Workers don't fit into Rand Paul's world

[TonyV]

Workers Don’t Fit into Rand Paul’s World



by Berry Craig, Sep 10, 2010



Kentucky State AFL-CIO President Bill Londrigan doesn’t pull punches when he talks about the Bluegrass State ’s Tea Party-backed Republican U.S. Senate candidate. Speaking to a sun-baked crowd at Paducah ’s 35th annual Labor Day picnic Monday, he warned:

A vote for Rand Paul is a vote for the continuation of the economic nightmare now facing workers across Kentucky . Vote like your job depends on it—because it does.

The state AFL-CIO unanimously endorsed Democrat Jack Conway over Paul, whose anti-union views earned him a $2,500 donation from the National Right to Work Committee.

Conway is the state’s attorney general. An ophthalmologist, Paul is the son of Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas). Dr. Paul is bad medicine for Kentucky ’s working families, according to Londrigan.

He supports privatizing Social Security and increasing the retirement age for Social Security eligibility. He supports so-called free trade agreements like NAFTA, which are responsible for shipping millions of good-paying American jobs overseas.

When it comes to jobs safety, a vital issue for state’s coal miners and other workers, Londrigan said Paul’s response to catastrophic mine accidents and oil rig explosions is:

“‘accidents happen.” In Rand Paul’s world, corporations should be completely unregulated so they can cook the books and undermine our economy.

Londrigan went on to highlight the differences between Rand Paul’s world and the world in which most Kentucky workers live.

In Rand Paul’s world, Social Security is a burden and not a reward for a lifetime of hard work and sacrifice and something to be handed over to Wall Street.

In Rand Paul’s world, the budget deficit is a monstrous problem, but tax cuts for the rich are still a priority.

In Rand Paul’s world, teachers and the Department of Education are a hindrance to learning. In Rand Paul’s world, farm subsidies are a handout. In Rand Paul’s world, lowering workers’ wages is the way out of a recession.

And in Rand Paul’s world, property rights trump civil rights. If you’re an ordinary American, a hard-working Kentuckian, you can’t afford to live in Rand Paul’s world.

Jeff Wiggins, a United Steelworkers (USW) members and president of the Paducah-based Western Kentucky Area Council, said Kentucky union families are a vital element in the fight to send Conway to the Senate and Paul back to his practice.

But Wiggins, the Labor 2010 coordinator for western Kentucky , also says working families must be mobilized. He doubts Paul will win many union votes, but says the Republican is hoping for the next best thing: a slew of union card-carrying Kentuckians will forget that the GOP’s gospel of greed caused the recession, will blame hangover hard times on the Democrats and will show their disdain by not voting.

Wiggins has a message for potential non-voting union members:

If you stay home on Nov. 2, you’ll be helping the same sort of people who tried to push labor off the cliff under Bush. Democrats like Jack Conway want to throw us a rope and pull us away from the edge. But Republicans like McConnell and Paul still want to push us off


Donnie Colston

[e-mail]

[axleman]

Jack Conway will fall in line with whatever the National Democratic Party's agenda is. Which is way to far to the Left for me.I think I'll take my chances with Paul

[ScottR@KTP]

What axleman said...ditto.

[ktpelec]

I'm a Conway man. I guess if Paul doesn't win he'll just go form his own Senate, with his own Certification! LOL

[marcus]

There is also alot of lies in the top post.Berry craig is just another blogger

[axleman]

"I'm a Conway man. I guess if Paul doesn't win he'll just go form his own Senate, with his own Certification! "

He'll probably go back to his job like the rest of us. I don't agree with all his beliefs. He's probably more a Libertarian in his views than I am, however I don't believe in "big government" so Paul's my choice. I respect your right to express your opposition but making fun of him only shows your ignorance, and intolerance to people who might disagree with your point of view.

