Budget Buster, Part 2

GOP Rep. Paul Ryan has put his money where his mouth is and has come up with an alternative budget for 2011.  Steve M. argues that this is a huge opportunity for the Dems if they bring Ryan's budget up for a debate and a floor vote.

Well, I see that Republicans have given Democrats an opportunity to being rectifying this imbalance -- an opportunity they almost certainly won't take advantage of. GOP congressman Paul Ryan, widely regarded (across party lines) as the Republicans' Mr. Wizard on budget matters, has published a budget proposal. And the Congressional Budget Office says it wipes out long-term debt (PDF)

Ah, but, as Ezra Klein notes, not withouta fair amount of pain:

To move us to surpluses, Ryan's budget proposes reforms that are nothing short of violent. Medicare is privatized. Seniors get a voucher to buy private insurance, and the voucher's growth is far slower than the expected growth of health-care costs. Medicaid is also privatized. The employer tax exclusion is fully eliminated, replaced by a tax credit that grows more slowly than medical costs. And beyond health care, Social Security moves to a system of private accounts

... The proposal would shift risk from the federal government to seniors themselves. The money seniors would get to buy their own policies would grow more slowly than their health-care costs, and more slowly than their expected Medicare benefits, which means that they'd need to either cut back on how comprehensive their insurance is or how much health-care they purchase. Exacerbating the situation -- and this is important -- Medicare currently pays providers less and works more efficiently than private insurers, so seniors trying to purchase a plan equivalent to Medicare would pay more for it on the private market.

I want this budget to be up for consideration in Congress -- this year. If Republicans won't put their money where their mouth is by sponsoring this as a bill, I think a number of Democrats should do it for them -- making it abundantly clear that it's the Republican budget and they don't actually support it. I think, by whatever parliamentary means necessary, this bill should be cleared for committee and floor votes.

Do it while debating the Democratic budget. Call it an exercise in true democracy -- the majority party is opening up full debate on the minority's proposals. That's what Republicans say the American people want, right? Despite the results of the 2008 elections, Republicans say the public doesn't want Democratic control in Washington -- right? So here it is -- sharing of power. We're debating your budget, Republicans.

Your Medicare-eviscerating, Social Security-privatizing budget.

Agreed.  Let's put Republicans on the record as for or against "I Got Mine, Screw You, The Budget Proposal."  Let's debate it.  Let the Republican get up in front of America's seniors and say "We're kicking you our of Medicare and giving you a voucher.  Go buy your own insurance.  P.S. It's going to be worse than what you have now."  Do that.

Then point out that's the Republican plan for everything.  "Here's a voucher, local government.  Go buy your police force and your water works.  Here's a voucher, state government.  Go buy your education system and social services and your bridges.  We're not helping you run them anymore.  Privatize them."

Disaster Capitalism.  Break a government system, then demand it be scrapped and privatized, where only cost matters, not service.  And that frees up more federal money for wars (also privatized).  Won't that be great?

So yes.  Let's have America see what the Republican solution to the problem is, punching seniors right in the checkbook as the largest generation of Americans ever get ready to retire.