-
Caesar Overreaching Once Again
February 6, 2012 | 169 comments
-
Raking Fire on the Stern
January 27, 2012 | 74 comments
-
The Paramount Issue of 2012
January 5, 2012 | 34 comments
-
Reading the Civil War
December 29, 2011 | 87 comments
-
Grover Norquist Crushes Them
November 28, 2011 | 88 comments
A Further Perspective
Paul Ryan's Friends
The more the merrier -- and he needs lots more.
Most conservative commentators, pundits and writers, including some affiliated with TAS, have been stalwart supporters of the remarkable Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) and his consequential "A Roadmap for America's Future," which aims to reform entitlements, most notably Medicare, the tax code and control health care costs all in the quest for fiscal sanity.
More remarkable is the recent defense of the Wisconsin Congressman by folks such as Megan McCardle of the Atlantic against the ad hominem attacks of Paul Krugman of the New York Times that Ryan was some kind of "Flimflam Man." McCardle has doubts about the "Roadmap," but they go to political feasibility, not its internal consistency and economic soundness.
Krugman's rant also generated another defense from Joseph Rosenberg of the Tax Policy Center at the liberal, very establishmentarian, Urban Institute and Brookings Institute.
This is encouraging. Paul Ryan will need all the friends he can make.
The amount of flack being directed at Ryan and his "Roadmap" has been rapidly increasing. Former White House budget director Peter Orszag, who should know better, trashed the Ryan plan in his farewell lecture at Brookings. This from the man who, as noted by the Wall Street Journal, "presided over record deficits of $1.4 trillion in 2009-or 9.9% of GDP-and an expected $1.5 trillion in 2010." Cheeky fellow.
Jon Ward of the Daily Caller observed that this high-profile critique of Ryan "shows the seriousness with which Obama and his top advisers take Ryan's alternative vision for the country's future, as well as the vehemence with which they disagree." Ward mentioned that the Orszag attack was the same day the Democratic National Committee attacked the "Roadmap."
The Wall Street Journal also highlighted the recent attack by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee directed at "NINE REPUBLICAN SENATE CANDIDATES WHO WANT TO END MEDICARE AS WE KNOW IT." The basis of this charge was "lukewarm-to-friendly comments these heretics had at one time or another made about Mr. Ryan."
Americans United for Change, formerly Americans United to Protect Social Security, one of the "progressive" outfits who led opposition to any reform of Social Security several years ago, has recently announced a "Major Mobilization" against what it calls a "Roadmap to Ruin." It has staffed up in 10 battleground states as part of an effort with 65 other organizations, all which are OK with America's eventual economic collapse.
A glance at the Americans United website, reveals that they are already beating up on at least one Republican congressman and four GOP senatorial candidates for supporting the Ryan plan. While that was distressing, I found myself pleasantly surprised that there were actually Republican candidates on board for the "Roadmap."
In other words, other than the 12 co-sponsors of Paul Ryan's legislation, and a few senatorial candidates, most of the Congressman's support comes from columnists, pundits, and assorted right-of-center commentators. That, at least, has been my impression. In fact, most of the discussion about budgets and deficits, even from Republicans, does not focus on the looming Death Star of entitlements, especially Medicare, as I have been wont to call the crisis now upon us.
You can live with enemies in politics, but you can't survive without friends. Ryan needs more than intellectual or moral support from conservative intellectuals, commentators, and even honest liberals, as important as they are. He and his "Roadmap" need the heartfelt support of his party, its leaders and its candidates across the country who must take the argument to the people in this watershed election year.
The stakes are too high for the Republicans to simply stand by, quietly, hoping the Democrats will self-immolate. The GOP needs to embrace a big, visionary idea, something like Ryan's "Roadmap," which addresses the most important political challenge of the age: the runaway costs of entitlements which were irresponsibly put on autopilot under both Democratic and Republican governments.
Ideas, good or bad, have consequences. If there is to be regime change in Washington, the new one better have prepared the ground with a clear articulation of its plans, no matter how politically daunting the prospect, thereby creating legitimacy for those plans through electoral victory. The nation can afford nothing less. Otherwise, it will amount to just "Meet the new boss/Same as the old boss."
