Bluegrass Nihilism

David Corn argues that Rand Paul vs. Jack Conway is the most important Senate race of 2010 and most likely of the entire fall, because it's a battle between Jack Conway's pragmatism and Rand Paul's avowed nihilism.

As reported by Details magazine, Paul, while campaigning recently in Kentucky's coal country, maintained that there should be no federal regulation of the mining industry: "If you don't live here, it's none of your business." Asked about the Big Branch mining disaster in West Virginia, where an explosion killed 29 miners last April, Paul said,

Is there a certain amount of accidents and unfortunate things that do happen, no matter what the regulations are? The bottom line is I'm not an expert, so don't give me the power in Washington to be making rules. You live here, and you have to work in the mines. You'd try to make good rules to protect your people here. If you don't, I'm thinking that no one will apply for those jobs.

I'm not an expert. Don't give me the power in Washington to be making rules. Ponder the implications of this. So members of Congress who are not oil industry engineers should not regulate deep off-shore drilling? Actually, by Paul's logic, legislators should not impose any health, safety, or environmental standards on any industry. And the answer to such tragedies as mining disasters is . . . well, nothing. The workers in unsafe facilities can simply quit their jobs -- that is, unless they've already been blown apart due to bad company practices.

Paul wants to become a senator so he can do nothing. No doubt, that's an attractive notion for some Kentucky voters; he's been leading Democrat Jack Conway in the polls. But when the economy is in the dumps following a crash of free-wheelin' Wall Street, when climate change is a continuing threat, and when U.S. global competitiveness is slipping, doing nothing ought not be a top-priority item. Worse, Paul is celebrating his lack of knowledge, while suggesting that no one in Washington is really capable of governing. As his comments about the BP oil spill suggested, he would have no problem granting corporations free rein -- even after they screw up. His motto could be "BP Knows Best."

And that's true.  Rand Paul wants to be Senator so he can do nothing.  Nothing about oversight, nothing about regulation, nothing about safety, nothing about solutions, nothing about anything but refusing to use his power to help his constituents.  You should solve your own problems, Rand chides.  The United States Government isn't here to help you.  It's here to do as little as possible for you, and if you elect Rand Paul, well...he won't do a damn thing about mine safety or Kentucky's 10%+ unemployment or anything like that.  He's no expert, why should he make decisions?

So it comes down to this in November, Kentucky.  Nihilism versus responsibility.  Rand Paul wants to be the Senator of Nothing.  He admits he's not qualified to make decisions.  He admits he wants to be Senator to not use his power.

If you think that will help you, then Rand's your man.  Me?  I'd like my Senator to make a difference in my state.  But silly me.

Of course, Rand isn't the only crazy Republican Senate candidate running on a platform of do-nothing nihilism.