Rand Paul - Gov. Should Not Regulate Mining Industry

Rand Paul is the gift that keeps on giving.  I have said it before and I will say it again but this guy is industrial strength wacko.  Aside from the whole kidnapping and "aqua Buddha"  stuff he just keeps getting in way over his head.

In an interview with Details magazine, the Republican candidate for Kentucky Senate says the government should keep out of the mine safety business.  He feels companies should be allowed to self-regulate.  Yea that would work!

In response to questions about the recent Massey Energy mine explosion which killed 29 miners back in April he responded in his trademark cryptic way.

"Is there a certain amount of accidents and unfortunate things that do happen, no matter what the regulations are?" Paul says at the Harlan Center, in response to a question about the Big Branch disaster. "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."

Paul also said that the practice of mountaintop removal mining simply needs to be rebranded.

"I think they should name it something better," he says. "The top ends up flatter, but we're not talking about Mount Everest. We're talking about these little knobby hills that are everywhere out here. And I've seen the reclaimed lands. One of them is 800 acres, with a sports complex on it, elk roaming, covered in grass." Most people, he continues, "would say the land is of enhanced value, because now you can build on it."

 You just can't make this stuff up!