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Paul Ryan Still Doesn’t Get It
Republican House Budget chief Paul Ryan still doesn’t get it. He blames Tuesday’s upset victory of Democrat Kathy Hochul over Republican Jane Corwin to represent New York’s 26th congressional district on Democratic scare tactics.
Hochul had focused like a laser on the Republican plan to turn Medicare into vouchers that would funnel the money to private health insurers. Republicans didn’t exactly take it lying down. The National Republican Congressional Committee poured over $400,000 into the race, and Karl Rove’s American Crossroads provided Corwin an additional $700,000 of support. But the money didn’t work. Even in this traditionally Republican district – represented in the past by such GOP notables as Jack Kemp and William Miller, both of whom would become vice presidential candidates – Hochul’s message hit home.
Ryan calls it “demagoguery,” accusing Hochul and her fellow Democrats of trying to “scare seniors into thinking that their current benefits are being affected.”
Scare tactics? Seniors have every right to be scared. His plan would eviscerate Medicare by privatizing it with vouchers that would fall further and further behind the rising cost of health insurance. And Ryan and the Republicans offer no means of slowing rising health-care costs. To the contrary, they want to repeal every cost-containment measure enacted in last year’s health-reform legislation. The inevitable result: More and more seniors would be priced out of the market for health care.
The Ryan plan has put Republicans in a corner. Some, like Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown and, briefly, presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich, are rejecting the plan altogether. Most, though, are holding on and holding their breath. After all, House Republicans approved it — and voters don’t especially like flip-floppers.
Senate Democrats will bring the Ryan plan for a vote Thursday in order to force Senate Republicans on the record. Watch closely.
Some GOP stalwarts say the Party must clarify its message – a sure sign of panic. Former Republican congressman Rick Lazio says the GOP “must do [a] better job explaining entitlements.”
It’s just possible the public knows exactly what entitlements are – and is getting a clear message about what Republicans are up to.
All this should give the White House and Democratic budget negotiators more confidence – and more bargaining leverage – to put tax cuts on the rich squarely on the table.
And, while they’re at it, turn Medicare into a “Medicare-for-all” system that forces doctors and hospitals to shift from costly tests, drugs, and procedures having little effect, to healthy outcomes.
Robert Reich, one of the nation’s leading experts on work and the economy, is Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy at the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley. He has served in three national administrations, most recently as secretary of labor under President Bill Clinton. Time Magazine has named him one of the ten most effective cabinet secretaries of the last century. He has written thirteen books, including his latest best-seller, Aftershock: The Next Economy and America’s Future; The Work of Nations; Locked in the Cabinet; Supercapitalism; and his newest, Beyond Outrage. His syndicated columns, television appearances, and public radio commentaries reach millions of people each week. He is also a founding editor of the American Prospect magazine, and Chairman of the citizen’s group Common Cause. His widely-read blog can be found at www.robertreich.org.
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46 Comments so far
Show AllGood article Professor Reich.
"All this should give the White House and Democratic budget negotiators more confidence – and more bargaining leverage – to put tax cuts on the rich squarely on the table."
But conservative Democrats only bargain for political bribes that only the rich can afford.
How much is Reich willing to wager that ANY Democrat will "put tax cuts on the rich squarely on the table".
The Democrats extended the Bush tax cuts In December 2010, when Democrats controlled the white house and both houses of congress and had more reason to have "more confidence and more bargaining leverage" than they are likely to have for many years to come(if ever), they extended the Bush tax cuts AND enacted a payroll tax "holiday" that now requires social security to borrow money for the first time in history.
No amount of confidence or leverage will ever change the Democratic Party's mission to get more corporate "campaign contributions" than the Republicans.
Ryan never thoughtfor a moment that his proposal would pass. Ryan's goal is to move the Medicare discussion as far to the right as possible as fast as possible, resulting in the Democrats turning it into a voucher program and taking the heat.
The Repiublcans have succeeeded with this strategy on many issues including Obamacare.
Just like Brer Rabbit was always tricking Brer Fox with his "please don't throw me in the briar patch"line, the Republicans keep giving the Democrats cover to move rightward by using the Brer Rabbit strategy.
