Why the Dems Should Take Ryan Seriously
E.J. Dionne, one of the smartest and (justifiably) most respected commentators of our time, has labeled Rep. Paul Ryan’s 2012 federal budget plan “outrageous”. To his credit, in his column, Dionne also offers a thoughtful and compelling critique of the Wisconsin Republican’s proposal for a long-term approach to addressing our nation’s fiscal woes. However, as much as I might disagree with many of Rep. Ryan’s suggestions, to label it “outrageous” is a bit much.
Left-leaning Democrats and the interests allied with them will be strongly opposed to the Ryan plan, as key elements of it violate many of their most cherished economic principles and social values. But let’s face it: Paul Ryan is, after all, a conservative and we should not expect him to protect or promote a liberal agenda any more than we would expect Nancy Pelosi to advocate a conservative one.
My problem with outrage, however, is that it makes it much more difficult to move toward a civil and ultimately productive policy debate. It is an emotion that further divides, and that works against the search for common ground where legislative solutions to critical problems can be found.
As did the Erskine Bowles-Alan Simpson Presidential task force and the independent group headed by veteran Democratic budget official Alice Rivlin and former Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM) before him, Congressman Ryan has put forward a possible framework for getting America’s fiscal house in order.
Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) showed vision and courage by signing on to the Bowles-Simpson report. Currently, Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) is leading an effort to come up with a responsible---and therefore politically risky---set of tax and spending proposals that will address the long-term budget crisis in a way that has a chance of gaining bi-partisan support in Congress.
For years, it has been obvious to anyone paying the slightest attention that we are overdue for a thorough and vigorous debate over the role, function, size and cost of government---and how we pay for it--- in America. It is also true, that as part of that debate, we will have to tackle entitlement and tax reform, as well as defense spending. To suggest otherwise is shear demagoguery.
Unfortunately, so far at least, the President and his team are letting others frame the public debate, and that is both unwise and (I hate to say this) irresponsible.
Frankly, while not supportive of his proposal overall, I applaud Rep. Ryan for what he’s done. Democrats would do well to remember that Mr. Ryan is a serious guy and a serious legislator; his ideas, therefore, deserve to be taken seriously. Podium-pounding outrage is not the best way to do that, it seems to me.
As a citizen and as a Democrat, I look forward to being engaged in the debate. I just wish the leaders of my party on Capitol Hill and in the White House would give me something more than simplistic and poll-tested talking points that tell me what’s wrong with ideas coming from the other side. Believe it or not, I think I can figure that out on my own.
