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The Spectacle Blog
A lot has changed since I wrote the cover story for our November issue in the early fall. Rick Perry, then at the top of many national Republican polls and making waves for his criticism of Social Security, has faded. Newt Gingrich, whose dismal poll numbers are referred to in the piece, has rebounded to the point where some surveys show him leading Mitt Romney. (Perry’s slide had little or nothing to do with entitlements, while Gingrich has making arguments on the subject that could be described as Paul Ryan lite).
But the basic problem of how to deal with entitlements remains the same, as underscored by the failure of the supercommittee. It’s gut check time for a Republican Party that has vacilated between bold reforms and demagoguery on the issue. How to make reform politically palatable, especially since many core Republican voters depend on Social Security and Medicare, also remains a major challenge. Most of the Republican presidential candidates are currently gesturing in the right direction while avoiding the details that proved politically perilous for the Ryan plan. Whether this is smart strategy or just a prelude to further disappointment remains to be seen.
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More Blog Posts by W. James Antle, III
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/11/21/republicans-and-entitlements
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WL| 11.21.11 @ 2:16PM
To all of you "Independents" out there...I owe you an apology. For most of my life (observing politics, that is) I have always gotten disgusted with "Independents" (not to be read as "moderates")...for being so disgusted with the Repubs and Dems...and NOT taking a side...because they were all the same....
As it turns out, you were right the whole time. It has been a tough process to come to terms with it...but as I do...I am even starting to see that much of the so-called "conservative" writers, "conservative" politicians are just voluntary useful idiots and willing accomplices with our "betters."....
I am starting to think that I will quit watching things so much...because it's about as real as WWF wrestling.
80% of those with a real "voice" are there BECAUSE of their willingness...instead of their willingness coming after they get there, through bribes, threats etc...
Just like this article. It's just one more excercise in futility.
Indy| 11.22.11 @ 7:33AM
I have been an independent for many years because of my disgust for both parties. Many independents are conservatives, I find when I go knock on doors to get out the vote, people are very receptive to my comments because I am not tied to a party. In my state, independents can vote in primary elections so there is no reason why I should join a party that I don't believe in.
Boehner and McConnell should have leveraged the mid-term momentum to further educate voters and hammer the Senate for not passing a budget...instead they focused on putting the GOP freshman in their place, they fight harder against conservatives than the left...while Rome continues to burn.
Al Adab| 11.21.11 @ 2:54PM
As we have stated many times, there are too many republicans and not enough Conservatives. The Conservative Movement chose the GOP as its vehicle and time and again has been betrayed by the same party. It is only when Conservatives preponderate as in 1980 and 1994, that the GOP enjoys sucess. Republicans are not to be confused with Conservatives although the opposition Leftist/statists find it helpful to do so.
Clint| 11.21.11 @ 7:20PM
The Operative Word Is "Transition".
" Social Security and Medicare:
Dr. Ron Paul believes that Social Security and Medicare are unconstitutional, saying that they are not provided for under Article 1, Section 8: "There is no authority. Article 1, Section 8 doesn't say I can set up an insurance program for people. What part of the Constitution- liberals are the ones that use this general welfare clause." He believes that that social security is outdated, and has compared it to slavery: "The Constitution and the court said slavery was legal, too. We had to reverse that. So, I tell you. Just because a court in [19]37 went very liberal on us and expanded the role of government, no, I think the original intent is not a bad idea."1 Furthermore, Paul favors a gradual transition out of Social Security and Medicare: "That would be my program, to transition out [of Medicare and social security], because this one has failed."
Nite| 11.21.11 @ 7:36PM
Everyone is very concerned about Medicare. I think your problem will be taken care of shortly. Obama put Henry Aaron in charge of the IPAB. The 15 unelected unconfirmed individuals love the British Health Care System. So rationing, denial of care will be the order of the day. Hospice is also likely to be severely cut, leaving the elderly to die without comfort and possibly in pain. So just hold on, we will all be dying quickly and soon.
Old Soldier| 11.22.11 @ 1:33AM
Mr. Antle writes that "many core Republican voters depend on Social Security and Medicare" and therefore it will be hard to win their support for reforms to those programs. Perhaps he's right, but no one is talking about changing the rules for those currently receiving either of those two budget-busting programs. The irrefutable fact is that things cannot continue as they are, and those core Republican voters understand that very well.
buckeyeman| 11.22.11 @ 10:31AM
The fact that our mindless socialists, both democrat and republican, endlessly promise not to touch current recipients of these welfare programs is symptomatic of the core problem. Those who argue that they "paid for it" are lying. Sure, they paid in some, but most are well aware that they will receive benefits vastly in excess of what they paid in. This is actuarily unsound and always was. Current recipients are the thieves and liars that kept voting for more and more of their neighbors' wealth to be stolen and redistributed. They absolutely deserve to have their benefits trimmed. It won't happen, of course, so we continue our current course. I'm sitting in a hotel room this morning, gazing out at Niagara Falls. Sure reminds me of the economic course of our nation.
squalis| 11.22.11 @ 12:04PM
And so what of the many people, such as myself, who have paid tens of thousands of dollars into both programs, have never voted for it but were mandated to pay into it, and will never receive any of the benefits? Could I just get my money back?