Paul Ryan says so

Paul Ryan the Republican budget guru in the house released his deficit cutting budget plan last week. He is to be credited for putting his thoughts out and suffering the consequences. His plan of course will never become law but it does start the conversation.

What frustrates Democrats and liberals the most is the President Obama continues to follow and not lead. We hear this week that he will be releasing his own budget and deficit plan but we also suspect that while not agreeing with Ryan and the conservatives that his plan will counter what has been proposed allowing it to be a template and thus setting the discussion points.

As a parent with a child that loves to debate I know that if a discussion is opened, even if I have no intent on giving into any proposals by him, we are in negotiation. What we also know is that once negotiation is opened one never knows where it will end. Again we wish Obama had more passion for the process and could use that to present his case and go over the obstructionist Congress. He has shown no propensity and no desire to do so.

Ryan makes some bold proposals. Give these Republicans credit they have no scruples about trying to make a pig shine. As a moderate Democrat I can see how the wording of his plan to " save " Medicare and Medicaid sound reasonable. Inspection shows however this is a plan to end these programs as we know them.

Ryans proposal would stop payments as currently exist in Medicare by giving Seniors a voucher to use to spend on their healthcare by buying insurance. This would mean deductibles, caps and limits. This would also put for profit insurance companies in the mix. When the administration cost of Medicare are 3 percent versus over 20 percent for the insurance companies there is no way this plan is anything but a sham to increase profits for insurance companies. Ryan should be ashamed.

Why is that these Republicans have such an issue with these programs that help millions. Don't they have grandparents. Surely not all of them were born rich.

The Mediciad proposal is if anything worse, making it a block grant that would allow the states to determine how to spend it. With Republican governors this would mean diverting funds from programs. With Democrats it also could mean changes. In short it would mean that each state would be able to make politics the way to determine medical issues.

Worse yet and shocking to the extreme is that Ryan proposes lowering the highest tax rate from 35 percent to 25 percent. The bracket continues to fall. Tax rates for the wealthy are the lowest they have been in my lifetime and clearly the divide between rich and poor is not enough for these Republicans.

What is most frustrating to me is that it seems self evident that a populist approach is what we need but instead Obama seems intent on bringing five percent of the independents to his side rather than motivating the ten to fifteen percent of Democrats that he is losing. The electoral map is not friendly to Obama across the midwest, deciding to run as the " I'm not as bad as the other guy" candidate may not be enough to energize the base the way he needs.

Paul Ryan's plan is an attempt to wreck the New Deal, Fair Deal and any other deals made to help the working people.

Mr. President. Lead.