Thank you, Ray. You're one of the posters who always (so far as I can tell) seems to get it right. Gracias for the no-nonsense interpretation of what PR hacks get paid millions to obfuscate/distort/bamboozle about. If truth paid better, would more find cause to articulate it?
Yup, it's all theater, masking a classic protection racket. One crony starts breaking up the store and threatening your loved ones; the other convinces you he'll help for a price; both work for the same capo.
Well-stated, ray. Your 2nd paragraph, especially, states the obviousness of the faux difference between the two parties. Your Brer Rabbit analogy is spot-on, much like the Harlem Globetrotters/Washington Generals one. Wish more Americans would wake up and see the two party-system for what it is - a carefully-enacted play and nothing more.
Ryan is simply another voice of the rabid right/Wall Street etc. He's paid, oops, supported in doing what he is doing--search and destroy.
The Democrats have the advantage---let's hope they don't whimp-out or fuck-up by putting Medicare/Medicaid/Social Security on the table. These should be left OFF the table, no bargaining or deals! Once the Dems open the door a crack, the Republicans see an opportunity to make more demands to cut "entitlements" [sic].
Let's not let the Dems whimp-out or fuck-up their advantage!
Democrats "opened the door a crack" in December 2010 when Obama inititated the payroll tax "holiday", that now requires Social Security to borrow money (more than one hundred billion dollars in 2011) for the first time in history.
Republicans' attempts to do this have been unsuccessful for decades and now Obama keeps bragging about his payroll tax "holiday".
Now that Social Security is truly in debt it will be exponentially more vulnerable to cuts and elimination than it ever was.
Obama sabatoge.
Yes, that was the whole point of the SS tax holiday - the first shot fired to eventually eliminate it altogether. The Democrats, with the help of the first black (and Democrat) President, did what the Republicans have unsuccessfully been trying to do for decades - eliminate SS. By causing SS to go into the red by under-funding it through the "tax holiday," under the heading of "helping average Americans by lowering their payroll tax deduction", the Dems put the first nail in SS's coffin. From here on, they can now honestly say that SS is in trouble and needs to be "fixed," without mentioning that they were the ones who put it in trouble in the first place by underfunding it. Very clever.
Hello rodent,
How many times in this generation of DumbOcrats have they stood for a position instead of surrendering and then hoping for some scraps thrown from the Rethug table? It is truly hard to take a firm position when your spine is a wet noodle!
” [Ryan] accusing Hochul and her fellow Democrats of trying to “scare seniors into thinking that their current benefits are being affected.”
This "current retireee's benefits won't be affected, so why are they worrying?" has been brought up several times by Ryan. Apparently, Ryan seems to be incapable of understanding that there may actually be humans in the world who care about the fate of their children, grandchildren, younger friends, or even people thay don't know at all. This is not suprising, considering that Ryan says his life epiphany was reading "Atlas Shrugged", which posits a weird, sort of autism-like, psychopathic selfishness as the heart and soul of being a human.
Let us hope that this last election was high water mark of the twisted Ayn Rand Cult (although her ghost sure seems to be stalking Canada right now)
But this is cold comfort considering the current state of the Democrats. Houchel was endorsed and elected due to the efforts of the labor-left Working Family Party and New York's law that allows fusion candidates. If this NY district is anything like my suburban Republican district, the Democrats probably gave her no support or funding at all.
Ahh yes, the Godmother of these appalling regressives. It was quite predictable that she would make a comeback in this mean-spirited selfish era that has re-emerged. So, our philosophy of life should be based on the idiocy that there is no such thing as "society" and the only people worth anything are her version of heroes like John Galt and Howard Roark. It should be spread far and wide that Ayn Rand accepted Social Security and Medicare in the last years of her life. She was a hypocrite. Lastly, for a small dose of what this female spouted take a look at the film version of "The Fountainhead". The screenplay was written by Rand and it is one of the most unintentionally hilarious movies I have ever seen. Enjoy!
