Sen. Kennedy: 'If you trust government, you obviously failed history class'

By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press

I've said this before, but it's worth repeating: Sen. John Kennedy is my favorite U.S. senator, bar none.

Kennedy was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016 and reelected in 2022. He has built a distinguished career as a conservative champion for the people of Louisiana and a dedicated watchdog of taxpayer money. He serves on the Appropriations, Banking, Budget, and Judiciary Committees in the U.S. Senate. He serves as the top Republican of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Banking Subcommittee on Economic Policy.

Kennedy graduated magna cum laude in political science, philosophy, and economics from Vanderbilt University, was president of his senior class, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He received his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was an executive editor of the “Virginia Law Review” and elected to the Order of the Coif. He earned a bachelor of civil law degree with first class honors from Oxford University (Magdalen College) in England, where he studied under Sir Rupert Cross and Sir John H. C. Morris. He has written and published several books and articles on constitutional law, the Louisiana Products Liability Act, and the Federal Power Commission.

Most recently, he published a book released last summer, "How to Test Negative for Stupid – And Why Washington Never Will."
 
In the book's introduction, Kennedy acknowledges that his outspokenness often makes his colleagues angry with him.

"How do I sleep at night knowing that some people don't like me?" he asks rhetorically. "With the fan on."

He adds, "I think I make the right people mad. I speak my mind because I don't know any other way. It's just who I am."

Unlike a sizable number of his congressional colleagues, Kennedy does, indeed, possess the common horse sense that God gave a goose. (OK, sorry for the poor mixed metaphor.)

On that front, Kennedy says: “Common sense is illegal in Washington, D.C., I know. I’ve seen it firsthand.”

Here are just a few other Kennedy gems from the book:

• “If you trust government, you obviously failed history class.”

• “I believe that our country was founded by geniuses, but it’s being run by idiots.”

• “Always follow your heart – but take your brain with you.”

• “I’m not going to Bubble Wrap it: The water in Washington, D.C., won’t clear up until you get the pigs out of the creek.”

• “I have the right to remain silent, but not the ability.”

Among Kennedy's votes that I agree with relate to Social Security. He supports eliminating taxes on Social Security and he strongly supported the Social Security Fairness Act, signed into law Jan. 5, 2025, which eliminates the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, which previously reduced Social Security benefits for public workers (like nurses, teachers and police officers) with non-covered pensions, restoring full benefits to affected retirees and potentially increasing checks starting in 2025, depending on eligibility. It benefits those with a dual work history in both Social Security-covered and non-covered jobs, and those who should receive spousal/survivor benefits. 

Kennedy laments that, "Congress moves slowly; sometimes it takes months for Congress to get nothing done. People in this place try to impress you with high-level name drops while looking around for somebody more important to talk to. And many of these same people are slaves to the adage of: 'I have principles; if you don't like them, I have others."

Kennedy's columns often appear on The Highland County Press website, and occasionally in the print edition. Did I mention that Kennedy was a longtime Louisiana Democrat? He was.

He switched his political affiliation from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party, effective Aug. 27, 2007. Prior to this switch, he had a long career in Louisiana politics as a Democrat, including serving as a judge and as the Louisiana state treasurer from 2000-17. In a letter to his constituents, he announced his departure from the Democratic Party, stating his views were more in line with the Republicans. 

And like President Ronald Reagan, he didn't as much leave the Democrat Party, as it left him. It is little wonder.

One more admirable trait about Sen. Kennedy: He has regularly volunteered as a substitute teacher in Louisiana public schools. 

Having been "volunteered" years ago as a part-time teacher in a couple of our local districts in an effort to bring in a guest speaker from journalism and other fields, I hold teachers in even higher regard. I could not do their job. 

Sen. Kennedy lives in Madisonville, Louisiana, with his wife, Becky, and their dogs. The Kennedys are founding members of their local Methodist Church.

"How to Test Negative for Stupid – And Why Washington Never Will" is available on Amazon and at many popular bookstores. I recommend it.

Rory Ryan is publisher and owner of The Highland County Press, Highland County's only locally owned and operated newspaper for many years.