This is not to say that the GOP needs to accept every jot or tittle of the "Roadmap." But it very much needs to engage, substantively, the same issues as Paul Ryan has, heroically in my opinion, in terms of the long-run sustainability of America's fiscal and economic condition. The "Roadmap" should be the Republicans' point of departure for what must be a serious conversation with the American people.
"Put simply, Medicare is on course to collapse," wrote Congressman Ryan last week in the Washington Post. "Medicare and interest on the national debt will soon overwhelm the federal budget, crowding out all other national priorities."
"We do not have a choice as to whether Medicare will change from its current structure," says Paul Ryan. "It is being driven to insolvency."
About the Author
G. Tracy Mehan, III served at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the administrations of both Presidents Bush. He is a consultant in Arlington, Virginia, and an adjunct professor at George Mason University School of Law.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (34) | Leave a comment
Leave a Comment
More Articles by G. Tracy Mehan, III
More Articles From A Further Perspective
http://spectator.org/archives/2010/08/16/paul-ryans-friends
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
Current Issue
- Evolve or Die
- The Pearls of Pauline
- Religion Is Not the Enemy
- Digital Subscription (Save 78%)
- Buy a single issue (Save 50%)
- Send Spectator as a gift
Clip of the Day
ADVERTISEMENT
Bill Henderson| 8.16.10 @ 6:47AM
What a novel idea. "The first congress to reduce the size of government." Sounds like a winner.
Charity in Truth| 8.16.10 @ 7:15AM
Paul Ryan's Roadmap for America's Future makes good sense to me and is a better alternative to what we see doing on now with our Government's unaccountable and wreckless spending. Government's main job is to defend and protect us - not micromanage every aspect of our lives with Obamacare, exploding bureacracy and taxing us with more rules and regulations. We need to vote in more men and women of honor, integrity, wisdom to help America on the road to recovery like Paul Ryan, and vote those who are not out of office a.s.a.p. We need to get rid of the Czars.
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 8.16.10 @ 8:02AM
Paul Ryan has some good concepts, but the reality is entitlements will not be reformed until unemployment hits 17% and even then the going would be rough.
It would make far more sense to reduce the size of federal agencies and call for a 10 year pay freeze in the federal government.
The public would immediately buy into that and once you get the electorate used to the concept of cost cutting as a product which will help them, then the public may go for entitlement freezes. If the government simply freezes salaries and eliminates jobs through atttrition the public will begin to see the benefits and buy into the plan.
However, until the federal government cuts itself, and that isn't happening, don't expect the public to believe anyone about anything. It's just too cynical to reform entitlements without serious long term reform of the federal bureaucracy.
Wandering Piper| 8.16.10 @ 9:18AM
Well, time is RIPE, if you are waiting for 17% unemployment, wait no more! True unemployment including those who have stopped work or accepted major cuts in hours well exceeds 17% probably north of 20% and in some communities, youth, specially black, and non-college grads, unemployment has now hit record highs.
Do certainly like your idea in para 2. Also, in line with T Jefferson's idea "the government which governs least, governs best" allow congress sit only 180 days per year (4 months for budget process and etc - 3 month break then 2 months to work before "winter recess" and allow them to pass NO other laws until the budget process is completed.
just think how fast our gvt spending could be brought into line!
Bill Hussein O' Stalin| 8.16.10 @ 10:09AM
I thoroughly agree. Basically, what we have is a financial emergency bought on by central economic planners being reviewed and responded to by an even greater number of central economic planners.
In essence, lemming economics.
Ret. Marine| 8.16.10 @ 8:19AM
True unadultrated leadership is required, no exceptions, no flim-flam men/ladies need apply.
This country is sorely lacking in the leadership departments. Obozo-scare is hardly a formula for the sucess of this Nation, no matter how much he lies about it. He has not inspired anyone, maybe the frauds in front of him, but, surely the American people have far more intelligence and common sense than this fraud poseing as the president and many, many, current socialist/progressive type in this 111th CON-gress. These people are intentionally running this country off a dangerous cliff. I often wonder if they think they will just be able to fly off in their private jets to another country when the sheet hits the fan and We the People start hunting them down like the dogs of disaster they really are and inflict upon them the treatment they did to our Constitution and way of life.