‘"Atlas Shrugged" is a celebration of life and happiness. Justice is unrelenting. Creative individuals and undeviating purpose and rationality achieve joy and fulfillment. Parasites who persistently avoid either purpose or reason perish as they should.’ (Alan Greenspan, Ayn Rand cult disciple and Criminal Reserve parasite extraordinaire)
pjd has it right. We are connected at a level these objectivist banksters are unable to perceive beyond their veil of Rand's "'virtue' of selfishness". In their avarice, they've also forgotten the basic principles of habitat stewardship and herd husbandry; they will will strip-mine and defoul the commons to clutch their last possible shekel of profit; to hell with posterity or greater humanity.
These are cold and pitiable wraiths of humanity. Be grateful you are not possessed by such demons.
Thank you pjd412.
You brought up an important point and expressed it better than I could have.
"Apparently, Ryan seems to be incapable of understanding that there may actually be humans in the world who care about the fate of their children, grandchildren, younger friends, or even people thay don't know at all."
Ryans comments show that he is "incapable of understanding that there may actually be humans in the world who care about the fate of their children, grandchildren, younger friends, or even people thay don't know at all."
Hello John F. Butterfield,
Had Ryan been born in another country and era say Germany so he was an adult during WWII he probably would have worn the black and silver uniform with the death head. This seems to be his philosophy. What a waste of DNA!
Excellent post. When I read: This "current retiree's benefits won't be affected, so why are they worrying?" it reminded me of Scott Walker in Wisconsin. He exempted fire fighters and police from his collective bargaining scheme. These two groups, in turn, would not allow themselves to be turned into the "privileged few" and were the most vocal during the protests.
Seniors, who can barely afford their co-pays and medication now, will not go to bat for these pillaging politicians, either. They know their children's and grandchildren's security depends on keeping these programs in place. If they can't give their progeny a secure, middle class life, at least they can fight to give them some security in their old age.
Because Obama and the entire Congress are so selfish, they just assume everyone else lacks empathy for others. How in the world did it ever come to pass that such selfish, cowardly, stupid, greedy, pandering people are in charge of our country? And how much longer will we continue to elect them?
pjd412 (May 25 2011 - 3:53pm) -- Interesting comment. I agree with the others who have complimented you on this.
Apparently progressives have got to bone up on Ayn Rand so that they can more effectively deal with folks like Ryan. What a pity that the likes of David Gregory or George Stephanopoulos will never probe (on the air, at least) Ryan's infatuation with Rand.
"Representative" Ryan revealed the real truth about his policies when he said early on in this debate that this wasn't just about some legislation - it was a "cause". That is a consistent pattern with these shameless regressives, they don't care how many people they harm as long as the ideology is followed. I agree about the Demos. They are spineless and I never count on them to do the right thing for the public who elected them. Matt Taibbi has it right, American politics is a reality show paid for by Wall Street.
Demos aren't spineless, they're just bought and paid for like the Republicans. It's humorous to listen to people argue partisan politics like there is some profound difference between the parties.
Yes, Democrats are all spine when they are gunning for corporate welfare programs or chastising the people who voted for them.
Entitlements? Screw that, that's a lie. I pay for Medicare every two weeks, whether I like it or not. It's withheld from my paycheck each and every time. I'm truly sorry that our "representatives" gave my money to rich people in the form of tax reduction, but I PAY for Medicare--it's not a #@!%^ entitlement.
What is it about Medicare that this Paul Ryan moron does not understand?
Hello gus,
Maybe some of your Medicare funds could treat rep ryan with ECT. If the first series doesn't work then I suggest upping the voltage until it works.
So much gloating over the Republican loss, the deflation of Republican arrogance. Feels good doesn't it--for a day or so. But it's already wearing off for me when I begin toask what the Democratic counter strategy should be to build on this victory. Any sentence in this post or comments that begins with "hopefully" or talks about what the Democrats "should" do makes me shudder.
