Posted by emy1013 on 3/8/2013 11:49:00 PM (view original):
As a resident of Kentucky, I can honestly say that I think Rand Paul is no different than any other elected official. Just like everyone else, he's looking after HIS own interests first, then maybe, just maybe the average Joe Citizen's best interests. Ultimately, there is no difference between officials from either party, they're all after the same things: money and power, they just take different routes to get there. And every one of them, every last one, is thinking not of what they can do to help their constituency, but how they can get themselves re-elected. Period. And you're naive as hell if you think they aren't. They don't care about the common folk, they only care about lining their OWN pockets. If they really cared, how come you don't see them volunteering to miss a paycheck? They'll be the LAST government workers that miss a payday due to this furlough, you can believe that. Crooks, every last one of them.
i really meant to agree with the second half of the post i quoted more than the first - essentially, agreeing with what you say about politicans in general. im 100% with you on the ridiculousness of so many other govt workers getting screwed, while the lawmakers feel no pain. and i generally agree they are all crooks, even if they start with good intentions - i dont associate with either party even a little bit, so like you, i feel the same way about politicians on both sides, and wasnt targeting anything i said at either side.
i do think ron paul was different though, now, he might still put himself first and he might not be as selfless as one might hope. but i do think he was different. he voted against his party time and time again, criticized the republican administration during the iraq warmongering when nobody else in his party would. im not commenting on the validity of that war - but hes the only national level politician ive seen who stands up for what they believe in, no matter how unpopular with the people OR his party, time and time again. the republicans seemingly hated ron paul, because he wouldnt play the party line, and i think that makes him different. while i cant get behind a lot of his policies, i can at least respect him for standing up for what he believed in. who knows if other politicians have ideals and values, but they sure as hell dont put them first!
i dont know enough about rand to have the same respect for him, at least not yet, but he obviously picked up some of his daddies traits. i think he CLEARLY plays politics more than his dad, for example, he was out campaigning for mitt romney even though i think its clear that mitt romney winning would have been really bad for the libertarian movement rand + ron are such a big part of. i think there is some value in that - standing alone because of your values, i can respect that - but it really doesnt get you anywhere. ron paul was too unpopular in his own party to ever have won the nomination, it seems the republicans did everything they could to hold him back. i think rand sees that and knows hes got to make more friends, but i hope he will stand up for what is right when it really counts. its a fine line, and the reason i respect his dad, is he would only do what he thought was right. but i could still respect rand, if he is playing politics and votes for things he might not be behind to get support on more important issues - but i worry for him also, i dont know if you can really play that game, without selling out. i feel like no matter how you tried, the corrupt bullshit system would start to rub off on you, eventually!