What Jesus Would Say to Paul Ryan

What are the ethical underpinnings of society? Are there moral principles which provide a guide for the objectives of public policy? How do the foundational standards of the Judeo-Christian world view, the starting point for any discussion of right and wrong in Western Civilization, guide our steps in meeting societal needs? These are big philosophical questions, and any political debate is conditioned by the moral perspectives of those involved. Since the object of politics is to accomplish good for the polity, what is done depends on what one considers good, and that depends on where one goes to find moral guidance.

Nicholas Kristof has written a column on the health care debate in the form of a parable. It expresses his idea of what Jesus would say to Paul Ryan. It expresses my own views as well. I invite you to read it for yourself and see what you think. Read it on this link.

  

Joe Biden Comes Through in Debate

Joe Biden definitely got the job done in a spirited performance against Paul Ryan in their debate last night, winning the debate50% to 31% among undecided voters, according to CBS News.  In doing so, Biden did much to blunt GOP momentum and set things up for the crucial Obama-Romney rematch coming next Tuesday.  The Vice President was extremely good on foreign policy topics and highly effective on domestic policy.  For his part, Congressman Ryan was able to get his message out and avoid any big mistakes, though the Republican representative was short on specifics and outdebated on several issues.  You can watch the debate here. 

Biden was at his best on foreign policy.  He deftly handled Ryan's criticisms on Afghanistan, Iran, Syria and defense spending, turning the issues back against Ryan's contentions.  Ryan's best criticism was on Libya, the first item brought up by on-the-ball moderator Martha Raddatz.  Biden's answer that intelligence was slow to come in may be true but lacked strength.  After that Biden asserted mastery over his younger rival.  Ryan was for American troops spearheading major new operations in eastern Afghanistan.  Biden countered that after ten years it's time for the Afghans to take the lead.  Ryan seemed to want to leave U.S. troops there indefinitely, based on conditions.  Biden assured a war-weary American public that we will leave the country on schedule at the end of 2014.  Ryan finally threw in the towel and agreed his ticket would pull out by then, too.  Ryan attacked again on Iran, accusing the Administration of weakness.  Biden said the "toughest sanctions in the history of sanctions" were wrecking the Iranian economy and that in the final analysis, in a clear threat of force if necessary, we would not allow Iran to build a nuclear bomb.  He asked Ryan if he wanted war and what he would do differently.  Ryan had no answer.  Ryan again attacked on Syria, saying the Administration was wasting time going through the U.N., should be arming the opposition to dictator Bashir Assad, and hinted about military action.  Biden countered that we are not only using the U.N., that weapons are reaching the opposition and that we are working closely with Turkey, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.  The implication that America is making sure weapons are getting in through these other nations rather took the wind out of Ryan's sails.  Asked again whether he wanted another American land war in the Middle East, Ryan beat a hasty retreat.

In domestic affairs, Biden brought up Mitt Romney's 47 percent comment and sharply defended against the spurious Romney critique that Obamacare takes money from Medicare and against Romney-Ryan plans to voucherize Medicare.  He tellingly looked right into the camera and asked the American people whether they trusted the party--the Democrats--that created and has fought for Medicare and Social Security since their inception to protect them, or would they rather turn that job over to the other party--the GOP--who has never liked these programs and has always tried to cut them.  "Use your common sense," he advised the American people.  Biden's defense of choice was also effective and should resonate with a lot of women.  After Ryan delivered his ticket's position of a ban on abortion except in cases of rape, incest or to protect the life of the mother, Biden said he accepted his Catholic Church's teachings on the subject but felt he would not impose that view on others.  He also held Ryan's feet to the fire on the Romney-Ryan tax plan, pointing out that the numbers don't add up unless they take away the home mortgage, health, and charitable deductions, or higher taxes on the middle class, and demanded specifics.  When Ryan provided none, the moderator finally pointed that out and cut him off, moving on to another topic.

The bottom line of this debate is that Biden delivered the strong game the Democrats needed to stop the impetus Republicans gained after last week's presidential debate, which many perceived as a lackluster showing by President Obama.  It should encourage the Democratic base and reset the small undecided middle for presidential round two next Tuesday.  Tune in then for what I expect to be the crucial showdown of the campaign.

The Ryan Pick

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney's selection of Paul Ryan as his running mate clearly marks the direction his campaign will take.  Ryan, the House budget chair, is a true believer in cutting taxes for the wealthy and paying for them by slashing support for students, the elderly and the poor.  The Ryan pick will thus energize GOP Tea Party supporters and elate Wall Street but will alienate just about everyone else.

Representative Ryan (R-Wisconsin) is smart, well-spoken and looks like the guy next door.  What he stands for, however, is the same supply-side ideology that has served few others than the top 1%.  His famous proposed budget  envisions reducing the top tax rate from 35% to 25% and the capital gains rate charged on income like stocks to zero.  People like Romney would pay virtually no tax at all under Ryan's plan.

In order to still try to cut expenses in the face of such large revenue reductions, Ryan would put a cap on Medicare and turn it into a voucher program in which seniors would have to go out and try to find insurance for themselves.  Since the Obama health plan with its requirements that people be eligible for insurance regardless of pre-existing conditions would be repealed under a Romney-Ryan administration, you can imagine what luck the typical 80-year-old would have in trying to buy insurance on the open market.  According to the congressional Budget office, the plan would cost seniors an additional $6500 a year--all so that millionaires and billionaires could enjoy greater tax breaks. 

There would be other cuts too, to Medicaid, education, student loans, food stamps, infrastructure and much else.  He asks for many sacrifices from those who can least afford it in order to shower benefits on those who already have it made.  The upshot of Ryan's addition to the ticket is that it plays right into the Obama campaign's characterization of Romney as out of touch with the average American and concerned only with the welfare of the rich.  The President has already begun making these points and highlighting Ryan's other budget ideas on the trail in Iowa today.

Representative Steve Israel, (D-New York) chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign, is suddenly very optimistic about picking up House seats in November.  He said today that Democratic candidates should concentrate on three issues this fall: "Medicare, Medicare and Medicare."

It is difficult to see how Ryan's draconian outlook will help the GOP ticket with undecided and swing voters.  The dynamics of the election are starting to look a lot like 1996, when Bill Clinton won re-election over another Republican team featuring a lead candidate with a lot of shortcomings and a number two known as an idea man whose ideas upon examination proved to be highly unpopular.  In those days it was Bob Dole and Jack Kemp.  Nowadays the team of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, running against another Democratic incumbent, face many of the same problems.  It is likely Gov. Romney has hurt his chances more than helped them with this choice.