#2
Paul Ryan
Paul Ryan holds a bachelor’s degree from Miami University of Ohio. He listens to John Tesh, drinks Miller Lite, and leads a Congressional exercise group. The man is arguably as exciting as an extra point in football.
But Ryan has a plan to save America—and many folks are listening.
His strategy, a combination of privatization and spending freezes, holds true to many core principles of conservatism. He aims to privatize Social Security, asking younger workers to shuttle their accounts to a non-government-run system; freeze discretionary spending but leave the military budget untouched; and, most controversially, eradicate the popular Medicare program and replace it with a voucher system.
His policy manifesto, “A Roadmap for America’s Future,” is nearly 100 pages long. Conservatives have touted it as a logical way to salvage America’s economy, crediting Ryan for his number-crunching ability and his willingness to take real action.
“Could you only imagine Paul Ryan being chairman of the Budget Committee?” Republican Congressman Kevin McCarthy told Fox News. “Not only would we have the power, but Paul would outsmart the president each and every time.”
Ryan’s detractors, however, include Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman, who called “Roadmap” a “fraud that makes no useful contribution to the debate over America’s fiscal future.” Ryan's plan would cut benefits for the middle class, Krugman says, while nearly halving the taxes on the richest 1 percent of the population.
Ryan admits his ideas aren’t perfect. But he insists he is one of the few politicians dealing directly with reducing the deficit, which he has called “the hardest problem we have.”
Ryan was elected to the House in 1998 at the age of 28, a conservative running in a Democratic district. His record shows a man resolute in his beliefs: he has consistently supported the National Right to Life Committee, No Child Left Behind, and tighter border security. Even so, Ryan is open to new ideas.
“What I particularly like about Paul Ryan is that he seems to respect people he disagrees with,” said Stephen Hess, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. “That’s a rare attribute in today’s political world.”
“Roadmap” would be his most influential project to date—if he can find the support. “I just hope enough people join me so that we can actually do something about it,” he told Time.
If the upcoming elections change the balance of power in the House, Ryan will be in line for several key positions, including chairman of the Budget Committee. Though some Republicans would like to see Ryan run for president in 2012, he's ruled it out. "I am not going to run for president," he told ABC News earlier this year. "I'm just not going to do it. My head's not that big, and my kids are too small."
Man-to-Man with Paul Ryan
Can one be both a good man and a good (i.e. effective) politician?
Of course it’s possible to be both a good man and an effective representative, and I’d like to think that most Members of Congress are both. If given the opportunity to serve, I believe elected leaders have a moral obligation to principled representation. It is a sacred trust in our republic that must be honored.
If you were making a list of politicians you respect for both their integrity and their dedication to the ideas they believe in, what man—from a party other than your own—would you be sure to put on the list? And why?
I’ve been fortunate to work with incredible individuals on both sides of the aisle, and it’s hard to keep the list limited. Democrat Representative John Spratt is the first name that comes to mind. John and I have our policy disagreements as leaders of the House Budget Committee, but our debates are rooted in mutual respect and good faith. He leads with the courage of his convictions and unwavering integrity.
You are respected partially for treating people you disagree with respect. In your view, is that one of the marks of a good man? And why don’t more of us—in politics and life—practice it?
Respect and a willingness to listen to both sides of an issue are important in every field, but especially so in politics. In order to solve the problems facing our nation, we need to be able to have an adult conversation on these critical issues. Fierce debate is a hallmark of our democracy, but I’ve always believed we can—and we must—conduct our disagreements without being disagreeable.
We believe that a good man owns up to his mistakes. Tell us about a time when you feel short of “goodness,” however you define it.
My dad used to always say, ‘You’re either part of the solution or you’re part of the problem.’ He was usually telling me this when I was being part of the problem. It’s a lesson that has guided me throughout my life and my time in Congress. If you make a mistake, it’s important to recognize it, learn from it, and move forward.
The Top-10 Good Men Politicians
10) Mitch Daniels
8 ) Mark Strama
6) Jeff Flake
5) Al Franken
3) Cory Booker
2) Paul Ryan
1) Carl Levin
About the Editors
Vocalyze
I think the list would make much more sense if you explained why you included these people on the list – each individually, not as a whole – then one cold see the reasoning in it. I would like to read your response, Senator Sanders. Thank-you.
senator bernie sanders is without question the best person in our government today. i wouldn’t feel that i’m overestimating at all in saying that 99% of those in congress are corporate controlled stooges, and bernie is most certainly not. i am also surprised to not see senator russ feingold, the only senator to not vote for the patriot act – in doing so being alone in standing up for our civil liberties – in 2002.
Carl Paladino is a “Good Man”
3 times this screen has changed and lost my words——I agree w/Willl 100% read The Powell Memo
Folks, turn that anger to solving the problem. Too many of our politicians should go home.
How can we limit their terms of service to 2, but not more than 3 terms in office? This needs to be done for the good of this country.
