What happens if Paul wins Iowa?

[© tweed]

Whether or not he is a racist, he definitely supports racist policies, so that attack is not entirely invalid.

 And Obama doesn't?

No sir.

the most overtly racist element of federal policy is the system of drug control and incarceration which Obama has done absolutely nothing to slow down.

[© tweed]

I don't have any real stake in this issue, but would black people be "better off" (however you want to quantify that) with an end to the War on Drugs and a repeal of the Voting Rights Act, or the current status quo?

at this stage it is unlikely that the localized suffrage issues in the South would resurface should the statutory codification of voting rights be removed.  furthermore it is likely that even without the VRA courts would interpret the Reconstruction-era amendments as protecting effectively universal black suffrage (as they were of course initially intended, or were at least sold that way).  the War on Drugs has significant impact on levels of black educational and employment attainment, as well as of course the disenfranchisement of millions.  so I'd have to say this isn't that competitive a question, though interesting.

[© tweed]

ton of factors.  the War on Drugs is a very huge thing so it would take a lot on the other side to tip the balance when it comes to strictly executive use of power.  one thing I can think of is that Pres. Paul's Justice Department would probably go all absentee landlord on civil and labor rights litigation, which would not be good.  he probably would cease to work to enact the more important portions of PPACA.  if I thought some more I could come up with some more.


the other stuff that requires a measure of bargaining with Congress, I can't meaningfully evaluate.  it's easy for Paul to talk like he does when he's essentially powerless, how he'd react to having to sit down with Harry Reid and talk about Medicare, God only knows.

[© tweed]

again, there are a lot of factors.  in the 80s there was significant money from block grants pouring into local PDs for the purpose of drug enforcement: what the situation is with this now, I can't say with authority. even setting this aside, if Pres. Paul were to abandon all meaningful attempts to limit the entry of drugs into the US (or large-scale cultivation within) the state and local systems would be even more completely overwhelmed.  already in the past 10 years there's been a decrease in incarceration rates due to $$ concerns.

if Paul gave the green light to the states that there would be no federal interference with legal marijuana I would be surprised if many states did not adopt legalize, tax, and regulate measures to raise revenue.

[© tweed]

President Paul wouldn't be able to accomplish anything meaningful (or at least nothing that would be inline with his campaign rhetoric). He'd have large majorities of both of the parties in the House and Senate against him on a whole range of issues.

you're ignoring the areas (such as war and occupation) than are outside of civilian control.