Ron Paul's Views On AIDS And Healthcare

[tednlou2]

Just read and watched this here on Poz.com.  It is no shocker that Paul feels this way.  After all, many of us read what happened to one of his campaign workers who raised so much money for his campaign, but died penniless and without health insurance.

Something that struck me most was what interviewer, Chris Wallace said.  I'm sure it will stick out to all of you.  Although, I shouldn't be surprised by what he said either.  What he says shows how so many feel and think about HIV/AIDS and who gets it and who doesn't.  Yes, HIV in America does affect more gay men.  But from what he says, it would seem he feels that is the only group it affects.     

http://www.poz.com/articles/RonPaul_HIV_highercost_1_21710.shtml 

[TonyDewitt]

Reading between the lines, sounds like this candidate doesn't care about HIV, never mind not caring about the people who have it. Obviously, vote with your lives!

[spacebarsux]

Well, I'm not American but I follow American politics sometimes.

Considering Ron Paul is steadfastly and consistently anti-establishment, wants to abolish the IRS and is an unflinching foe of abortion, is it really any surprise he holds such views on people with HIV/AIDS ?

There is a point where extreme prejudice crosses over to delusional lunacy. I think Ron Paul illustrated that perfectly with his comment in this video.

Since he's got his head so deep down his ass about HIV being a consequence of a 'bad and immoral lifestyle', I guess all the "innocent and virtuous housewives/girlfriends" who contracted the bug should be eligible for health insurance ? Or is she also a de facto whore, in his mind, since she's poz ? Not to mention all the innocent victims who were born poz or got it from blood transfusions.

I wish he'd enthrall us with his morally impenetrable 'health insurance eligibility' screening process   

[mecch]

The judgement behind his views is repugnant.
However, looked at in the weird logic of that crowd:
You have to take as a given they are UNABLE to see the finer distinctions about sexually transmitted diseases touching the "innocent" who did not get them from promiscuity (his word) but rather from a partner who lies or does not know he/she is infected with a disease. Thus, they can't deal with the dissonance of the "innoncent" person who has a sexually transmitted disease.  (Children they could probably forgive, if the question is put to them...)
What is truly offensive is that treatment for this disease (HIV) is singled out as a financial burden on "innocent" other people without it. 
He is arguing that the market should set the insurance rates for everyone - based on these private companies' actuarial projections. Therefore he will have to STAND to accept the same projections on smokers, overweight people, poor people, uneducated people, etc etc etc.  A young healthy gay guide shopping for insurance will be rated a risk and will pay more.  As will a smoker.  Or the children of alcoholics. Or certain races with certain percentages of certain diseases.  If he is willing to go THAT far, then he is a true libertarian, besides being an ingrate.  People with diseases already. well tough shit. Public charity if you are lucky. 
But, I personally do not think an libertarian can say things like one group is "innoncent".  Its not pure enough for me.

So, in a nutshell, he is evil.  Really an awful, scary person.  Reactionary. Completely deluded about modern society, multicultural society, equal rights, and what a rich country owes its every citizen.  Crap. Garbage. Old white guy rantings.  Small minded. Hideous.

[spacebarsux]

But, I personally do not think an libertarian can say things like one group is "innoncent".  Its not pure enough for me.

Morals are 'always' subjective and are influenced by cultural norms etc etc. And a virus has NO MORALS.

HIV doesn't discriminate between a whore and a housewife. Never did, never will.

This guy's smarmy condescencion is far more telling of his outrageous belief system than it is about poz folk.

[Ann]

Ron Paul has been a hateful, bigoted, evil man for many, many years. Check this out. (hat-tip to Aztecan for providing the link on FB) There's been plenty written in the blogosphere in recent days about his hateful newsletters - the article I linked to is just the tip of the iceberg.

[surf18]

you know i had supported ron paul for years ,but the truth about this old bigoted prick is coming out. he hates gays and for that i can't pull the lever for him at election time. and his anti aids stance and how he hates us with aids and he does. i hate the man and i d vote for obama before i ever vote for this old ugly troll.

[buginme2]

you know i had supported ron paul for years

I'm amazed at how many people are suddenly shocked.  He a Libertarian.  I wish people (especially the young voter base that is actually voting for him) would educate themselves on what it actually means to be a Libertarian.  This isnt specific to HIV or does it have anything to do with prejudice.  It has to do with a political philosophy of doing it alone.  That means when you get sick for whatever reason (and he does say that) you deal with it on your own and not burden the rest of society with it (and for most people that means you die quietly). 

Those are his political (Libertarian) views an he has held them for decades.  Its amazing to see sooo many people support him who have absolutely NO idea what it means to be a Libertarian.

[J.R.E.]

Lets not forget Ron paul's endorsement from Reverend Phillip Kayser :


 http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2011/12/29/395688/paul-campaign-touts-endorsement-of-preacher-who-advocates-death-penalty-for-gays/


Ray

[numbersguy82]

I agree with buginme2. I'm soooooo surprised at how many of my younger friends and acquaintances are rooting for RP and think he is the change that America needs. Like McCain before him, I just don't get excited when RP speaks. I don't think he has enough energy or enthusiasm to really get to the bottom of any of our economic issues... and furthermore why the hell are these social issues getting more press than the obvious crumbling of the avg everyday working class. It's a sad day when we are more worried about reinstating DADT than solving our economic woes. Why HIV even comes up during an election time is mindboggling. We have many more important issues to deal with... unless of course a candidate realizes how much we need HIV medical care reform to make it affordable to all without bankrupting public funds.

[bosco]

Hopefully as more and more of Ron Paul's true beliefs come to light via the web and in blogs people will stop supporting this hate monger.

[ejwilliamson90]

well we certainly can all look at the past and scrutinize weather we should have wore a condom or really trusted our partner that much. Using "him, or his" and not neutral words is a bit insulting of course since one of the largest demographics of new cases is in Black women..... not saying that it should be "she or her"  but that it's a disease that affects everybody relatively equally, it doesn't discriminate on your sexual preference.  Also I have paid for my HIV treatment over the past six months since diagnosis with my two insurances, one I carry through work, and my mother got me on her policy so that i woudlnt have to pay copays or out of pocket for lab work , or pay the out of pocket for RX's. Not everybody is that lucky. At 21, only making 20k a year I'm proud that I can do that. But i'm grateful we have ADAP and Ryan White programs, it helps keep americans who don't have insurance covered, and healthy, and it certainly helps americans who may find themselves unemployed due to the recession, have some gap coverage, so that they don't lose  their ability if they get a new job to get their meds covered because of a pre exisiting condition. Not only that ,but giving people in the HIV community drug coverage drastically cuts the amount of transmission to new people. So in the end they are saving money. I like Ron Paul's views on limited government but I really feel like he needs to back the EFF off of medicaid, social security, medicare, adap, and other programs which have saved lives, and kept food on tables of millions of american families. I think this is gonna be another cycle of Obama in the white house, hopefully we can win back the house and get some real work done in the next four years!