Path to Prosperity

The Democrats and Obama are in full denial. They refuse to see the massive, soaring debt and refuse to acknowledge that something must be done, and quickly!

While the Democrats wail about the 'damage' that cutting spending will do to those on Social Security (it won't affect anyone over 55!), what they fail to understand is the far greater damage that would be caused by a massive failure of the entire system!

We are on the edge. We must either act now or suffer the sure and certain consequences of an economic collapse.

Excellent rant. Washington is playing politics with our lives and it is maddening. Voted up and useful and awesome too.

It doesn't surprise me in the least that the Dems are behaving in this childish manner. It seems to be their political SOP, especially during and since the time that Bush Jr. was in office.

Voted up and it is looking to me too that this is going to be a potential turning point. I heard that a majority of women voters want big government to take care of them. So, I'm hoping Ryan will explain too how this is the best way to ensure the big federal 'care' programs programs (like Medicare) will be kept viable in some form, and not end up collapsing.

This is along the same vein of my most recent hub. Last week in the local lib rag, there was an editorial from a lib who insisted that there is NO financial crisis at all. I guess she would have no problem with America becoming the newest province of China!

The problem is in the system and the democrats and republicans just take advantage of it.

The system works against the people, and it doesn't really matter which political party is in control.

The system has been getting stronger and stronger decade after decade. It really doesn't matter who wins the elections in 2012, the system won't be changed so the results will be dismal as they are now.

Neither party supports the ever shrinking middle class, but both parties tap it like it was a beer keg during a college party.

my opinion//

Cmerrit, you pretty much explained it in this article. The country is in serious trouble but is going to take more than just this Congress and the Obama administration to bring this spending under control. It took several decades for this country to get in this financial situation and it going to take many more presidents and rounds of Congress to undo this. It will not happen overnight. It going to take some time to fix it. Voted up.

I agree 1000%. I just wish that they would stop calling Social Security what they are calling it. Like millions of others I paid into it and now I'm being called names for drawing my Social Security. They don't call it SS, but an entitlement, which it is. I'm entitled to MY money. I was recently called a freeloader for drawing Social Security, (I'm 73). Call it what they will You are absolutely correct and I rant right along with you everyday.

CMerritt

Thanks for the reply, and I do agree with you on the TEA party but probably for a different reason. I look at them as a catalyst to spur the democrats and the republicans to rethink their goals to make the people their primary goal.

Thanks

Great rant....hopefully the threat of closing down the government will not make the Republicans blink and cave on their ideas....unfortunately that has happened before. voted up

CMerritt,

Rant on!

Hoping with you that the Dems efforts to slam it backfire. I'm still concerned that those who are out for themselves only, and not the country, will not give up.

I just read another Hub where Ryan was accused of proposing "a pathway to hell." The past two years of excessive spending must be applauded by that author.

We are in dire financial straits. Ryan hasn't gone near far enough as of yet. But they were shocked enough by his most recent proposal. Stay tuned. There is pain associated with withdrawal from our tax dollars.

The Frog

I really like Paul Ryan. And I agree, a gov't shut down may be exactly what we need. Voted up and awesome!

We need term limits. Those immature, lying dogs in the house and Senate need to go. Thank you for rant, I feel better now.

Chris, if this is a rant, I applaud your ability in keeping it civil and sticking to fact. It is a perfect example to why term limits would be a great horizon to see the sunset of folks every election with new faces and ideas coming to the table. I used to regret seeing "Opinion Duck" arrive, but with this hub and others I have found I either have grown to understand him or he has changed his approach as I see some sensible comments from him at the table of discourse. Great hub, I totally relate and writing the members of state and federal congress is a weekly chore that switches from federal to state each week. I think every concerned American should write them on subjects at hand.

This budget is a need to voice to them soon! thanks for allowing my view, dust

Thank you for this illuminating article. The levels of fraud and waste in federal spending are astronomical. We need to return spending to local communities, counties, and state governments where it is not as easy for billions to disappear.

I can hardly believe the citizens of this country who cry out for more and more entitlements. These weak kneed people would accept totalitarianism, I am afraid, as long as nobody had more than them. Disgusting.

When George Bush was president the Democrats were so upset at the amount of money he was spending. When Obama got into office and spent Billion's in a matter of day's the democrats praised him. A double standard maybe? I am not a math whiz by any mean's but I always figured if you are in a hole you don't get out by digging the hole deeper.

Extremely well stated and on point. At least Ryan has a plan and of course the liberal left will attempt to demonize him long before the specifics can see the light of day. Fear tactics will abound as they did when GW proposed some investment opportunity for future Social Security on a voluntary basis...the demonization begins. The right must stand strong or soon we will have no place to stand. WB

CMerrit, I like Ryan's plan, though I'm somewhat puzzled by his wanting to at the same time raise the debt ceiling. In my view, the best path beyond what he is proposing, is to get the country's economy as a whole on the right path...that is, we need to get Americans back to work. If we do that, we can start generating revenues again, AND so long as what we produce are GOOD jobs, we can reduce the need for social programs which are bogging everything down in our government.

I grew up dirt poor and know as well as anyone what it's like to be hungry and even without a home to call your own. I also know firsthand that money given to the poor doesn't always go to what it's intended for. The welfare system is much abused and needs more monitoring. If someone wants to call me heartless and suggest that I support "robbing the poor" to "give to the rich" then I'd like to tell them to walk a mile in my shoes and then tell me I'm wrong.

Too many people feel entitled to and then waste the things they haven't worked for. Don't even get me started on Social Security and Disability....And yes, I do realize there are those who are just down on their luck due to no fault of their own, and I'm all for helping them get on their feet. In fact, I've written a lot of stuff aimed at helping those who've been hit hard in this economy. But what happened to accountability? What happened to working hard for what you want out of life, and then reaping the benefits?

Anyway, I think you're right. Our system as it stands is broken. We need to stop throwing away our future generation's money and start fixing things. Those who have been bankrupt can tell you, you don't fix financial problems by spending more than what you have and then borrowing more money only to keep doing the same thing.

I do not agree, except for the letting steam out! :) VOTED UP though!