[ktpelec]

Sept 14, 2010 8:24:41 GMT -5 axleman said:

"I'm a Conway man. I guess if Paul doesn't win he'll just go form his own Senate, with his own Certification! "

He'll probably go back to his job like the rest of us. I don't agree with all his beliefs. He's probably more a Libertarian in his views than I am, however I don't believe in "big government" so Paul's my choice. I respect your right to express your opposition but making fun of him only shows your ignorance, and intolerance to people who might disagree with your point of view.

I am not sure about the term "Big Government", it seems to be quite vauge. Do you mean the physical size of the people, (do we need midgets?) Or the number of people employed there? Or the amount of taxes we pay? What exactly is "big"? I'm all for less taxes, yet I enjoy many of the services these taxes provide. It is like labeling people "rich". What is the cutoff for being "rich"? $100K, $200K, or perhaps $1 Mil? Ask anyone that makes minimum wage and the workers here at Ford are "rich", yet we don't refer to ourselves that way. We are dealing with a nation of 350+ Million people, that have many different views and interests. I don't see going back to "Small Government" with the change of a senator.
As far as making fun of people you support, I'm sorry, I appologize. Yet, I have to point out, everywhere on this Forum our elected politicians are made fun of, from the President on down. I do believe the eye doctor couldn't play nicely with the certification board and some of the other eye doctors so he left and started his own game.
Peace Union people.

[wallflower]

He started his own board to require constant training and recert for opthamalogists that have been in the profession for many years. If I remember correctly, once you passed your boards after graduation, that was it. Personally, with something as fragile as my eyesight, I'm going to the most qualified, certified guy there. You should know from your own trade that things change over time and a lot of times, the old heads aren't up on the newer stuff and don't want to be.

[ktpelec]

Sept 14, 2010 9:23:31 GMT -5 wallflower said:

He started his own board to require constant training and recert for opthamalogists that have been in the profession for many years. If I remember correctly, once you passed your boards after graduation, that was it. Personally, with something as fragile as my eyesight, I'm going to the most qualified, certified guy there. You should know from your own trade that things change over time and a lot of times, the old heads aren't up on the newer stuff and don't want to be.

Thats not exactly the way I percieved the issue, there is a lot of info out there on the situation. The ABO has 16000 practicing members, there is a costly Certification process that is required to stay certified. A small percentage of older members are "grandfathered" in not requiring recertification. The NBO has 7 other members than Paul, and his wife is the Vice president of his exclusive organization. If I plan to have eye surgery I would consider many things before deciding on a doctor. The info is out there research it.
blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2010/06/rand-paul-boardcertified-ophthalmologist-but-which-board.html
content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2010/06/rand-paul-board-certified-eye-surgeon-/1

It just seems to me to be another Republican ploy to bend the rules to fit a certain individuals situation.

[axleman]

When I say I'm against "Big Government" I guess what I would like to see is a more limited role for government. They have their hand in every aspect of our lives. They take our money (social security tax) and say that when/ or if you get old we'll send you a check! If I die before I'm 70 (the age I can retire with full benefits) I get nothing! Thats just one small example. I don't believe one Senator can change the system, but one more Dem. Senator gives the Left more power to push their socialism further down our throat. As for the name calling, Ktpelec you have a sarcastic sense of humor that some find irritating. You come up with some of the silliest comments, however I find you quite entertaining. LOL!

[ktpelec]

Thank you Axleman. I value everyones input on this Forum, and I always believe we can discuss issues without being disrespectful. I never call people on here names or use vulgarity.
I try to treat everyone the same, no man is better than another, some just have more ability in certain skills.
I have saved for retirement and hope to live long enough to enjoy it! If I die at any age I will get nothing. LOL I don't believe that my Social Security tax money is going to help me, it's helping my parents and other elders that allowed me to come into this world.
How are our tax dollars spent? Here is a short example: www.cnbc.com/id/24033281?photo=1
www.warresisters.org/pages/piechart.htm

[axleman]

" If I die at any age I will get nothing. LOL"

Sorry, what I meant to say is that my family would get nothing. I stand corrected.