Entitlement mentaliy is the disease and only proven fiscal responsibilities and answers will turn it around. These days it's extremly hard to have an honest debate regarding any thing let alone the courage needed for the proper changes that will be required to turn this mess around. I would like to propose to my fellow Patriots: the next town hall meeting you attend, demand the answers and the procedures these candidates stand behind to cure the sickness they are responsible for, if you have to gang up on them, one right after the other ask the same question and tell them to answer the question, no bullsheet, just the facts according to our Laws and the required Constitutional authority to stand behind their decissions.
Wandering Piper| 8.16.10 @ 9:21AM
Semper Fi, Marine!
Leadership in the federal gvt as we knew it has all but disappeared. November is the time to begin clearing out the woods and the swamps!
Louis Jenkins| 8.16.10 @ 8:56AM
"We do not have a choice as to whether Medicare will change from its current structure," says Paul Ryan. "It is being driven to insolvency."
This last comment sums it up. Otherwise Pelosi, Reid, and Obama are fiddling while Rome burns. Can't renig on Roosevelt's plan can we.
Louis Jenkins| 8.16.10 @ 8:59AM
Sorry, I meant to say Roosevelt's/Johnson's plan.
Clinton nee Publius| 8.16.10 @ 9:18AM
Good politics, but this is the economic equivalent of saying that, since you insist on smoking, you should smoke a filtered cigarette (Ryan Plan) instead of unfiltered cigarettes (Democratic policies). You are going to get progressively sicker, you are going to slow down, run out of wind, have to be put on oxygen and then you are going to die.
Doing things the same way and expecting a different outcome is the province of politicians. A real solution is not acceptable to our ruling class, even though a real solution would increase the riches by an order of magnitude. Their own greed will lead to the end of our democracy and the downfall of our way of life.
If they will not emancipate us, we should force them to and make them pay the price for it all.
Roy| 8.16.10 @ 10:15AM
but if "we" had the power to do that, they wouldn't be in office in the first place. Which is kind of the issue - the problem isn't "politicians", but 50% of the American people.
scotchieguy| 8.17.10 @ 1:37AM
Man, you are as depressing as Beck. What does your wife/sig. other think?
O'Riley| 8.16.10 @ 11:16AM
"The GOP needs to embrace a big, visionary idea, something like Ryan's Roadmap,..."
There was a time when I was proud to announce I was a Republican supporter.
Not so much anymore.
That Grand Ol' Party is on it's death bed, and rather than accept the Dr.'s orders for a Conservative round of treatment it calls for increased sedation to get it through the next few months.
Rest easy, old friend.
I owe a debt of gratitude to President Obama and his cabinet for opening my eyes and revealing what a horrible monster Government can become. I owe an apology to my children for my complacency in politics and succumbing to the lesser of two evils.
Finally, I owe a tremendous "thank you" to my very own Congressman Paul Ryan for setting aside his political future in undertaking a task that no one else in Washington has the courage to do.
I would rather fall by a man of true conviction than stand with the political windsock which is the GOP.
Impeach Don't Wait| 8.16.10 @ 10:29PM
"Finally, I owe a tremendous "thank you" to my very own Congressman Paul Ryan for setting aside his political future in undertaking a task that no one else in Washington has the courage to do."
Hey, thanks for the reminder. Yes, we look for leaders. Just one at least. Well here you have one.
Tracy Mehan| 8.16.10 @ 11:27AM
Brother O'Riley, William F. Buckley used to say that despair was a mortal sin. Buck up, my friend. The fact that Paul Ryan even exists and is doing such yeoman work is a miracle. Hope is a theoligical virtue! Pax.
Tracy Mehan
George S| 8.16.10 @ 12:18PM
You are asking the political class to take a principled stand by committing themselves to an idea by a congressman. Of course, the first thing Republicans think is: has this thing been polled?
Why would they risk put themselves on the line when the electoral tea leaves are aligning themselves to a politicians wet dream... taking a huge lead in the polls by virtue that they are not Democrats? Once in office, then we'll discomfit them with our demand for solutions.
That's why this is a two step process. You can't change bandages without first applying them to the bleeding.
Clinton nee Publius| 8.16.10 @ 1:04PM
On the other hand, the difference between Republicans and Democrats is such that what difference does it make what either party says? The last 65 years shows us they have no intention of doing anything other than what they are already doing. It works for them and this is their business. If the current system wasn't making Republicans fabulously rich it would have changed a long time ago.
