How Means Testing Social Security Could Backfire
Means-testing the elderly for entitlements is gaining popularity on the right. But when it comes to Social Security, it could reward bad economic choices. Yuval Levin's provocative essay on going "Beyond the Welfare State" offers the following prescription for a conservative re-thinking of …Ryan's Budget Gives Obama What He Wants
The Republican plan to cut taxes and slash government health care spending gives the president prime opportunities for political victory. “Whatever you do, don’t serve to his backhand.” “Don’t be nervous. I have the new Ryan serve. It’s bold!” “Trust me on this. Don’t serve to his backhand.” …Why This Dem Loved Obama's Speech
While he could have offered more specifics, Obama's Wednesday afternoon speech on deficit reduction gave the Democratic base what they wanted to hear. Once again, Barack Obama has given a hell of speech when he had to. While it can be argued that he could have offered more specifics, the …Michele Bachmann: Bad Constitutionalist
Michele Bachmann’s recent statements on the budget fight show she still has a lot to learn about the U.S. Constitution. Michele Bachmann’s recent statements on the budget fight show she still has a lot to learn about the U.S. Constitution. In her criticism of the compromises being made, she …Obama: I'll Cut $4 Trillion
In the President's speech on how he would reduce the deficit, he spent most of his time attacking the GOP budget. Full speech transcript here . 2:43pm: This didn't feel like a policy speech, even though it was sprinkled with policy ideas. The main focus and the meat of the speech came from …Less Welfare Doesn't Equal Less Government
The new kind of welfare state proposed by Yuval Levin, with programs aimed only at the poor, will create their own set of new problems. This is part four. Click here to read the entire series . Interestingly, it was neoconservative thinkers like Irving Kristol, James Q. Wilson, Daniel …How Do Americans Rate Their Healthcare?
Obamacare's backers are trumpeting a study suggesting Americans are unsatisfied with health care quality. But a close look, makes it harder to draw this conclusion. News reports are trumpeting a new poll which seems to su g gest that Americans are unhappy with the quality of their healthcare. …A Deficit-Cutting Fight Both Parties Can Win
The best deficit reduction plan may be one every party has issues with. Here's my roadmap to reaching a bipartisan deal. As we wait for President Obama to reveal his proposal for deficit reduction on Wednesday afternoon, I ask readers to consider my debt-cutting proposal. The Ken Silber Plan …Natural Gas: Not as Green as We Thought?
A new study suggests gas is worse for the climate than coal. It's a challenge for the industry and a chance to get ahead of the curve on environmental issues. A forthcoming paper from Cornell University researchers suggests that gas is more of a bad actor in climate change than coal. The gas …The Welfare State Goes Bust
The changes contemplated by Yuval Levin and Paul Ryan won’t be the end of the welfare state. They will however amplify differences between those who receive aid and those who don’t. This is part three. Click here to read the entire series . I doubt that Yuval Levin would disagree …Chris Matthews' Mediscare Won't Work
Chris Matthews claims Ryan's budget will “kill half the people who watch this show.” But why freak out grandma when the burden of reform is falling on the young? On Monday’s Hardball with Chris Matthews , the host made a claim that the Paul Ryan bill would “kill half the people who watch this …What Worries Americans: Big Govt or the Economy?
Yuval Levin sees Americans worried our social-democratic model is going bankrupt. But isn’t our anxiety really due to the worst economic downturn since WWII? This is part two. Click here to read the entire series . Yuval Levin founds his case against the welfare state on this descriptio…In the Next Budget Fight: Hope for a Tie
D.C.’s been obsessed with weighing the winners and losers from Friday’s budget deal. But in the larger spending fight to come there’s more at stake than political points. Washington’s been obsessed with weighing the winners and losers from last Friday’s budget deal. But in the larger spending …Ryan Budget: Compassionate Conservatism Goes Kaput
Yuval Levin endorses the Ryan idea of radical reductions in government social insurance. Is this plan the right next step for conservatism? This is part one. Click here to read the entire series . Don't miss Yuval Levin's piece in the current National Affairs , " Beyond the Welfare …The GOP's Romney Problem
If the economy remains depressed into 2012, Romney could well defeat Obama. However, he would also be a very dangerous candidate for the GOP to lose with. So here's my Romney problem, triggered by yesterday's formal announcement (hem, exploration). I think Mitt Romney would make a fine …Swipe Fee Limits Won't Help Consumers
Frum's right: interest groups are twisting the debate over card swipe fees. But it's not banks seeking special help, it's the retailers who want favorable price controls. David Frum is wrong about “swipe” or “interchange” fees. Quite simply, the merchants that take payment cards, not the …The Budget Deal's Biggest Winner
In Friday’s budget deal, Boehner amassed enough credibility with his own caucus that he can now confront the larger fiscal challenges ahead. Conventional wisdom saw House Speaker John Boehner as all tan and no substance. As usual, conventional wisdom got it wrong. In Friday’s budget deal, …A GOP Game Plan for the Next Budget Fight
Republicans were wise to secure a deal and avert a shutdown. But will they remember what they learned in the coming budget battle? Friday night, the GOP reached a budget deal with Senate Majority Leader Reid and the White House. I’m pleasantly surprised Republicans actually took my advice “to …2012 GOP Favorites: Too Wonky to Win?
Jonathan Chait thinks the GOP has a "Dukakis problem": none of the candidates being drafted to run looks very presidential. Will wonkiness hurt the GOP in 2012? In Sunday's New York Times Magazine , Jonathan Chait argues that the GOP has a "Dukakis problem": none of the candidates being …