An Honest Politician

By raheem

While cruising through Youtube’s top rated videos I noticed several of the top ten videos featured presidential candidate Congressman Ron Paul. Getting curious I checked them out and read more about him at wikipedia and am quite impressed. Check out the following snippets:

Paul spends extra time in the district addressing constituents’ concerns, to compensate for “violat[ing] almost every rule of political survival you can think of,”^[34] sometimes three to four days a week, often accompanied by grandchildren. He attends graduations, civic ceremonies, and Boy Scouts of America honor ceremonies. In an expansive district, he often logs over 300 miles (500 kilometers) daily, visiting constituents or handling their concerns. He reaches out to 14th district voters on veterans’ issues, such as procuring medals for war veterans who lost or never received their medals, and holding medal ceremonies for those whose medals are being presented. His staff has helped senior citizens of the district get free or low-cost prescription drugs through a little-known drug company program; is known for its effectiveness in tracking down Social Security checks; and sends out birthday cards to constituents, as well as condolence cards on the deaths of family members.

2008 campaign chair Kent Snyder first worked for Paul on the 1988 campaign—when U.S. Senator John McCain told him, “You’re working for the most honest man in Congress.”

I find Ron Paul’s story refreshing and inspiring. There are a lot of good people out there in government. But power is such an intoxicating influence that it changes most people. So in that sense, it is amazing to see someone as devoted to his constituents as Ron Paul. I wish we could have candidates like him in Bangladesh as well. Ron Paul is also testament that the internet is helping the enduring American experiment.