Rick Vandeven - Libertarian For US Representative (MO-8)

I was born in Cape Girardeau, Mo., in 1972, and grew up in the Chaffee area where I still reside with my lovely wife and three beautiful and talented daughters. I have been employed in the paper industry for the past 14 years and am a member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church. In my spare time I support my local parochial school, listen to and perform music, and read. This is my second run for U.S. Congress as the Libertarian Party candidate. In 2010 I was endorsed by the Boston Tea Party and received an "A" rating from the Gun Owners of America. Since my last campaign I supported the opposition to the smoking ban in Cape Girardeau, gathered signatures for the Show-Me Cannabis initiative, was elected to the Missouri State Libertarian Party Executive Committee, and recently won the Champion of Freedom Award. I hope that my candidacy helps to advance the cause of individual liberty. I welcome your questions and comments. Thank you for reading!

The Gift of Obamacare

Posted Sunday, July 15, 2012, at 11:57 AM

Recently, the Republicans in the US House of Representatives took time out of their busy schedule (naming newly constructed public buildings for local authoritarians, attending campaign fundraisers, and issuing official proclamations honoring sports teams) for another token vote on their trademark: opposition to the Affordable Care Act.

Ask any American who plans to participate in the upcoming general election in November what the GOP stands for and odds are the rube will answer, "Republicans oppose Obamacare." The ACA is a wonderful gift for the GOP because it allows the party to sell itself to voters as a single issue brand. Republican candidates need only pick their favorite reason for their opposition to Obamacare from the official list, and promise the voters that they will "repeal".

The flipside is that the Democrats can sell themselves as the "saviors" of "affordable healthcare", and are in an eternal struggle against Republicans.

Naturally this is also a boon for the lazy Old Media who dutifully report the "news" that the House Republicans have taken another vote against the ACA which will be rejected by Democrats in the Senate. Given the emotional heartstrings that this issue provokes in Boobus Americanus, the "story" can be milked out for several news cycles. Spreading state propaganda is the only purpose the Old Media serves.

What is being lost in all the hype is that Americans have notoriously short memories. Next week at this time everyone will have forgotten that the House Republicans held another token vote opposing the ACA. Fortunately, another symbolic vote will be scheduled which may prevent the duopoly parties from overwhelmingly passing legislation like the United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012:

"Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should take specified actions to assist in Israel's defense. States that is U.S. policy to: (1) help Israel preserve its qualitative military edge amid regional political transformation, and (2) encourage further development of advanced technology programs between the United States and Israel. Directs the President to report to Congress on: (1) the status of Israel's qualitative military edge in light of current regional trends and instability; (2) actions to improve the process relating to Israel's purchase and receipt of F-35 aircraft; (3) efforts to expand cooperation between the United States and Israel in homeland security, counter-terrorism, maritime security, energy, cyber security, and other appropriate areas; and (4) actions to integrate Israel into the defense of the Eastern Mediterranean. Amends the Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act, as amended, to extend authority for loan guarantees to Israel through September 30, 2015."

I prefer meaningless, diversionary legislation that logjams Congress.

Comments

View 3 comments or respond

Community discussion is important, and we encourage you to participate as a reader and commenter. Click here to see our Guidelines. We also encourage registered users to let us know if they see something inappropriate on our site. You can do that by clicking "Report Comment" below.

It's probably time to kick Lucy around instead of waiting for her to hold the football properly

-- Posted by Rick Vandeven on Mon, Jul 16, 2012, at 5:10 AM
BC,

When I read the US-Israel boondoggle bill, I thought of Rothbard's extensive writing on the moral hazards of foreign aid, epecially foreign aid for military purposes.

-- Posted by Rick Vandeven on Mon, Jul 16, 2012, at 5:16 PM
Oh, hahaha, this is a good piece, Rick.

I caught a bit of Sean Hannity last week when I heard Eric Cantor was coming on to discuss the 33rd (or was it the 32nd?) vote to repeal the PPACA...the interview was almost too ludicrous for Hannity's show, because when Rep. Cantor was trying to justify* the formulaic vote, he sounded like this: "Blah blah blah just vote for Mitt Romney blah blah blah the public needs to elect Mitt Romney blah blah blah...blah blah elect Mitt Romney...blah blah...blah blah elect the Republican nominee."

*Really Hannity pretending to be interested in the justification for the vote, when it was just an excuse for Hannity to collude with Rep. Cantor and give him a forum to tell the subjects of his hypnosis routine to vote for Mitt Romney.

Pathetic.

-- Posted by Givemeliberty on Mon, Jul 16, 2012, at 11:09 PM

Respond to this blog

Posting a comment requires a subscription.