English language site updated May 11, 2010

Welcome to Ron Paul Latvija!

Ron Paul hasn’t yet decided to run for president in 2012 but we at ronpaullatvija.lv believe that if he does, his chances of success are good. Grassroots support is strong and unlike in 2008, American mainstream media coverage is generally positive and generous.

And so we ask, how would a Ron Paul presidency affect Latvia? Dr. Paul’s fiscal policy calls for an end to fiat money. The U.S. dollar is America’s only legal tender, is convertible to nothing and has no intrinsic value. Ron Paul as President in 2012 would abolish this fiat currency and introduce a gold-backed currency issued by individual banks. The end of the U.S. dollar would mean the end of the Euro. Whether Latvia is using the Euro or the Euro-pegged Lat, there would be major repercussions. Faced with monetary collapse, Latvia could follow President Paul’s example, introduce a gold-backed Lat and see its financial and social health improve relatively quickly. Or, Latvia could flounder and sink into a financial depression. It’s worth mentioning that the U.S. dollar is currently headed for collapse in any case. If a gold-backed currency isn’t introduced to replace it, the consequences for America and the rest of the world including Latvia could be very negative.

Ron Paul advocates a non-interventionist foreign policy and withdrawal of U.S. participation and funding from organizations such as NATO, the WTO, the United Nations and the International Criminal Court. The U.S. is the largest contributor to NATO military spending. If it were to pull out, Latvia would arguably be more vulnerable to Russian aggression. With reduced NATO spending and America calling home troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, military interventions globally would be reduced and hence Latvia’s participation in them.

Ultimately, the important changes we want and expect in Latvia would occur because of a precedent, an inspiring example. Few will continue to accept a bloated public sector and restricted freedoms when the world’s leading economy embraces liberty and free market economics. With Ron Paul in the White House in 2012, we expect Latvia to adopt a gold-backed currency and inspired Latvians to fight for domestic legislation promoting economic and social freedoms.

We originally created this website to support Congressman Ron Paul's bid for the Republican ticket in the 2008 U.S. presidential election. Dr. Paul didn't win but his message has taken on an incredible momentum in the United States. We believe that freedom and minimal government intervention is vitally important not just to America but to Latvia and every nation on this planet. On this website, we aim to disseminate information about free market economics, limited government, monetary policy, liberty and peace.

For a clear understanding of Dr. Paul's philosophy, just take a look at his Freedom Principles (taken directly from his official website):

• Rights belong to individuals, not groups.
• Property should be owned by people, not government.
• All voluntary associations should be permissible -- economic and social.
• The government's monetary role is to maintain the integrity of the monetary unit, not participate in fraud.
• Government exists to protect liberty, not to redistribute wealth or to grant special privileges.
• The lives and actions of people are their own responsibility, not the government's.

In our blog you'll find links to videos and an opportunity for discussion of these issues in Latvia. We believe in the power of education, free access to the facts, and that Ron Paul's clear message of freedom is one that resonates throughout the world.