In Defense Of Ron Paul

Hmm...

“You just told younger generations that they should wean themselves off of this social contract but you haven’t done it yourself,” Stein noted. “You’re not the wealthiest man in Congress, I’m not saying that. But you have enough means to take care of yourself in retirement. Shouldn’t you provide an example?”

“No,” Paul said. “I think the programs are so designed, just as I use the post office too. I use government highways. I do that too. I use the banks. I use the Federal Reserve system. But that doesn’t mean you can’t work to remove this. The same way on Social Security, I am trying to make a transition.”

I have a certain amount of sympathy for the transition argument.  Our family has not instantly gone to total off-the-grid living, even though our philosophy means that needs to be our end state.  I dug out our old AC unit to run during the current heatwave, even though it actually contributes to climate change.  We sometimes get Sam fries at McDonald's, even though it flies in the face of what we strive for.  We are transitioning from a corporate-dominated lifestyle to one that is more sustainable, while recognizing that we aren't perfect and are trying to balance a variety of needs.  It takes capital to make some of our planned changes and hey, sometimes you gotta burn carbon to save carbon.

So yeah, it would be hard for Paul to not use the highway system we all have paid for, since it's impractical for him to build his own private roads right now, or develop his own hovercar (and the FAA might have something to say about that).  And when you've got money, especially as much as he has, you realistically have to put it somewhere other than under your mattress, which means using the existing banking system that involves the Fed.

But I think I've gotta get off the bus when it comes to the USPS and SSI.  There are private industry alternatives to the Post Office, as our conservative friends always love to tell us, so I'm puzzled why he doesn't choose to support them.  Unless there is, in fact, some value to a public good that provides very inexpensive delivery of mail across the country and globe.  And Social Security?  Dude says he doesn't participate in the Congressional pension plan like it's a badge of honor, but accepts SSI in addition to his lucrative, defined benefit private pension?  Strikes me as a place where he absolutely could choose to be the change he wishes to see.

I'll give him points for being 50% consistent on adhering to his post-apocalyptic vision for our future...

ntodd

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