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Yesterday I watched Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney campaigning in New Hampshire. They appeared together at an open air town hall. I must admit that they looked great together. They had an enthusiastic crowd of supporters.
I listened to their entire speech and some of the questions and answers. The questions were cookie cutter fed questions.
I found the presentation by both Ryan and Romney to be spirited and very good. Anyone void of economic knowledge and history could easily be swayed by what I saw.
They made a voucher replacement for standard Medicare seem as if it is in the best interest of the recipients as opposed to its real purpose, reduce cost to the government in order to provide tax cuts to a few as well as provide insurance companies a transfer of wealth from the middle class to the wealthy. Remember, as opposed to 97% of Medicare taxes going to healthcare, private companies disperse at most 80% to healthcare, the rest going into the pockets of insurance executives, shareholders, advertising, and expenses.
They made the unshackling from regulations seem like the emancipation from government that would spur growth. They fail to acknowledge that lack of regulation is what partially decimated our economy.
These guys support unfettered laissez faire capitalism in which a very few will ultimately have access to success. When a careful analysis is done one can only see the continued path to a total plutocracy, middle class be damn.
Robert Reich’s analysis below is instructive and should be shared throughout your network. It is imperative that you share this post to your family, your friends, your co-workers, and your acquaintances.
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5 Reasons Why the Ryan-Romney Economic Plan Would Be A Disaster for America
Robert Reich Posted: 08/20/2012 2:54 pm
Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy, University of California at Berkeley; Author, ‘Beyond Outrage’Mitt Romney hasn’t provided details so we should be grateful he’s selected as vice president a man with a detailed plan Romney says is "marvelous," "bold and exciting," "excellent," "much needed," and "consistent with" what he’s put out.
So let’s look at the five basic features of this "marvelous" Ryan plan.
FIRST: It would boost unemployment because it slashes public spending next year and the year after, when the economy is still likely to need a boost, not a fiscal drag. It would be the same austerity trap now throwing Europe into recession. According to the Economic Policy Institute, Ryan’s plan would mean 1.3 million fewer jobs next year than otherwise, and 2.8 million fewer the year after.
SECOND: Ryan would take from lower-income Americans and give to the rich — who already have the biggest share of America’s total income and wealth in almost a century. His plan would raise taxes on families earning between 30 and 40 thousand dollars by almost $500 a year, and slash programs like Medicare, food stamps, and children’s health What would Ryan do with these savings? Reduce taxes on millionaires by an average of over $500,000 a year.
THIRD: Ryan wants to turn Medicare into vouchers that won’t keep up with the rising costs of health care — thereby shifting the burden onto seniors. By contrast, Obama’s Affordable Care Act saves money on Medicare by reducing payments to medical providers like hospitals and drug companies.
FOURTH: He wants to add money to defense while cutting spending on education, infrastructure, and basic research and development. America already spends more on defense than the next five biggest military spenders put together. Our future productivity depends on the public investments Ryan wants to cut.
FIFTH AND Finally, Ryan’s budget doesn’t even reduce the federal budget deficit — not for decades. Remember: He’s adding to military spending, giving huge additional tax cuts to the very rich, and stifling economic growth by cutting spending too early. The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities estimates Ryan’s Roadmap would push public debt to over 175 percent of GDP by 2050.
So there you have it. The Ryan — Ryan-ROMNEY — economic plan.
And the five reasons why it would be a disaster for America.
(Please watch the video — and share.)
ROBERT B. REICH, Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley, was Secretary of Labor in the Clinton administration. Time Magazine named him one of the ten most effective cabinet secretaries of the last century. He has written thirteen books, including the best sellers "Aftershock" and "The Work of Nations." His latest is an e-book, "Beyond Outrage." He is also a founding editor of the American Prospect magazine and chairman of Common Cause.
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