Rand Paul's solution to unemployment and drugs: Rich people?

[ProSense]

Rand Paul's solution to unemployment and drugs: Rich people?

The other day, Rand Paul got into a bit of trouble for saying that the drug problem in Eastern Kentucky is "not a real pressing issue." Paul's Democratic opponent, Jack Conway, blasted Paul for being out of touch with the state.

Now Paul has stepped forward to clarify those remarks in an interview with local WYMT-TV, claiming that as a physician, he does view the drug problem as a serious one. But it's unclear whether his clarification will help much. In sum, he said the best solution to drug use is to bring down unemployment -- which is best done by giving rich people the freedom to invest and create jobs.

It's not a stretch to ask whether Paul thinks the best solution to the drug problem is leaving the rich alone to do their thing. From the interview:

"I personally think we've been trying the government solution, and maybe there are some good aspects to it. But we're still failing, and we're not getting rid of the drug problem," Paul said.

Paul says reinvesting money in the local economy will help ease the unemployment, which he says leads to more drug use.

"You want rich people because that's what creates jobs. If you punish people, they won't expand or create jobs," Paul said.

It's unclear what Paul meant by warning against "punishing" the rich. But given his past statements, which have depicted Federal action against the private sector as punitive, he is presumably saying high taxation and regulation "punish" the rich and discourage them from investing in the local economy. This keeps unemployment high, which in turn keeps drug use rampant.

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[arbusto_baboso]

1. See, this is the idiocy we're up against.

Despite clear evidence to the contrary, the reactionary idealogues will continue to insist that the wealthy are the job creators. What horseshit!

[unpossibles]

3. I love how they ignore the evidence

where are all of the jobs the plummeting tax rates for the wealthy allegedly created over the past few decades?

[IndianaJoe]

2. Dr. Paul needs a scan of his own brain.

Is there anything in there, Dr. Paul? Hello? Hello?

[Roland99]

4. yeah, because that extra 3.5% on *taxable* income over $250,000/yr is SO punishing

I hope and pray every single day that I never have to suffer such punishment.

[Angry Dragon]

5. Your last paragraph counters what is posted

*Paul says reinvesting money in the local economy will help ease the unemployment, which he says leads to more drug use.

"You want rich people because that's what creates jobs. If you punish people, they won't expand or create jobs," Paul said.*

The way I read that is that with more jobs there is more drug use, however you state that drug use goes up with unemployment.

Not attacking just wondering, because it sounds like he is against job creation because it leads to more money being able to be spent on drugs

[ProSense]

7. You read it wrong

"unemployment, which he says leads to more drug use."

The clause is about unemployment.

[Angry Dragon]

9. Thank you for the clarification

[Scurrilous]

6. K & R

:thumbsup:

[KamaAina]

8. Well, see, there really is no drug problem in eastern KY

sure, lots of people there use Oxy -- that's why it's called "hillbilly heroin" -- but after all, so does Rush, so it's not that that's a dangerous illegal drug or anything, or Rush wouldn't be using it.

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[RandomThoughts]

10. Here is the question.

If private sector creates work by investment, then there must be a reason for that investment.

With the imbalance in where money is, people use that not even for the ideas of capitalism but for social control.


At that point private sector is not creating jobs by investing, but is choosing where to invest to control society development.


Once that happens, you have to ask for an explanation for why they have that right, and do people think 1% should control the decisions of a society.

And how have they done so far?

[Yavin4]

11. So, If We Cut Bill Gates' Taxes, He'll Open a MS Research and Development Center in Eastern, KY?

And start hiring and paying people middle class wages. He'll eschew outsourcing to India because he was able to save 3% on his income above $250K?

Yeah, KY must have serious drug problems if they believe that.

[guitar man]

12. 30 years

I swear, it's like everything he says comes from one of Reagan's 1980 campaign speeches. When, oh when are people going to wake up and realize that the "the more massah gets the more he gonna feed us" approach to running this country has been tried over and over for 30 years and it is a MISERABLE FAILURE.

If the media in this country would for once just do its damn job they would point out the facts of this failure and we could rid ourselves of such childish notions and move on with something that does work. But, I'm afraid we have a lot harder and longer lesson to learn before we can do that . :(

[asdjrocky]

13. He's the Bad Cop.

Dems are the Good Cops. The thing is, we still go to jail.

[Canuckistanian]

14. Yes, those Bush tax cuts created SO many jobs

Unfortunately, only for Chinese workers.