Sen. Rand Paul on Consumer Choice in Energy Committee Hearing
Have you ever wanted to tell the government what you think about their rules and why they need to stay out of our personal lives? Where is the ACLU on this matter? After all they are the ones always wanting the government not to do this or that? However, if the Senator had asked me about it I could have told him that you could still buy one in Canada, that’s what a lot of people were doing back in the 90’s and having them shipped to Florida.
I am insulted he would equate womens rights and put them on the same level as toilets and light bulbs. I am insulted he would insinuate that the EPA,which most businesses ignor as much as possible that causes jobs to go over seas, instead of greed. I find it troubling that he continually equates this issue with a womens righ to her body. I am not pro life, and I am completely insluted by Ran Paul. He is a pig to equate the two! I had no idea people were being put in jail over light bulbs! What an injustice, I woudl fight for that! But waite, he lies no one is being put in jail, it is a matter of compliance law not criminal law, but abortion rights, now that is criminal law. He is the hypocrite and the liar, and so is this forum.
How is this about women’s rights? Senator Paul asks her if she was prochoice. She replied “I am prochoice of bulbs.” Have you seen the clean up requirements on CFL bulbs? Please find it on the last page of this link. I personally would not work in a plant that made these bulbs.
http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/promotions/change_light/downloads/Fact_Sheet_Mercury.pdf
The Senator clearly spoke about how the woman and her colleagues are most likely pro-choice on abortion, but anti-choice on the consumer items on the list. I must guess from your name Editor Fred D that you are not a woman and may not recognize the demeaning nature of that remark. What I hear him saying is that him not being able to choose to buy a toilet that wastes water is the same thing as a woman not being able to get an abortion. The first is a government making a law in the interest of all water needing beings and that industry caught up with in a few years, and the second is a basic human right to have control over my own body without interference from other people.
Product and Services: So my question is if Senator Paul would like to choose to buy an Edition bulb or a toilet that works on the first flush, how does that equate to he hates woman? Because they can choose to have an abortion, or not to do one. Or does he hate them because they can choose a female doctor over a male doctor to perform the service? Or maybe because they can choose the way they want it done? Not sure how that is demeaning when they have choices.
Editor Fred D,
I think the point the women were attempting to make is that “the choice of what lightbulb to use” should not be compared to “the choice of having an abortion”. I do not fully understand the argument, but I can see how some people would find that offensive.
As to Sen. Paul’s comments, I believe he was trying (in part) to interject some much needed humor and comparison into an issue which does need more focus. It is seems his point was not taken by those commenting here, but I believe the lady to whom he was speaking got the point: MAKING the choice for Americans as to which lightbulbs they can use is as insane to many folks as MAKING the choice for a woman what she may do with her body is. End game: the government should do neither.
Until America stops interfering with how individuals live their lives, we will continue to have this raging war on ideals.