Okay voters, time to get to work
Published in the Longmont Times-Call, 8/20/12
Over the past few years, it's been easy to hate politics. We Americans have a big pile of real problems on our hands, from the bad economy to the unsustainable federal debt to immigration policies that leave no one satisfied.
And what have our nation's politicians dished up for us to consider during this critically important time? How about images of granny in a wheelchair being pushed off a cliff and the occasional "birther" debate? Nice touch guys. No wonder it's so easy for independent thinkers to tune out American political debate at a time when we all need to pay attention so, on Election Day, we can wisely decide upon the direction of America's future.
Well, things have changed. When Mitt Romney chose to hitch his presidential wagon to Paul Ryan, things got serious, and there is no turning back. For those of you who don't know much about Paul Ryan, he is a 42 year-old congressman from Wisconsin who is knowledgeable and articulate.
But what makes Paul Ryan unique are two significant things. First, in 2010, he was selected by Republicans to put forward real and substantive federal budget proposals. Over the past two years, as chairman of the House Budget Committee, Paul Ryan has presented detailed proposals that pull no punches and, in so doing, he has clearly defined the Republican position on the role of government in America. While there is debate within the Republican Party about the details of Ryan's proposals, the fact that he was selected by Gov. Romney proves beyond doubt that the picture of American government painted by Paul Ryan is the one Republicans will pursue if elected.
The second thing that distinguishes Paul Ryan from the rest of the pack is that he has a knack for explaining complex federal government issues in a way that people can understand. A great example of this can be seen on YouTube at http://tinyurl.com/9lgbvwh, where Ryan discusses with the president the (at the time) pending health care legislation that has since become Obamacare. In six minutes, he presents the complex health care budgeting issues in a way that seems sensible, clear and, we now know, accurate. Given the complexity of the issues before us today, someone who can help us understand the consequences of our choices will be of enormous value in the upcoming election.
The interesting thing is that both parties seem to be pleased by Ryan's selection and for the same reason: both Republicans and Democrats now see that this election will be decided on the basis of their governing philosophies instead of sound bites and advertising budgets. By selecting Ryan, Republicans have made a clear statement about just what their governing philosophies are, and they have put a man at the forefront who can explain it to voters.
The Democrats are already eager to respond with their competing vision of American government and contrast it to their opponent's. Maybe now we can leave granny at the top of the cliff, look at Obama's Hawaiian birth certificate, and move on to the meat of the issues before us.
However, moving beyond the inane political comedy of the recent past to the coming intelligent political discourse means that we voters have some work ahead of us. In the next three months, we will hear two very different views of how America should move forward. The consequences of the choices we make are as profound as the differences between the two parties' ideas that we will now come to know and understand. Good. We have 236 years of proof that, when politicians talk to us honestly, American voters do a pretty good job at pointing America in the right direction.
Ron Laughery is a retired business owner and rural Boulder County resident. He can be reached at [email protected].
Over the past few years, it's been easy to hate politics. We Americans have a big pile of real problems on our hands, from the bad economy to the unsustainable federal debt to immigration policies that leave no one satisfied.
And what have our nation's politicians dished up for us to consider during this critically important time? How about images of granny in a wheelchair being pushed off a cliff and the occasional "birther" debate? Nice touch guys. No wonder it's so easy for independent thinkers to tune out American political debate at a time when we all need to pay attention so, on Election Day, we can wisely decide upon the direction of America's future.
Well, things have changed. When Mitt Romney chose to hitch his presidential wagon to Paul Ryan, things got serious, and there is no turning back. For those of you who don't know much about Paul Ryan, he is a 42 year-old congressman from Wisconsin who is knowledgeable and articulate.
But what makes Paul Ryan unique are two significant things. First, in 2010, he was selected by Republicans to put forward real and substantive federal budget proposals. Over the past two years, as chairman of the House Budget Committee, Paul Ryan has presented detailed proposals that pull no punches and, in so doing, he has clearly defined the Republican position on the role of government in America. While there is debate within the Republican Party about the details of Ryan's proposals, the fact that he was selected by Gov. Romney proves beyond doubt that the picture of American government painted by Paul Ryan is the one Republicans will pursue if elected.
The second thing that distinguishes Paul Ryan from the rest of the pack is that he has a knack for explaining complex federal government issues in a way that people can understand. A great example of this can be seen on YouTube at http://tinyurl.com/9lgbvwh, where Ryan discusses with the president the (at the time) pending health care legislation that has since become Obamacare. In six minutes, he presents the complex health care budgeting issues in a way that seems sensible, clear and, we now know, accurate. Given the complexity of the issues before us today, someone who can help us understand the consequences of our choices will be of enormous value in the upcoming election.
The interesting thing is that both parties seem to be pleased by Ryan's selection and for the same reason: both Republicans and Democrats now see that this election will be decided on the basis of their governing philosophies instead of sound bites and advertising budgets. By selecting Ryan, Republicans have made a clear statement about just what their governing philosophies are, and they have put a man at the forefront who can explain it to voters.
The Democrats are already eager to respond with their competing vision of American government and contrast it to their opponent's. Maybe now we can leave granny at the top of the cliff, look at Obama's Hawaiian birth certificate, and move on to the meat of the issues before us.
However, moving beyond the inane political comedy of the recent past to the coming intelligent political discourse means that we voters have some work ahead of us. In the next three months, we will hear two very different views of how America should move forward. The consequences of the choices we make are as profound as the differences between the two parties' ideas that we will now come to know and understand. Good. We have 236 years of proof that, when politicians talk to us honestly, American voters do a pretty good job at pointing America in the right direction.
Ron Laughery is a retired business owner and rural Boulder County resident. He can be reached at [email protected].