Sometimes I get up in the morning and feel that I cannot face another rant at dishonest politicians who take every opportunity to relieve us of our money to fund their increasingly bizarre ideological beliefs.

I had to double check the date on this press release three times before I could bring myself to believe that it wasn’t an April Fool’s Day hoax.

It isn’t.

An honest and diligent politician has run his office in a frugal and responsible manner, managed to save $100,000 of his annual budget and returned it to the Treasury to ease the burden on tax payers everywhere.

He is, of course, the Libertarian, Ron Paul. You might have guessed.

With what glee would we have greeted a similar press release regarding a British politician, with what urgency would we have rushed to the polls to vote for him?

The main parties vie with each other to find new and ‘enticing’ – apparently to we voters – ways in which to mug us. Here is an object lesson in perfect vote winning PR that costs nothing.

For Immediate Release
March 1, 2010

Congressman Paul Returns Over $100,000 to Treasury

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Ron Paul has continued to run his Congressional office in a frugal manner, and was able to return more than $100,000 from his allotted office budget to the Treasury this year, an increase over the $90,000 returned last year.

“Since my first year in Congress representing the 14th district I have managed my office in a frugal manner, instructing staff to provide the greatest possible service to the people of the 14th district at the least possible cost to taxpayers,” said Paul.

###

h/t to W. E. Messamore.

1
Old Slaughter March 8, 2010 at 09:28

Ron Paul is fast becoming the last of a breed.

Will somebody of his political integrity and outlook be elected to high office again?

2
Uncle Marvo March 8, 2010 at 11:37

A top bloke.

It is a crying shame that the $100,000 is equivalent to a third of a cent for each American.

It is also a crying shame that the $100,000 will probably be spunked up the wall by The Treasury, perhaps on a bank job sometime.

I suspect that Mr Paul would have spent it more wisely had he kept it.

Just saying, that’s all.

3
Uncle Marvo March 8, 2010 at 11:40

I meant, of course, a thirtieth of a cent.

It’s still early.

4
Majic March 8, 2010 at 13:31

Ron Paul actually does something that I never thought possible, make politicians look honest and more importantly, prove that politicians can be honest.

5
Arfur March 8, 2010 at 14:14

It’s a miracle that there exists an honest politician in any Western democracy. That one should exist who is not only honest but also bases his political philosophy on unalterable principles and his economic views underpinned by the Austrian school of economics, is breathtaking. The Americans are lucky to have him but sadly seem not to recognise his uniqueness. If only we had someone of such transparent genius instead of talentless, rootless twerps whose sole ambition is to be chief monkey.

6
English Viking March 8, 2010 at 14:57

Uncle Marvo,

Must have been a heavy night?

If we take the population of the US to be 300,000,000, it would be approximately 0.000333 of a cent per person.

Sorry to be pedantic

7
Châtelaine March 8, 2010 at 22:02

It is still a 100,000 USD. Try to multiply that by the number of Congress men and you’ll get at a substantial amount to be saved every single year … Money that can be spent otherwise [wise?].

8
Old Slaughter March 9, 2010 at 09:17

The amount is irrelevant. The gesture is rare enough to be important.

9
Adam Collyer March 9, 2010 at 09:50

English Viking, sorry to be even more pedantic, but $100,000 / 300,000,000 = $0.0003 or 0.03 cents = one thirtieth of a cent.

10
Thom March 12, 2010 at 10:06

His book The Revolution is a brilliant read; the man is a true Leg-end.

Sad that his light is only being shone so late in his life (he’s in his 90s I believe) and that the LPUS seems to be filled with crazies (correction: crazier) people than their UK cousins.

A good man.

11
Neil March 12, 2010 at 10:59

Thom,

The LPUS is filled with Rothbardians; people who believe that government action is wrong in and of itself, that it represents coercion by force and that taxation is theft. They therefore are extremely uncompromising and come off as a little bit… intense.

In the UK, Libertarians tend to be utilitarian, believing that government action in the long run hurts more people than it helps. That means they’re much more willing to compromise, and to accept central programmes if they think that they really will help.

12
Roger Thornhill March 12, 2010 at 17:57

Try that here and “Robber” Baronness Uddin would stuff it in her knickers and say it was for her second home…and some.