Ron Paul supporters this year should take some advice that Eugene V. Debs gave his supporters almost one hundred years ago.

That might sound strange since the differences between the two men are much more obvious than the similarities.

Gene Debs was a railroad worker and union leader,Ron Paul is an obstetrician and a Congressman.

Gene Debs was a Socialist, Ron Paul is a consrvative libertarian.

Gene Debs is dead, and Ron Paul is fortunately still with us.

Both men ran for President, Gene Debs in 1900, 1904, 1908, 1912 and 1920 as a Socialist, and Ron Paul in 1988 as a Libertarian and this year as a Republican. Given the difference in their politics that doesn't make them soul mates.

Gene Debs ran with the intention of bringing a basic change to American society. He was in a minority in his thinking, and the society as well as the government were opposed to him. He preached against imperialism in a country enjoying immensely its first experience as an empire. He preached in favor of a strong central government in a time when states' rights were at their strongest. He preached for the working class when capitalism was in its hey day. And he preached peace in a time of war. It was no surprise that he was never elected. His last presidential campaign was run when he was in the federal prison in Atlanta for opposing the draft. And yet, for better and for worse, much of what he fought for eventually became a part of the fabric of American political and social thought.

Ron Paul is running this year, as he did in 1988, with the intention of bringing about a basic change in American society. He is talking about being less agressive in out foreign policy to a government which is actively seeking to attack new adversaries. He is talking about smaller government and states' rights to a country which feels uncomfortable about any thing which is not regulated by the federal government. He is talking about self reliance and freedom to a society in which victimhood is a desireable role and people look to the government to decide what and how much they eat. He is talking about freedom to a society which is fleeing from the need to make a choice.

In his most strenuous campaign for the presidency, in 1912, Debs regularly said two things to his supporters:

“It is better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.”

“If I could take you by the hand and lead you into the promised land, I would not do it. If I could take you be the hand and lead you into the promised land today, someone else could take you by the hand tomorrow and lead you back out.”

These are things people who are in favor of changing the society should keep in mind during this campaign and after it. Follow and support Ron Paul as far as he can go this year, whether that is the White House or the Republican convention Don't change to supporting someone who isn't what we want, but can win.

For now and for the future remember that you are seeking and working for change, not for an individual leader. A leader cannot do it for you. For the future it is important to work to bring about the changed and a better society. If you cannot find a candidate you want, run yourself. If you cannot do that, recruit someone to run who can. Remaking an era is not a job for one man or for one year. If you want a better world, you must create it