and should be limited to the protection of the people and their property) I don't believe these wars are making us safer. In fact I know they are not.

      I will be supporting Ron Paul.

      One thing I wish would happen, but I won't hold my breath, is that progressives would beat down Kucinich"s door and get him to take a primary run at Obama. The Democrats should at least have a choice to make between a man of peace and a war monger. If nothing else it would at least take a few bucks out of Obama's pocket and it might just show what a hypocrite he is.

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