A question for Rand Paul…

Dear Dr. Paul:

You dislike federal spending. 

Your state receives $1.51 for every $1 in federal income taxes paid. 

By your own argument, you are for smaller government.  I would like to know which federal programs you will move to opt out of as the Jr. Senator from Kentucky.  Highway dollars? Welfare?  Will you force your hospitals to stop seeing Medicare patients?  How will you rectify this imbalance?

It’s obvious to me that if you want to reduce federal spending, the correct first course of action would be to STOP REQUESTING THE MONEY.

For the 2008-2010 budget years there were 233requests for “earmark” spending, totalling over 1.5 BILLION DOLLARS.

Which of those projects will you cancel?  Which military bases will you lobby to close down to help cut spending?   What will you do to enforce the fiscal discipline you expect of the rest of us in your own state?

Let me put this into perspective.  You are an opthamologist.  Estimates are your practice derives at least 50% of it’s income from Medicare.  How do you justify railing against socialized medicine when half of your income is derived from it?  Are you ready to take a 50% pay-cut?

My final questions to you are these:

Will you stop asking for money for your own state knowing that that represents an expansion of the federal government?

Will you support Social Security / Medicare? 

If the vote were to come before you to abolish either or both, how would you vote?

We’re watching.