Paul Right To Vote Against Rosa Parks Medal
Our Opinion
Issue date: 12/3/07 Section: Commentary
When Congress voted to give Rosa Parks the Congressional Gold Medal, there was only one voice of dissent. Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas) has voted against giving the Congressional Gold Medal to Rosa Parks, Mother Theresa and the Pope. Many people, given only this snippet of information have concluded that Congressman Paul is a bigot, a racist and just plain intolerant. Yet he raises an interesting additional argument.
The Congressional Gold Medal is made of solid gold, and in every instance it is awarded, it can cost taxpayers upwards of $30,000. This money not only pays for the gold to make the medal, but also the mold that needs to be specially created since each medal is tailored to its recipient. Congressman Paul voted against awarding this medal over and over because he does not think it is a good use of taxpayer dollars.
However, Paul has not just voted against spending taxpayer money for the medal - he has proposed a workable alternative. Instead of shelling out $30,000 of taxpayers' money, Paul proposed that each member of Congress ought to pay $100 out of his or her own pocket. This way, the money for the medal would be raised and each member of Congress would be contributing to the cause that he or she values so much. He also stressed his respect for Parks, saying that she was a courageous woman who committed herself to the cause of freedom and against an overbearing government that is unanswerable to the people it serves. Spending $30,000 of taxpayer money on frivolous medals, Paul believes, is an act of an overbearing government that is not in touch with its people.
Besides Parks and the other aforementioned medal recipients, Paul has also voted against Congressional Gold Medals given to Tony Blair, Ronald Reagan and the Dalai Lama. In the case of Tony Blair, Paul said that spending $30,000 to award "the most unpopular man in Great Britain" with a Congressional medal violated the sanctity of the medal itself in addition to robbing taxpayers. Paul also lamented the "supreme irony" of awarding a Buddhist leader with such a costly material gift when Buddhism eschews worldly possessions in favor of spiritual wealth.
Congressman Paul has a sign on his desk that reads, "Don't steal, the government hates competition," and has said numerous times that "it is easy to be generous with someone else's money." In this assertion, he is absolutely correct. Every member of Congress who votes in favor of the awarding the Congressional Gold Medal ought to contribute enough money to raise the funds for the medal, since the implied powers of Congress don't include robbing the American people to pay for feel-good political gestures.
The Congressional Gold Medal is made of solid gold, and in every instance it is awarded, it can cost taxpayers upwards of $30,000. This money not only pays for the gold to make the medal, but also the mold that needs to be specially created since each medal is tailored to its recipient. Congressman Paul voted against awarding this medal over and over because he does not think it is a good use of taxpayer dollars.
However, Paul has not just voted against spending taxpayer money for the medal - he has proposed a workable alternative. Instead of shelling out $30,000 of taxpayers' money, Paul proposed that each member of Congress ought to pay $100 out of his or her own pocket. This way, the money for the medal would be raised and each member of Congress would be contributing to the cause that he or she values so much. He also stressed his respect for Parks, saying that she was a courageous woman who committed herself to the cause of freedom and against an overbearing government that is unanswerable to the people it serves. Spending $30,000 of taxpayer money on frivolous medals, Paul believes, is an act of an overbearing government that is not in touch with its people.
Besides Parks and the other aforementioned medal recipients, Paul has also voted against Congressional Gold Medals given to Tony Blair, Ronald Reagan and the Dalai Lama. In the case of Tony Blair, Paul said that spending $30,000 to award "the most unpopular man in Great Britain" with a Congressional medal violated the sanctity of the medal itself in addition to robbing taxpayers. Paul also lamented the "supreme irony" of awarding a Buddhist leader with such a costly material gift when Buddhism eschews worldly possessions in favor of spiritual wealth.
Congressman Paul has a sign on his desk that reads, "Don't steal, the government hates competition," and has said numerous times that "it is easy to be generous with someone else's money." In this assertion, he is absolutely correct. Every member of Congress who votes in favor of the awarding the Congressional Gold Medal ought to contribute enough money to raise the funds for the medal, since the implied powers of Congress don't include robbing the American people to pay for feel-good political gestures.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 43
Derek Johnson
posted 12/03/07 @ 8:55 AM EST
Excellent article. Ron Paul is not only the most principled man in Washington, he is one of the most principled men in the World.
David McLeod
posted 12/03/07 @ 9:09 AM EST
Thanks for posting this article, very well written. Ron Paul also said that Rosa Parks was one of his person heros in an interview, can't remember which but it's on youtube. (Continued…)
Joshua Robinson
posted 12/03/07 @ 9:26 AM EST
Are you serious? We spend upwards of a billion dollars a day on an unjust war and you are gripping about $30,000!!! $30,000!!!! Incredible. And I bet you think Ron Paul has not pork? The guy vote for $129,000 to be appropriated for the "perfect Christmas tree project. (Continued…)
Diana
posted 12/03/07 @ 9:31 AM EST
How can anyone not like this man?
Brian
posted 12/03/07 @ 9:33 AM EST
Ron Paul explained his position on Rosa Park and the medal here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs-0AXWV8so
David Harres
posted 12/03/07 @ 9:35 AM EST
It is good to see an article like this; showing how much of a "taxpayer's best friend" he is. 100 dollars is a penny to many congressmen, so what is wrong with asking for 100 dollars to donate to some great men and women? Ron Paul truly understands the rights of the government with taxpayer's money. (Continued…)
john
posted 12/03/07 @ 9:36 AM EST
Dr. Ron Paul was also one of only four Republican Congressmen to endorse Ronald Reagan for president against Gerald Ford in 1976. So when it was brought up to award Ronald Reagan the Congressional Gold Medal ($30,000 tax payer money) for his many years of service. (Continued…)
Larry Cohen
posted 12/03/07 @ 9:55 AM EST
For you to laud this guy is ludicrous. He's not heroic. He's scrooge. Should we waste tax dollars? No. But to deny the medals due to their cost is absurd. (Continued…)
William Smith
posted 12/03/07 @ 10:16 AM EST
To Larry Cohen:
I have no desire for the government to make decisions about who gets frivolous medals with often a political motive behind it. These medals ARE solid gold. (Continued…)
Timur Rozenfeld
posted 12/03/07 @ 10:37 AM EST
That's exactly who we want: a Scrooge with OUR money. It would be one thing if he just picked up that one issue and didn't want to spend for medals, but he is consistent and doesn't want to waste the people's money. (Continued…)
Post a Comment