Ron Paul has backed a plan to slash $1 trillion from the federal budget during his first term, saying that government must get out of the way in order for jobs to be created. 

Ron Paul wants a sweeping overhaul of both the tax code and U.S. monetary policy. He proposes cuts in spending and wants to return the U.S. to the gold standard. He promotes free trade and advocates conducting open trade with other nations. 

While Ron Paul voted against the bill establishing a national holiday celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. twice. Paul also opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and voted against the law in 2004.

Ron Paul believes students should have the right to opt out of the public school system. He pledges to work toward eliminating the Department of Education. Paul wants to leave education decisions to the state and local municipalities. He wants to give parents the right to spend their money on the school and method of instruction they see fit. 

Ron Paul believes the president’s health care bill is flawed and forces people to become a client of insurance companies. Paul wants to make health care costs fully tax deductible and says that only true free market competition will put pressure on providers and force them to lower costs. 

Ron Paul has expressed his displeasure with the way the justice system treats African-Americans, referring to what he called the “true racism” in this nation’s judicial system that disproportionately imprisons Blacks for their involvement in drug crimes. 

Ron Paul says he would send funding for Medicaid and welfare programs to the states in the form of block grants. He would keep Social Security but give young people the choice to opt out.