Paul Ryan has claimed that his bill is the right thing to do from a Catholic perspective. This view has been contradicted by the American Bishops and by a slew of academics at Georgetown University (a Catholic university), who feel that in fact it abandons the poor and needy to their own devices — a view more in line with Ayn Rand than Jesus Christ.Nonpartisan analysis of Ryan’s budget reveals that it will swell our deficit massively, because while he would hack away at social services, he would still increase funding for the Pentagon, even though we are #1 in spending AND we outspend the next five countries put together, AND reduce taxes on the rich so much that increased taxes on the poor and middle class (which are also part of his budget) cannot come close to making it up. (Romney’s taxes would drop to nearly zero, by comparison.)Most rational analyses suggest that we either need to make major cuts across the board to manage within the current revenue, which would have a devastating effect on our economy, our innovation, our education, and our military, or we need to increase revenue. Since we have the lowest taxes on the wealthy in decades, the commonest suggestion is to incrementally raise taxes on the wealthy and close specific loopholes. Ryan would cut taxes on the wealthy and has named no loopholes he would cut.When challenged on his budget and these facts on a talk show, Ryan refused to explain any of it, which has caused a few conservatives to question his real “wonkiness.” He (and Romney) claim that they will make up some of the difference through closing loopholes on taxes for the rich, but they have not named ONE SINGLE LOOPHOLE they would close, though they have been asked many, many times. As someone who makes well into six figures himself, I am very willing to increase my taxes to support this nation and keep us competitive in an increasingly challenging world; that is only patriotism to me.I am highly tolerant of reasoned views with evidence even if I disagree with them; I have voted for Republicans in the past. But until Ryan puts forth some realistic evidence that he can make his budget really work, this is merely fictional — and this budget appears to be the main reason for nominating him and electing him.
Paul Ryan has claimed that his bill is the right thing to do from a Catholic perspective. This view has been contradicted by the American Bishops and by a slew of academics at Georgetown University (a Catholic university), who feel that in fact it abandons the poor and needy to their own devices — a view more in line with Ayn Rand than Jesus Christ.Nonpartisan analysis of Ryan’s budget reveals that it will swell our deficit massively, because while he would hack away at social services, he would still increase funding for the Pentagon, even though we are #1 in spending AND we outspend the next five countries put together, AND reduce taxes on the rich so much that increased taxes on the poor and middle class (which are also part of his budget) cannot come close to making it up. (Romney’s taxes would drop to nearly zero, by comparison.)Most rational analyses suggest that we either need to make major cuts across the board to manage within the current revenue, which would have a devastating effect on our economy, our innovation, our education, and our military, or we need to increase revenue. Since we have the lowest taxes on the wealthy in decades, the commonest suggestion is to incrementally raise taxes on the wealthy and close specific loopholes. Ryan would cut taxes on the wealthy and has named no loopholes he would cut.When challenged on his budget and these facts on a talk show, Ryan refused to explain any of it, which has caused a few conservatives to question his real “wonkiness.” He (and Romney) claim that they will make up some of the difference through closing loopholes on taxes for the rich, but they have not named ONE SINGLE LOOPHOLE they would close, though they have been asked many, many times. As someone who makes well into six figures himself, I am very willing to increase my taxes to support this nation and keep us competitive in an increasingly challenging world; that is only patriotism to me.I am highly tolerant of reasoned views with evidence even if I disagree with them; I have voted for Republicans in the past. But until Ryan puts forth some realistic evidence that he can make his budget really work, this is merely fictional — and this budget appears to be the main reason for nominating him and electing him.