[thecavemaster]

No, racial discrimination was literally the "law of the land"" in the South and the federal government was right to step in and stop states from codifying racial discrimination and coercing businesses into making it part of their standard operating procedure. The question that Rand Paul raised is whether the federal government went too far in prohibiting individual citizens and business owners from practicing discrimination as part of their freedom of association.

Raising the question or believing that citizens should have an absolute right to engage in business with whomever they choose, without government coercion, does not make one a racist. I am sure that Rand Paul believes as I do, that no business receiving federal, state, or local funds should be free to discriminate based on race, religion, or ethnicity.

Liberals say that they believe in individual freedom but there is no evidence of that being the case. If liberals sincerely wanted to help poor people in this country, they would stop loading our working men, women, children (current and future) with a debt that is going to destroy our economy. The best thing that can be done for the poor in this country is to create an I environment where labor is in short supply and businesses must compete for good workers. Socialism creates nothing but misery.

We are currently "engaged" in two countries, without any sacrifices being called for, any reductions in spending (sacrifice for somebody), or any strategy for increased revenue. Is it any wonder our debt is increasing? As for a "cut and slash" approach to federal funding/programming: good luck staying elected when the homefolks feel the pinch. It isn't "pork" when the spending employs you...it's bread on the table. The American public's schizoid love/hate with "do away with this program, do away with that program...oh crap, they've cut my program" continues....