I try not to take what Rep Paul Ryan (R-WI) says seriously because he exemplifies a class of Washington insider who personifies hypocrisy. He preaches work values while he himself has been at the government trough his entire work career. According to him, everyone else should be dumped from government benefit programs and get vouchers instead. Vets, Social Security, SNAP, Medicare, Students, etc.... would have to rely on some sort of scheme where the private sector would get a bigger chunk of your paycheck. Less for you but more for the 1%.
However, I had to turn up my hearing aid and adjust my spectacles to read his latest WSJ screed: A New Direction in the War on Poverty. Unsurprisingly, he is covertly using race to push a fresh wave of attacks on the poor.
Ryan represents the 1st district of Wisconsin -- a 91% white population. In his WSJ article he cites a fist fight that happened at a Milwaukee school -- a school outside of his district which happens to be approximately 85% black and Hispanic. What better way to show that you are a serious values scold legislature by picking on people of color and from another district?
He runs through the usual GOP boilerplate talking points to lecture these kids: welfare is bad, government is bad, unmarried is bad, market based reforms, good. From a policy standpoint, we all know how this story has turned out. We've had several decades watching its painful fruition.
The bottom-line is Ryan is a con who will use race, class, whatever it takes to get his tax cuts for the rich while sacking everyone else through legislation. Just ask the vets who recently took it on the chin with his surprise COLA cut in the Ryan/Murray back-room budget deal. The media have pretty much given him a Carte Blanche pass and wont ask him pocketbook policy questions for the record. It is time for everyone else to pay close attention and ensure your medical devices are fully calibrated -- if you have them.