Posted on 07/20/2016 6:46:24 AM PDT by Sean_Anthony
I hate that Phony what a bore and the crypt ready McConnell needs to retire.
Ryan did the right thing and did it well - he’s trying to set his own self up as a contender for the WH and he needed to do that to try to make folks forget what he has been doing.
Have to disagree with you on a few things:
1) There is no way in hell you are going to get entitlement reform without a growing economy where the growth is spread out over more then the top 15 % of family incomes. To think otherwise is delusional.
2) If you have a growing economy where folks see there is an opportunity they will accept some reduction in unemployment benefits and other payments, once most of the folks do not think they might need them. That means near full employment and rising wages. Otherwise..no sell.
3) you are not going to get 1 or 2 unless you do something about immigration and shipping value added jobs overseas.
So without the Trump reforms all the good ideas about entitlement reform are completely unrealistic. You cannot expect folks to vote to cut their social security payments or raise the retirement age to 70 when the are just scraping by.
Just something to ponder.
Ryan is feeling the heat and is trying to save his job.
Well said Fred.
What Ryan had proposed way back then was not what you are suggesting.
You seem to be describing Republican elites' age old chicken-shiite temporary remedies to keep doing what is wrong but somehow do it cheaper with cuts and age limitations, etc. I agree those are dead ends. And wrong-headed from the git go.
Ryan correctly wanted to phase out the unconstitutional nanny role of the central government. Gradually shifting the job to the states where it still doesn't belong but is at least constitutional.
Ryan also sought to do another strategy which addresses your concerns but is less acceptable to our founding principles because of the fed involvement. Various versions of Newt's old concept of introducing Freedom, choice and ownership into horribly socialist programs... until the socialist versions 'die on the vine.'
Things such as 401k-like privatatized SS accounts for citizens young enough to take advantage while crusty old guys like me ride out SS at current rates. Nothing draconian as you seem to suggest. But still not a more legal and moral shift out of Washington's regulatory mitts altogether.
Forgive me if I'm misunderstanding, but you seem to say that illegal and immoral fed-level socialism must be tolerated until it works good enough to quit it. To be fair I'll assume you actually believe a modified rationalization of that many times failed concept in the sense that you think when economic times are good, then Lefties will vote Right. Or that future Congresses and presidents will all be Republican and will do the right thing at the right time. For those who think that way the right time to fight for change, of course, is always - always - later.
Regarding defeatist attitudes generally, I'll just leave you with a quote from Donald Jr, just last night:
'For My Father, Impossible is Just the Starting Point'
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