The 28 Pages Stirs ATortured Libertarian

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) makes public appearances posing as a tortured libertarian whose conscious is frayed due to his belonging to a political party that has developed into an institutional promoter of the military industrial/surveillance complex. Speaking as the conscience of the libertarian wing of the GOP, he expressed his latest anguish against both War parties in Congress by introducing an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) "that would require the president to declassify 28 pages (this refers to the pages initially included in the Congressional Joint Investigation into the 9/11 attack--which is separate from the 9/11 Commission) on foreign government links to the 9/11 hijackers." [1]. Is Paul acting on principle or just reacting to a perceived demand from the public that U.S. President remove the redaction currently in effect? I don't care if he is simply pandering to an energized public if they truly dedicate themselves to forcing the government to release these 28 pages in full. And, if they focus that same energy resisting the military-industrial-surveillance complex .

The fact that both President George W. Bush and his more enlightened and polished successor have refused to declassify these 28 page thus far suggests the U.S. Empire's commitment to hiding the truth from the masses. Both Presidents demonstrate that despite their differences on most details of public policy, they both willingly serve as useful stooges to the Empire. Neither President displays the slightest hesitation to eviscerate the 4th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution or any conscience about covering up the truth about an event they claimed changed our history forever. Their actions show that nothing has really changed insofar as the military-industrial and surveillance complex both preexisted 9/11 and has gained potency and momentum thereafter.

If Rand Paul's conviction to release the 28 pages wanes, will the public vent their rage at the continued insouciant Congress and the President? Will the public finally emerge from its apparent mind-numbed stupor whereby it uncritically accepts all state encroachments as a necessary sacrifice to be safe in a post 9/11 world? I ask this question because Rand Paul's libertarian impulses may flicker when devoting his energy to gushing gratitude of the Koch's commitment to "liberty." This view is blatant double speak which begs an important question.    

Rand Paul's uses his prose to convince readers that the Kochs really deserve such hagiography:

For decades they have funded institutes that promote ideas, not politics, such as Cato and the Mercatus Center. They have always stood for freedom, equality, and opportunity. Consistent with their love of liberty, they have become prominent advocates for criminal justice reform. [2]. 

My focus here is not to judge whether the Koch brothers' actions match Paul's endearing comments. But, Paul's comments about the Koch brother's commitment to freedom prompt one question related to his support of releasing the 28 pages.

Some of the Koch brother's philanthropic spending includes $400 million on the 2012 campaign and the $889 million they plan to spend on the 2016 campaign. [3]. How much of this philanthropic spending will be allocated to the movement to pressure Congress to declassify the 28 pages? This staggering amount of money shows that the Koch brothers and their ilk own the government. Right? They do for the most part in my view, but looking at one spending statistic of the masses shows they could if they were unified challenge the elites grip on power. From 2007 through 2012, Americans spent $5.9 billion on iPhone repairs. [4].

Perhaps if Americans could slightly change their spending habits they could gain more influence on their government and influence their declassifying the 28 pages. Plus, this consequence may ease Rand Paul's torture libertarian soul, enabling him to avoid being so traumatized to be a Republican. Or, maybe his seeing a critical mass of Americans claim more power will convince him that a true freedom promoter will never be at home within a fascistic war party like the GOP. Yes Americans spend a lot of money on iPhones. But is their enjoying that modern necessity more important to their freedom than forcing our government to disclose who helped fund 9/11 terrorists? This rhetorical question renders moot our determining whether Paul is posturing or is convicted to fight for transparency.

[1]. "Paul Offers NDAA Amendment to Drive Release of 28 Pages." June 05, 2015. 28 Pages.org. http://28pages.org/2015/06/05/paul-offers-ndaa-amendment-to-drive-release-of-28-pages/

[2]. Paul. Rand. "Time 100 Titans: Charles Koch and David Koch." April 16, 2015. http://time.com/3822767/charles-koch-david-koch-2015-time-100/

[3]. Lowry, Rich. "The Kochs Ride Again." January 25, 2015. Politico Magazine. http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/01/koch-brothers-2016-114704.html#.VXY5Y1WUzGc

[4]. Nick T. "Americans have spent $5.9 billion  on iPhone repairs since it was launched." September 18, 2012. phoneArena.com. http://www.phonearena.com/news/Americans-have-spent-5.9-billion-on-iPhone-repairs-since-it-was-launched_id34608