I voted the straight Republican ticket in every election for the past 30 years. I'm not voting for another Republican ever again in my lifetime.
Sorry, Mr. Ryan. The odds are you are just the latest in a long line of liars and corrupt people who need to be taken out back and shot. Our emancipation begins with the end of the GOP and the Democratic Party and the sooner we realize this the more likely it will be that true success and liberty returns to our lands and fortunes. Republican or Democrat, the same things have been happening to my company and my fortunes for the last 15 years; they have been going down. I don't do government work and I'm not part of the ruling class. Now I can look forward to washing dishes for a living and throwing rocks at passing cars of politicians.
There is nothing these people will do to change what they are doing to us and until we rid ourselves of their parasitic presence in our society and communities they will make us suffer. Killing them should be a sport by which we are paid a bounty.
scotchieguy| 8.17.10 @ 1:34AM
Excellent post Clinton. Not sure why you call yourself that, but some great thoughts. The difference betw/ the two parties is so little as to be meaningless. The dems want to run us off the cliff in 20 years--the repubs in 30. Pick your poison. I agree. They are both poison. And the third party merely expedites the fortunes of one of the two parties--usually the dems. W/out Perot, we would not have had Clinton...big deal. Four more years of 41? So what?
Sounds like you are ready for a revolution. Well, w/ that comes alot of destruction. Basically, you have to destroy in order to fix. That sounds so like the Beatles (Revolution #1). My problem is more akin w/ the Who--after the revolution? Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. So what's to gain? They keep getting back into power...a depressing situation.
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 8.17.10 @ 8:39AM
To Clinton Nee Publius: I would say that you are merely cynical but I also have to admit that you are correct.
Ralph| 8.16.10 @ 1:32PM
This issue is really pretty simple. The unfunded liability for US entitlement programs is about 110 trillion dollars, of which about 70% is Medicare, 17% is Medicare prescription drugs, and 13% is Social Security. (See usdebtclock.org)
Simple arithmetic tells us that this unfunded liability amounts to about $355 thousand dollars for every man, woman, and child in the US. This amount does not include taxes we are already obligated to pay under current scheduled tax rates.
$355 thousand is about 7 times our per capita GDP. It doesn't take a mathematician or an economist to determine that this level of debt is unsustainable. It's pretty obvious to the average person because he realizes that he will not have an additional $355 thousand over his lifetime available to give to the federal government. Remember, this amount is in addition to everything else we already spend money on: food, clothing, shelter, transportation, taxes, and other things. Unfortunately, the average politician seems unable to comprehend the situation; hence, we have President Obama and the Democrats claiming that those who are willing to tackle this issue are trying to destroy Social Security or Medicare. This is pure demagoguery. The reality is that Congress set up these entitlements as Ponzi schemes, and, over time, Ponzi schemes destroy themselves.
There is no way to save these programs without reducing benefits in some way. Paul Ryan has some good ideas, one of which is what Congress has already done to some extent: raise the age of eligibility for these programs. There may be other approaches, but the status quo is not one of them. And don't wait for ObamaCare to help; it will only make things worse, eventually moving all those under 65 into the so-called public option, a program that will look remarkably like Medicare, and will be equally unsustainable.
Oldefarte| 8.16.10 @ 1:43PM
GREAT, GREAT THESIS! Ryan's Roadmap is and should be a initiation point to develop substansive economic/financial ideas to begin destroying the GREAT SOCIETY WELFARE STATE that has been in existence since Lyndon Johnson sold this country down the toilet. I'm against limiting the discussion to only Medicare, since same's problems are an extension of the hugely expensive medical care industry and the health insurance that pays for same. The fixes involve tort reform, universal access and medical cost reduction savings elements. As to Social Security, same could be substantially fixed by unlimiting its payroll tax structure [all income would be tax subject but at gradually decreasing rates]. The main focus should be the gradual reduction/elimination of GOVERNMENTAL WELFARE BENEFIT SYSTEMS WITHIN GOVERNMENT [by converting welfare to workfare]. The crutially correct point of this editorial is that Paul Ryan has intellectually developed a beginning roadmap that needs to be politically supported/supplemented by all Republicans; and if they do not do so, then any/all of same should be defeated/replaced by taxpayer-voters with those candidates who will support Ryan's thesis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Redstateboy| 8.16.10 @ 5:34PM
Everyone's sitting around KNOWING what's coming. Hussien and his crowd particularly know it and what's maddening is.... Is He, the Manchurian Candidate? aka.. Doing this on purpose? He's not stupide.. well - not that stupid and the Math is there. If we don't elect a LEADER with VISION committed to righting this ship we ARE going to be Greece - there is No question.