We support their behavior by letting them stay in office. They are not entitled to a government seat for life.
Ryan is about where he belongs though #1 would be a better ranking. I see a bunch of tantrum tossing towards Ryan for his stance on gay marriage. And most of it is phony outrage because the same people give Carl Levin a pass regarding his wishy washy stance on repealing DADT. more selective outrage from the professional leftists.
Interesting that the two single politicians who prohibit the initiation of force and fraud in their politics are absent from the list. From the time of Confucius, all societies have followed this “golden rule”, (outside of government), until their governments based on force and fraud have destroyed the society, usually by murdering millions of innocent civilians in conquest or democide. Jeff Flake, one of the better people on your list, supported protectionist legislation that put non-cartel dairy farmers out of business. All the other politicians are even worse than he is. Russ Feingold, for instance, pushed through “McCain-Feingold”, legislation that has eroded the right of election candidates to speak freely, levying fines against those who do not comply with arcane financial reporting rules, eliminating competition for the incumbent politicians. Everywhere you look in politics, force and fraud rule the day.
Without recognizing that taxation is theft, this list is laughable. All politicians attempt to do good with others’ money. Without this recognition, the aims of all politicians are corrupt, because they depend on coercion.
Ron and Rand Paul are the only two federal politicians in Washington who should be on this list. Mitch Daniels might be good, although I don’t know the details of his record.
Tell me this, though, how many people here support the prohibitionism that has incarcerated 1.2 million innocent Americans? Jim Webb, Gary Johnson, Ron Paul, Rand Paul, Ed Coleman, and maybe one or two others are the only ones who seem to care about the Bill of Rights enough to oppose the insane, immense evil of prohibition.
Your list is simply not credible, and it never will be, without recognition that politics in America has grossly overstepped the Bill of Rights, and the principle of “consent of the governed” found in our Declaration of Independence. These two documents once held the ability of government coercion in check. No more. The American State’s ability to ignore the golden rule is now unlimited, the enlightenment values out country was founded on are gone.
How you missed Ron Paul, the most consistent, principled and honest politician of his era, or arguably of any era is beyond me.
Think what you will of his politics, but his candor, his respectful dialogue and his refusal to bend to the powers that be in the name of liberty are second to none.
This list is baffling in its inconsistency.
Part of being a good man is showing self-awareness, and the fortitude to live according to one’s convictions – regardless of personal difficulty. Paul Ryan fails this test.
Ryan rose to his current position thanks to the welfare state; specifically Social Security, upon which he attended college.
He advocates for the others an Ayn Rand-inspired level of self-sufficiency, the dismantling of this social safety net.
IOTW: “I got mine – f*ck you”.
This list is now painfully dated, with the revelation about Ryan’s taste in wine and drinking buddies.
I actually got excited about his website, until I saw Paul Ryan on this list. This is a joke, isn’t it? Paul Ryan? this guy doesn’t have one ounce of integrity in his whole body. Paul Ryan is, excuse my language, the biggest corporate prostitute that has ever existed. He is a complete sold out. He gets his marching orders from the Koch brothers, and those orders are all about destroying the fabric of this great nation: the middle class. Guess what, no middle class = No Democracy. How can you put someone on this list who champions tyranny? You have lost all credibility. Bernie Sanders should definitely be at the top of the list. He is the only one out there who fights for true freedom, liberty and justice for all, not just for the greedy 1%.
Also Mitch Daniel? are you high or something? but Paul Ryan beats them all in being the king of evil.
It has been cited that Mitch Daniels has saved Indiana from financial ruin. The question is, “How did he do it”? To meet his new budget, he fired thousands of state employees. This was not a “cutting of the fat”. A large percentage of the newly unemployed state workers are the ones who have dedicated 30, even 40 years to their jobs. These same people are finding it impossible to find new jobs because of their age. Even though it is illegal to not hire someone because of their age, the fact is no one is hiring 50 and 60 year old people in his economy, especially when their work experience is limited to state government. It is a tragic event for these folks. Many have had to cash in retirement plans just to keep their homes. My wife is one such case. She had over 30 years es an employee of the BMV.
I voted for Daniels twice because I am a lifelong conservative. Now, I have a very cynical view of all politicians. His policies have virtually destroyed our lives and taken a toll on our health. The stress is unbearable. I guess it is a negligible price to pay for Mr. Daniels career advancement.
For Mitch Daniels, the old saying holds true, “The ends justify the means”!
“We looked for men with integrity and intellectual honesty.
We looked for men who respect their political opponents, treat their constituents like the adults they are, and promote openness and transparency in government.”
Given the first two criteria, neither hoosier merits a spot on this list. Take it from a hoosier. You need only look at the amount that Indiana owes for it’s underfunded unemployment trust fund. It will start incurring penalties at the end of the current Daniel’s administration. Lugar has finally sold his vote to the party of NO!
I could not agree more. This man is so corporate in his views he should say he is CEO of Wisconsin.