Standing with Rand, as Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) announced yesterday his candidacy for the U.S. Presidency? A banner: “Defeat the Washington Machine — Unleash the American Dream.”
I know and like Rand, both personally and politically. I love that message.
Yet, today, I come not to praise Dr. Paul but to use him as an example about political reality, nuts and bolts.
Like Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton, Dr. Paul inherited a tremendous leg up in politics. All three have access to extensive networks of supporters and funding. But, “they didn’t build” those networks, not in toto. They are standing on the efforts of family members — a husband in Hillary’s case; parents for Paul and Bush, plus a Bush brother president.
The Kentucky senator’s father, Dr. Ron Paul, served 23 years representing a Houston, Texas, U.S. House district and ran for president three times.
I’m not whining. And I’m certainly not proposing a new area for the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to police. I’m glad, frankly, for Rand’s parental good fortune. (Mother, too.)
I am simply identifying the built-in advantages that come with holding political power . . . and the potential danger it unleashes: an entrenched, unaccountable, unrepresentative government.
Like we have.
The solution to powerful political dynasties? More competition. More participation. More activity and organizing, more money raised and spent and more messages expressed. Fewer limits and regulations blocking fundraising.
Easier entry into the political marketplace of ideas.
Is that what the IRS and the FEC have been working toward? Facilitating our opportunity to “Defeat the Washington Machine”?
Be that the case, or no, I’m happy to note that Rand Paul, in his kick-off, endorsed term limits.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
