By: Diane Rose (Diane is a “conservative leaning libertarian” college student and aspiring writer from New Jersey.)

I used to be a GOP party girl. Like a good republican, I pulled the lever for the candidate in the “R” column without considering or investigating the candidate’s positions. After all, the Republican Party stands for family values, limited government, and individual responsibility, don’t they? What’s to question?

It’s no accident, with voters like me, that this country is imploding due to the weight of debt. We can’t continue with the same policies – both foreign and domestic – and expect to work our way out. We need a drastic change in leadership; I say, even a radical change.

Yes, I’ve changed my party affiliation to Independent, and I will no longer pull that lever without thoroughly investigating the candidate. I hate to admit that I was one of the “sheeple,” thoroughly convinced that Ron Paul was a nut. I bought the media mantra, I believed the party elites. He had to be crazy, because everyone said so. I dismissed him in 1998 as fringe, at least that’s what the media said. I glossed over him in 2008, because he didn’t have a chance to win – that is what the media told me. Thanks Hannity, I got stuck pulling the lever for McCain.

But, whom am I blaming? I owed it to myself, and this country, to investigate him on my own. I know most of us believe that the party leaders and MSN should be investigating – but, they don’t. The truth is, it’s one big party. It doesn’t much matter to Chris Matthews or Diane Sawyer who wins. Big business is in bed with the government; it’s the only non-partisan game in town.

We, as responsible citizens, must begin investigating the candidates on our own. From the local council races, right up to the presidential elections. We must be diligent and form our own opinions. Once we locate the best fit, we owe it to ourselves to back that candidate – regardless of what the pundits say.

After much investigating and frankly, a lot of soul searching, I am backing Ron Paul for president. It takes a shift in perspective in order to come to Paul’s vision, but once we see him from another perspective, it’s difficult to go back to our old views. Paul’s economic ideas have been well-received by many in the republican party; he is the only candidate who will reduce the deficit and cut spending. Paul’s plan includes a 10% reduction in the federal workforce and $1 trillion cut in spending during his first year. In fact, if you compare economic plans, Paul’s is the only one that comes close to those “limited government” republican values.

The economy is a top priority; people need jobs. However, the economy is not necessarily the most important issue. There is much more at stake: our freedom. The United States is becoming a police state. Our rights our being destroyed through unconstitutional legislation, brought to you by your republican party in the form of the Patriot Act. This egregious Act has been the catalyst for more government power, more presidential power, the TSA, the DHS, and a growing police state.

While the party and conservative electorate have been railing about Obamacare, both parties have signed away the rights of US citizens to due process through passage of NDAA, which was signed into law on December 31st, whilst the nation was partying. Of course, President Obama promised he would not use the power to indefinitely detain US citizens without charge, so what’s the problem? No worries – go back to sleep. He did win a Nobel Peace Prize, he’d never abuse that power. I am sure he had good reason to assassinate Anwar Al-Awlaki, without charge or trial. I’d like to know where the outrage is? How can any conservative, who believes in the fidelity of the US Constitution, back such an action? He was a “suspected” terrorist who was murdered for speech – there is no evidence whatsoever that he had any connection to any actual terrorist activities. Yet, our nation cheered.

Now, more than any time since the revolution, we need people to stand-up against the government violence that has been bestowed upon us by both the democrats and republicans. We need to back a candidate who will fight to secure our rights and restore our freedom. And I know that many out there say, “I like his economic plans, but his foreign policy is crazy.” Once voters realize that the endless wars are nothing but a mechanism for growing the government, they will begin to question why we have allowed the parties to conduct the endless and unconstitutional wars.

Ron Paul wants to bring our troops home. The military backs Paul over all the other candidates; maybe we should listen to what they have to say. Maybe, we should think about the men and women who are getting the limbs blown off in the hills of Afghanistan, fighting an ideology that will never cease to exist; and therefore, fighting a war that will never end.

On February 20th, President’s Day, a group of veterans marched on Washington, DC, to show their support for Ron Paul. In what was one of the most compelling displays of disgust with our government’s policies, the veterans got into formation, “All races, military branches, and ages marched together in one massive formation totaling eight ranks and sixty-three files equaling approximately 504 verified Veterans,” (rrspin.com). Then they turned their backs on the White House and saluted a folded flag. They stood in formation for one second for every soldier wounded or killed since Obama became president. At the end of the ceremony, the soldiers chanted, “President Paul.”

The bravery of these veterans cannot be dismissed. They turned their backs on the Commander-in-Chief, on President’s Day! If the veterans feel this strongly about Ron Paul, don’t you owe it to yourself, your family, and your country to learn more? Will it hurt to read about his vision, and listen to what average Americans are saying? If we allow the government to continue the course, we will have no freedoms left. When is enough, enough? When are people going to stop listening to the political elite and media, and start investigating on their own?

The time to wake is now! Find out more about Ron Paul’s candidacy at http://www.ronpaul2012.com/. Help spread the message of liberty and stop the erosion of our freedoms.