I ask CD readers to consider the actions and consequences of the Pelosi era leadership from 2006 to the present, its ascendancy, its actions when in power, and its return to minority status. Are we in better or worse shape as progressives than we were at the beginning of that era? I think we are in worse shape and that politics have moved significantly to the right since 2004 when Republicans even when in power could not dent Social Security. . I ask why. I answer because those in the leadership of the Democratic party have betrayed us consistently even when public sentiment has been on our side., No matter what the issue they consistently betray us, consistently sell us out, refuse to take a principled stand. The public perceives it, quickly concludes that there is no difference between the Republicans and the Dems and withholds or reverses its vote for them. The Dems suffer defeat and then reflexively learn the wrong lesson from the defeat-- that they must be more conciliatory.
Its the Bluedogs like Altmire in the House, Schumer, Durban, Casey in the Senate who are the ones who keep the Democratic party from seizing a real progressive majority. And they will betray us again by agreeing to cuts in Medicare only half a bad as what the Republicans want. In the Senate rumor is that the "bipartisan 6" have already agreed to another 400 billion dollars of real Medicare cuts. That's not Newt or Mitch McConnell, its Durban and Schumer with the blessing of Obama that are selling you out, who are sabotaging progressive progress and moving this country rightward against its real interests .
Mark my words, Our Democratic leadership will manage to fudge the clear line of distinction between Republicans and Democrats which this election has managed to present, will snatch defeat from the Jaws of Victory again and will consequently push us even further rightward when in the next election the Republicans counter attack and the Dems passively absorb their lacerations, lick their wounds and blame those awful progressives for their defeat.
Speaking of Pelosi...what part of her first sentence as Speaker of the House in November 2006 (IMPEACHMENT IS OFF THE TABLE) didn't those who vote for Democrats understand ?
Even if there was no intention to impeach, Pelosi's declaration gave the Dubya Regime, complicit Democrats and their corporate paymasters a license to steal with no expiration date.
well, if Republicans were held accountable for outlaw behavior so would the Democrats and who in Congress, Democrat or Republican, knowing how complicit they are in this immorality and illegality would want that.
John Lennon - *A Working Class Hero*
As soon as your born they make you feel small,
By giving you no time instead of it all,
Till the pain is so big you feel nothing at all,
A working class hero is something to be,
A working class hero is something to be.
They hurt you at home and they hit you at school,
They hate you if you're clever and they despise a fool,
Till you're so fucking crazy you can't follow their rules,
A working class hero is something to be,
A working class hero is something to be.
When they've tortured and scared you for twenty odd years,
Then they expect you to pick a career,
When you can't really function you're so full of fear,
A working class hero is something to be,
A working class hero is something to be.
Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV,
And you think you're so clever and classless and free,
But you're still fucking peasents as far as I can see,
A working class hero is something to be,
A working class hero is something to be.
There's room at the top they are telling you still,
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill,
If you want to be like the folks on the hill,
A working class hero is something to be.
A working class hero is something to be.
If you want to be a hero well just follow me,
If you want to be a hero well just follow me.
>Actually, I'm listening to the Marianne Faithfull version - whatever<
Lennon captured the American experience better than anybody before or since.
They are not entitlements...they are benefits...that are paid for through tax dollars and in a decent world the rich would pay more and the poor would pay less and all would receive identical and excellent care...single payer plan is the only way to go...and please remember that all the people are entitled to benefits that a good social safety net provides...
Thus, they are entitlements -- you paid into it, therefore you're entitled to it!
The mainstream media in concert with Dems and Repugs have succeeded in demonizing the word ENTITLEMENTS.
Raydelcamino gets it right in his response. Expecting Democrats to do anything but allow the slow death is mere foolishness. The Dems always let the Right set the playing field, then they act all appalled and upset, then they compromise. Then it happens all over again. The Right wing agenda always gets incrementally more to the right, and the Democrats play their little kabuki dance and sidle over the right bit by bit. I just read a piece by James Carville yesterday where he was gloating that Obama has out maneuvered the Republicans. How? By being more Republican than they are by adopting their policies. Carville wrote without irony, probably not aware of how vacuous he is. For DLC people like Carville, as this should be a lesson for us since Obama is cut from the same cloth, it is all about being in power, not about utilizing power for the benefit of the people. They had two years, and they acted like the minority party and got us a lousy health insurance bill. Leave the Democratic Party now. Sure, the Right wing will assault, but we will never get a counter movement if we keep expecting the Dems to be our answer. Remember: The lesser of two evils is still evil.
one correction-- Jack Kemp represented the 31st Congressional District in New York (Buffalo, Amherst, Hamburg- the town he lived in south of Buffalo) not the 26th-- there was no overlap, even with redistricting. And William Miller was from Jamestown (southern tier- further from Hochul's district). Western New York is a large geographic area, and the populations differ from district to district.
