We are in the early days of the 21st century but right-Libertarian Congressman Ron Paul would rather we looked backwards to the Madison Administration for a solution regarding the Somali pirate situation presently simmering. Right-wing Libertarians are hard-wired towards issues of economic liberty. They tend to have an unnatural degree of materialism going on in their fevered imaginings, a paranoid fear that what's "theirs" will be taken away by the government, and, most dangerous, they tend to confront any perceived threats to their property with threats of extreme gun-violence. These are the people who tend to favor Ron Paul and the more elaborate conspiracy theories (Averted Gaze). From TheHill:
"A little-known congressional power could help the federal government keep the Somali pirates in check — and possibly do it for a discount price.
"Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) and a growing number of national security experts are calling on Congress to consider using letters of marque and reprisal, a power written into the Constitution that allows the United States to hire private citizens to keep international waters safe.
"Used heavily during the Revolution and the War of 1812, letters of marque serve as official warrants from the government, allowing privateers to seize or destroy enemies, their loot and their vessels in exchange for bounty money.
"The letters also require would-be thrill seekers to post a bond promising to abide by international rules of war."
It is no surprise that Ron Paul would be attracted enough to the Somali pirate situation to concoct a truly nutty solution involving privatization, bounty hunting, gun-play and dead Somali pirates. And those who think The Fountainhead is great literature are cheering.
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