Rand Paul recently defeated his Republican opponent Trey Grayson. Now he will face Democrat opponent Jack Conway.
Conway did not waste any time in taking a shot at Paul after the victory. Rand Paul has a response posted on his website wherein he states that his opponent's "statement on MSNBC Wednesday that I favor repeal of the Civil Rights Act was irresponsible and knowingly false."
Paul, who has strong libertarian tendencies, will likely face other such charges in his run for the Senate. One of the difficulties with the political philosophy of libertarianism is that its critics often confuse the belief that certain things should not be regulated by the government with the belief that those things are not wrong. For example, libertarians are typically in favor of legalizing marijuana, though many of these same people are opposed to the use of marijuana (non-medical). Similarly, most Americans believe in the freedom of religion, though most do not believe in every religion.
Libertarianism as a political philosophy (small "l") is based upon the concept of individual rights. Each individual is to have the same rights which should not be infringed upon by the government. For example, if someone owns a business that person has the right to run that business the way he or she sees fit. What follows from this is that there are not rights of "groups"; Christians, Muslims, Jews and Atheists have the very same rights in this theory since rights belong to individuals, not groups. The same is true for heterosexuals, homosexuals, and transexuals. Therefore, racism is actually inconsistent with libertarian political philosophy since people are viewed as people regardless of their skin color, etc.
Paul has requested that his opponent retract his statement.
Comments
As a American who is black I find Mr. Paul's argument preposterous. I am a libertarian however the idea that if I am driving through a rural part of Kentucky and need to feed my family and the only local gas station that I can get to is owned by someone who is white and because I am black he denies me the opportunity to purchase gas for my car is absurd and cannot be defended constitutionally. It is reasonable for the Federal Government to intervene in this matter.
Noel I respect your position and understand your concerns. However your stance would mean that you are not a libertarian as you claim. I think you are right that even in this day an age there may be a few businesses that would discriminate. But practically considering it would not be very many. Organizations would stage boycotts, the media would jump all over it, the business would simply fail and be short lived. Besides most people truly on the right are not racist. Many may not like blacks simply because they are liberal, not skin color. In reality liberty and libertarianism would do more for blacks then liberals ever could. For instance schools and having freedom of choice via vouchers. Have all money attached to students and let parents decide any school they want. This would give the gift of proper education to the black community, they could leave inner city ghetto schools. Liberals dont want an educated voter, they are against such reforms.
The problem with being a libertarian or a conservative or a Christian or any other ...ism. is that you start with the theory and then try to cram everything into the box as it's handed to you in order to make it fit your beliefs.
Libertarians believe in that right of private ownership. Anything that interferes with that right is WRONG.
That puts them and folks like Rand Paul on the defensive when you point out that government's interference in private property rights often results in benefits to the country.
Ending the widespread practice of racism wouldn't have been possible without the government stepping in and telling private businesses that they had to treat all their customers equally.
I believe in property rights. But I also believe in zoning laws, CC&R's , the right of eminent domain, health and safety regulations,etc. All of which interfere with a person's right to do what he wants with his property
Rand Paul is a buffoon and a gift to the Democrats - they may take Kentucky after all!
Tea Partiers are racist idiots.
The principles now being debated adequately demonstrate the ignorance of many citizens when it comes to the concept of “rights”. Rights can only belong to individuals. However, the statist worshiping educators and academics of this world have, through repetition (the concept of telling a lie often enough and people believe it), convinced people that rights are also group based. That concept is and should be an abomination and abhorrent to every American. Rand Paul is absolutely correct. I also believe that it is about time challenged the elitist snobbery of the collectivist left of this country, and applaud the fact that someone has finally done so. Liberty and justice for all, all individuals that is. And I'm a Native American!
I guarantee that the only people offended by Rand Paul’s comments are those who already oppose his candidacy, and would never vote for him in any circumstance. The vast majority of the citizenry will not take any offense and will agree with his position.
Anything the citizens of America want will be considered extremism, by these infiltrated establishment tyrants that have hi-jacked the once free Republic of America! Re: Lame Stream Media & Globalists!
Folks step up and support what the citizens of Kentucky have openly spoken their approval for whom, they want to Govern them, so that other states have the right to do the same with the same quality candidates!
To me the following, is absolutely the smoking gun of what is going on behind our backs and yet at the same time, right in front of us!
If you can speak Global Elite Speak you will understand exactly what Zbigniew Brezinski says on this you tube clip of him speaking at a Council on Foreign Relations meeting in Montreal, Canada!
Re:May 18, 2010
Zbigniew Brzezinski giving the CFR branch in Montreal a presentation discussing world government and his fears of the mass global awakening that has taken place.
Re:www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDBlABD01U0&feature=player_embedded
Thinking like Rand Paul's, aside from being nihilistic tripe, is actually a danger to the people in a state such as Kentucky, which has crippling problems that cry out for government attention. Read the stats in this run down from NY Liberal State of Mind Blog:
Rand Paul's New American Animal House
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