[ktpelec]

I know it was all in fun.
Paul has been quoted as wanting to raise the minimum age requirement for Social Security, making it harder for the working man to achieve.

[marcus]

Doesnt matter if we have 20 million or 350 million Gov is to big and has its hand in everything we do.The amount of people we have has nothing to do with it.

The amount of tax we pay and the number of people working for the gov is way to big its massive with massive waste.It has to get smaller.It needs to be cut across the board!

[ktpelec]

I'm sorry we got off the subject of Rand Paul, the eye doctor. The only thing I have heard from his campaign is that he will not be Obama, other than that he has not shown me anything he will do to help the common working people of Kentucky.
I believe Obama was elected because the majority of people were afraid that McCain was gonna be another Bush... not because of anything Obama promised to do either! LOL
I guess most of American voters are trying to choose the lesser of 2 evils... LOL

[marcus]

You have not listened if you dont know what rand paul stands for.Here is just a few things.

Dr. Paul opposes all federal bailouts of private industry. America is the land of opportunity, to succeed and to fail. It’s time our government starts promoting responsibility

Defending our Country is the most important function of the federal government. When we are threatened, it is the obligation of our representatives to unleash the full arsenal of power that is granted by and derived from free men and women

And every dollar we print to service our debt, reduces the value of the money in your pocket. Rand will fight to strengthen the value of our Dollar so our purchasing power is not destroyed by the sneakiest tax of all: inflation

Lowering taxes gives working men and women the ability to take control of their own lives. It allows business owners to invest in their companies, pay their employees, and create new jobs. Lower taxes encourages spending, saving, and investing – all necessary for a healthy economy.

He is for term limits

is against the Patriot Act

Rand Paul proposes that America can engage the world in free trade, develop lucrative commercial relationships with other nations, and defend its national interests without funding or joining international organizations. The US Government must answer only to the Constitution and the citizens protected by it.Should not answer to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, World Trade Organization (WTO), and the United Nations (UN).

Rand proposes to restore the parental right to be responsible in educating children. He supports reduced taxes so that parents can allocate more of their own funds to homeschooling, if they so desire

How many politicians claim they are supporters of the 2nd amendment and then vote to restrict handguns? We need to send people to Washington that not only understand the 2nd amendment but the entire Bill of Rights

If we leave our energy policy to the special interests in Washington, we will never solve our energy problems. Our energy crisis stems from too much government intervention. The solution requires allowing businesses and ideas to compete

Given this incredible power given to a semi-private institution, one wonders why we don’t hear more about the Fed and its actions from the Congress. As Senator I would make sure that the Federal Reserve is held accountable and restore transparency to our monetary system

Dr. Paul believes life begins at conception. He recognizes the most basic function of government is to protect life. It is unconscionable that government would facilitate the taking of innocent life. Dr. Paul opposes any federal funding for abortion

Dr. Paul does not support amnesty. Those who come here should respect our laws. Dr. Paul supports legal immigration and recognizes that the country has been enriched by those who seek the freedom to make a life for themselves

[ScottR@KTP]

Don't forget, Obama is all about the working man...he's created millions of jobs.

[marcus]

Thanks god he created millions of jobs or we could be at 9.5 percent unemloyment.Trillions spent on couple 100 jobs made.Good job

[ktpelec]

I always question every politicians promises.
The bailouts started with the banking industry, the Republican Administration gave them that, I also support no more bailouts.
42 cents of every Federal Tax dollar already goes to Military spending, this is already #1 on the list, I have always felt safe in America.
How do you strengthen the dollar? By having 350 million Americans buy more American. Don't forget lowering labor costs, another Republican cause against the average worker.
Lowering taxes, that starts with Military spending, and healthcare: www.cnbc.com/id/24033281?photo=1
I am all for Congressional term limits.
The Patriot Act was the very party he represents, Republican, we'll see how hard he fights against that if elected.
We could go on and on about false campaign promises, every party and candidate does it.
I just feel that these "Tea party" promises are mostly based on fear, and will benefit big industry the most, not the common worker.

