Rand Paul's Announcement

Live player here.

I thought his speech was mostly yahooism ("Not one [silver] dime" for countries where any citizens said "Death to America;" I will repeal any law that disproportionately punishes people of color, which means the laws of murder, burglary, robbery and others must be repealed), but I did like the idea he played with about work not being punishment, but work being a reward.

The Democrats really push this idea of work being a punishment -- Nancy Pelosi, for example, talks up how people are "liberated" by Obamacare to quit their jobs and pursue their hobbies full time -- and it's useful to go back to the start of the Republican Party, to hear Lincoln speak of the almost holy nature of Labor.

One of Lincoln's frequent arguments was that Slavery was wrong for the spirit of the slave-master as well as the slave because it taught the false lesson that Labor was something to be compelled, so horrible it was, by the threat of the whip.

When in fact, Lincoln frequently urged, Labor was among the greatest callings of man.

I don't think Paul quite got as much on the ball as he could have, and got a single when he could have had extra bases or a home run, but it's good to hear someone sounding this theme.

I have had questions with Republicans' formulations on Labor for a while. Rick Santorum would frequently argue that the key to economic advancement was moral strength.

I always wonder about that. I realize that Rick Santorum, believing as he does, must always say that all virtues flow from God.

But I can't help thinking that it is being overlooked that this relationship between Morality and Industry might be precisely reversed in the standard socon telling.

Is it not equally plausible that Industry -- Labor; working; making an effort which then bears visible fruit; learning the lessons of delayed gratification, and so on -- in fact is a Teacher of Morality?

I know one thing for certain: Those who work for their money get very Righteously Angry at thieves, and the legalized thieves of the Democrat Gimme Your Stuff coalition.

Is it not plausible that Labor is in fact a tangible, hands-on teacher of Moral principle?

Just as Idleness breeds immorality?

Idle hands, they say, are the Devil's playthings; is it not plausible that industrious hands teach "God's laws" but in a vocational, rather than a philosophical, manner?

posted by Ace at 12:38 PM

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