Well, one could say the Senators are finally earning their pay as they stay in Washington over the weekend! Multiple things to discuss - the Rand Paul Amendment (regarding foreign policy). This amendment is to ensure that aid to Pakistan, Egypt, & Libya will be restricted immediately. This is mainly due to the unrest within the region and the stated nations do not hold the same values as the United States. Earlier today, Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) made a pleading case that the United States needs to "stop funding dictators" and to also allow the chance for the United States to take a lesson from the "Arab Spring" and the events surrounding the fallen dictators within the region. I find it interesting that Senator Paul would attempt to compare the "Arab Spring" to something the United States should endure. While the junior senator from Kentucky was talking about the various dictators using the aid on their family (by buying Bentleys, Ferraris, and other high-priced cars) instead of giving to the people, he also reminded the listeners that those citizens - I remember he named African countries in general - living off of of $2.00 USD a day. I guess I am a little confused by this: It is not okay to fund those that clearly have money and (abuse such allocations) while the working citizens get no results in a foreign nation; but, it is not okay to have the wealthiest of our citizens to pay a little more, because they clearly have money also, and provide services to the working & middle class within our own county's borders? Furthermore, how is it okay to give "tax breaks" or "tax incentives" (feel free to use whichever rhetorical term that most aligns with your political preference) to the very "American dictators" who were in charge of our financial system which is finally starting to get off life support?
I also find it interesting that even members of Senator Paul's own party are against this notion. On CNN's show: Erin Burrnett: Outfront, Ranking member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee John McCain stated that this was a bad idea. He actually said that "these isolationist members of our party fail to look at history. In the [19]30s & 40s under Eisenhower, after World War II, because of our isolationist thought we suffered dearly for it. Whenever we attempt to return or conceive that isolationist idea without looking at history, we always come to a unfortunate ending."*
I really don't believe this amendment will pass, as it needs sixty votes. If anything, Senator Rand Paul may get 8 votes on his amendment (if that). Time will tell.
*I am certain I paraphrased his quote. Also, I was off the votes by two.
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