Ayn Rand devotee and what passes for a right-wing "policy wonk," Rep. Paul "Lyin'" Ryan (Galt-WI) has a shiny new plan to combat poverty in America, if by "policy wonk" you mean "con man" and if by "combat poverty" you mean stick it to the poor. Everyone's been all over it since Ryan released the plan on Thursday. Here are a few sample takes:
Laura Clawson decodes Ryan's plan:
Ryan wants to consolidate as many as 11 anti-poverty programs into one block of funding that states could do with as they wished, provided they instituted work requirements, limited the duration of benefits, and provided what Ryan refers to as accountability. Ryan insists that this isn't about cutting benefits but about using them differently, but here's a clue to what he's envisioning: elderly and disabled people, as "two especially vulnerable groups" which "need specific kinds of care," would get a host of special protections. In other words, the people Ryan classifies as deserving poor would be protected from what he plans to do do all the other poor people. (our emphasis)Charles P. Pierce takes a long look back at the historical roots of the plan and Ryan's track record, then concludes:
One must never forget when discussing anything Paul Ryan says about economics that he fundamentally does not believe that the care of the poor and the sick is a legitimate function of government. This belief is theological. It is the basis for his entire political career. And it has not changed. This is a philosophy he developed while going to high school and college on my dime and yours through Social Security survivor benefits, and you're welcome again, dickhead. Anybody who thinks Paul Ryan has "changed" in any substantive way should not be allowed out in public without a minder. In this recent scam, the tells are scattered everywhere, and they are obvious, and you don't even have to know that the more "compassionate" of his proposals don't have fk all chance of getting through the monkeyhouse Congress in which he is a leader. He knows that, too. (our emphasis)Paul Krugman piles on more reasons not to trust what Ryan is selling (unlike certain credulous bloggers who should know better =cough= Ezra Klein =cough=):
In case you want the longer answer, however, there are multiple reasons to distrust Ryan. It’s not just that this plan is completely inconsistent with his budget proposals, and that he has given no indication of how he would resolve this inconsistency. It’s not just that the methods he proposes, especially block-granting, have in the past simply been back-door ways to slash aid to the poor — which is what his budgets involve, after all. And it’s not just that everything he has said about the causes of and cures for poverty is all wrong.You have to read each of the posts to get the full flavor of Ryan's mendacity (as well as links to other critiques). The Beltway kool kids don't seem to be over their crush on this con man, so expect this stinking mess to be mulled over by people who, as Charles Pierce says, "should not be allowed out in public without a minder."
(Image: Would you buy an anti-poverty plan from this dudebro'?)