[axleman]

We always hear that the republicans are for the rich. That they are for "big industry", who do you think puts the "common man" to work? Government should be for Big Industry. Give them incentives to bring jobs back to America to put LEGAL Americans back to work. There would be no unions without Big Industry. Don't get me wrong, I think CEO's compensation is way out of proportion to their duties. But to be against Big Industry in general is a mistake for us all.

[ktpelec]

Small businesses far out number Big Industry, thats who puts the common man to work. Union memebership numbers have been declining for years.
As a nation we can't let any industry to be hampered by lots of laws and regulations, but we also can't allow them to trash workers rights and endanger lives by rampent safety and polution violations. It is a very complicated balance between these issues.
The abortion and gun rights issues have been beat to death. They are Supreme Court issues, and the entire nation is polarized one way or the other. I believe any promises of the ability to "fix" either one are false.
Don't take my posts wrong, I will never try to tell someone how to vote. I haven't entirely made my mind up yet. Just please make your decisions on facts, not fear, and by all means get out and vote.

[Deleted]

Sept 15, 2010 12:19:18 GMT -5 ktpelec said:

Just please make your decisions on facts, not fear, and by all means get out and vote.

Fear: Like when the Black Panthers are standing in front of a voting area with night sticks kind of fear?

[axleman]

I agree one senator can't change the culture in Washington, however we have to stop electing the same old people into office. Mr. Conway is probably a good man, however I believe he is a career public servant who would probably fall in line with whatever the National Democratic Party wants to do. If he wants to further his political career (and they all want that) he will do what they say. Thats the way the game is played. I don't think Paul will do that with the Republicans. If elected and he proves ineffective then out he'll go.

[Deleted]

Something you will never see Conway do:

[ktpelec]

Jack Conway is currently the Attorney General for the state of Kentucky. He ran unsucessfully against Anne Northup in 2002, other than his current stint he has very little political background, I would hardly classify him as a "career politician". There is no basis for Democrats following party votes any more than Republicans. Any politician that proves ineffective to the people should be voted out. I don't know how McConnell has stayed in power this long.

[marcus]

"42 cents of every Federal Tax dollar already goes to Military spending"

This is not true at all we are at about 3.2 percent of our GDP on military spending.

Comparing military expenditures to a nation's GDP, however, presents a different picture. North Korea, for example, spends an amazing 33.9% of its GDP on their military. Some of the top spenders are listed below. The United States comes in 46th on this list at 3.2%.

country % GDP
North Korea 33.9
Saudi Arabia 13.0
Ethiopia 12.6
Oman 12.2
Eritrea 12.0
Qatar 10.0
Israel 8.8
Jordan 8.6
Maldives 8.6
Afghanistan 7.7
Bahrain 6.7
Armenia 6.5
Macedonia 6.0
Syria 5.9
Kuwait 5.5
Angola 5.4
Burundi 5.3
New Caledonia 5.3
Yemen 5.2
Brunei 5.0
Greece 4.9
Singapore 4.9
Lebanon 4.8
Swaziland 4.8
usa 3.2

[marcus]

Lower tax start with military thats fine but I think we should do a across the board cut on everything!!

Heck yea Paul rocking an AR.

[marcus]

My votes are based on facts not fear.I can see with my own eyes what people like obama are doing to this country.Most americans dont like it and thats why you see elections going like they are and Nov they will hear our voice.

[axleman]

Love that AR! Looks like a Rock River Arsenal to me.

[ktpelec]

I don't base anything on a gun range photo opt. Did you go out and buy all that high priced ammo after Obama was elected? LOL A local area gun store owner I know said he has never had such profits! LOL More fear rheteroc! It might be a Bushmaster, by the way.
This is Federal tax info. www.cnbc.com/id/24033281?photo=1
How do we keep getting back to Obama? When its Paul and Conway? Again just get out and vote.