Jack Kemp was my Congressman when I was an antiwar teenager. He had the decency to meet with me and my friends to discuss the Vietnam war for hours, and he wrote personal responses to my letters, as we exchanged things to read. I wish the Republicans today were as thoughtful and decent as Jack Kemp.
uh yeah, does Bill “DLC” Clinton get it? Does Obama get it? Or are they preparing our graves?
Why should my children and their children have less health care in their senior years than we have had??
What Happens When Anonymous Gets a Bank?
http://bigthink.com/ideas/38488?utm_source=Big+Think+Weekly+Newsletter+Subscribers&utm_campaign=52763f07c7-Wednesday_Newsletter_David_Brooks_May_25_2011&utm_medium=email
Ryan dares to try to fix it ,the dems can't even get a budget together,Reich doesn't get it.
lol!
I think what you folks posting here are overlooking is that there is a reason these right-wingers have a mental set that belongs in a museum. These guys have no real experience in what it means to live frugally, to have little money, to have to scrimp, to have to repair your own auto under a shade tree and make do. People who are born into affluence and live carefree lives supported by inherited cash simply cannot connect to the troubles of the ordinary working stiff. So, why on earth would you elect someone like that, from any party? Makes no sense; they cannot comprehend your struggles, so there is never going to be any incentive, moral or ethical or financial, to take the needs of the ordinary population into account. If you elect the rich, don't be surprised that (1) they ignore the poor and the poorer, and (2) they pass tax breaks for the rich.
wolfgang, I think you're oversimplifying. People born into affluence sometimes can connect to the troubles of the "ordinary working stiff." For example, they might work in anti-poverty programs, or become involved, romantically or otherwise, with people who are destitute, or even temporarily experience poverty themselves. That being said, we have a political party -- Republican -- in which persons of wealth, and even persons who are poor, who haven't connected or can't "connect to the troubles of the ordinary working stiff," are encouraged to feel comfortable with their lack of empathy and prejudices. I don't want to let Democrats completely off the hook, of course. They're a little better in this respect than Republicans.
Ryan - Doesnt get it because he thinks he can convince everyone 55 and older that they will not be effected. WRONG!!! - Im 56 and very concerned. It will effect us all in that it will dimish over the next 10 years or so that it will cost all of us more. Seniors 10 years from now still living will be effected. Those of us 10 years or less from Medicare will be effected. This is not a stay on course way of thinking it is reality. The 55 and older group is becoming a fast force to be a very powerful opposition to the conservative movement.
Exactly and they can leave us the hell alone. Take a hike idiots(both parties). Find your money in the war games department. American people need quality of life. THAT is why they/we have worked so hard- so again, get the hell away from pensions, medicare for all, and social security, schools- because we deserve a hell of a lot more than these creepy politicians in both parties can seem to understand- they who would steal from their own mothers, I think.
'Former Republican congressman Rick Lazio says the GOP “must do [a] better job explaining entitlements.”
Yes, and let them explain the too-big-to-fail entitlements while they're at it!
we produce more goods and services than every before
with less labor than ever before
there are no shortages except those that are beginning to happen due to wars and global warming
so this nonsense that we all can't have enough is nonsense
the only crisis that we have is the one created is by greed
redistribute wealth to the wealthy
shrink the economy
share the wealth and give more to people at bottom and middle
they will spend it and grow the economy
"turn Medicare into a “Medicare-for-all” system that forces doctors and hospitals to shift from costly tests, drugs, and procedures having little effect, to healthy outcomes."
most doctors are in favor of national health care by the way, and are not profitting, its thhe corporations who are making all the money (there are exceptions re the doctors, some specialists certainly are making a killing)
and while your at it, lets get rid of all the bullshit for profit lawsuits that makes the lawyers so rich, for doing nothing