If we do or do not survive as a Nation, Historians a 100 years from now will point to Social Security, Medicaid/Medicare, Drug Entitlement, HusseinCare and Marvel and write... "What were they thinking?" Could they not see? How did they get so far away from their founding principles? Everything they promised... from SS to Medicaid and certainly to HussienCare have and will cost 10x's what it was projected to cost. We need a Revolution and we need it soon or Ba-bye America.
Patrick| 8.16.10 @ 9:30PM
I sincerely believe that President Obama believes that his policies are sound.
Obama has spent the entirety of his life learning at the feet of radical leftists, since the day he was born. Obama has never had to question his neurotic faith, he has never lost sleep in doubt of liberalism. Not once has he been troubled, but rather carried aloft to the presidency on the wings of destiny.
Our president may be entirely wrong, but he will be the last to know it. The real question that I have is:
What will he do when he is facing down a GOP led congress in January?
WayneH| 8.16.10 @ 6:32PM
As a Canadian, I can't help but to look on in total exasperation as your nation drifts toward insolvency while so few leaders - Ryan being one exception - come up with concrete solutions. As a student of economics I have always admired the USA but had never really paid much attention to just how strangled and distorted your economy had become at the hands of the ruling class. I hate to say it but our highly over-regulated and over-taxed economy now look pretty laisser faire compared with yours. Good luck sweeping out the statist trash. I sure hope some visionary leadership emerges very quickly as in it's absence the math is indeed about to swallow you.
Lu D| 8.16.10 @ 10:38PM
Paul Ryan is not my Rep.,but part of the are I live in is part of his Congressional District and I have the opportunity to go to his Townhall meetings . To C.N.P, Paul Ryan IS NOT a liar. He is one of the most honest ,straight foward, and intelligent people I have the the opportunity to hear and to speak to. He is very much loved here in Wis. He does care about this Country, his family and the future for both. I agree we don't have enough people like him. Unfortunatly when you let idiots vote you end up with Rangle,Waters, Snowe. Collins etc. People in this Country are very ignorant when it comes to history and economics for starters. All they today is "whats for free". Cut off all welfare except for the truly disabled.
Bruno Behrend| 8.17.10 @ 10:24AM
As great as Paul Ryan is, he is in the wrong party. He needs to be part of the process of forming a new party of better people and ideas.
Furthermore, anything that leaves the income tax system (Corp., Personal, FICA) will fail in any event. As a tax structure, it cannot maintain our economy or culture in a competitive world.
Some one needs to have the guts to junk it.
This is a better roadmap.
PamK| 8.17.10 @ 3:26PM
There are some good, intelligent, principled politicians out there and they are, for the most part, in the Republican Party. Senators like Ryan and DeMint, governors like Christie, give hope that things can be turned around if intelligent, selfless leadership is valued and self-interest is marginalized or defeated. It takes an electorate who is fed up with the special interest insiders of both parties and willing to work to replace unprincipled politicians with ones that understand they serve the people and not vice versa. And the Republicans are on short notice that if they want the support of active voters who are ready to reclaim our country's heritage of small government responsive to the people, they have the two years following this next election to do something other than play the Obama blamegame in reverse. They need a concrete plan and to be seen pulling together to fix our country's looming financial problems and scale back the size and pay of government employees. Perhaps a pledge that if they retake the House, they will roll back wages for themselves and all staff members to pre-Obama levels would make Americans know that they are serious and feel the pain of those who have suffered job loss or cutbacks. It is time for our Congress to walk the walk.
dress| 12.24.10 @ 7:36PM
One Herve Seger Sale Dress for that most Herve Leger.
replicalouisvuittonshopuk.| 5.27.11 @ 2:18AM
Most people
christian louboutin