Paul Ryan on the steep climb to reclaim the American Idea

Madam speaker, there is a lot wrong with this bill
We know the problems with its cost. We know it doesnt really reduce the deficit. We know that it increases health care premiums. The CBO has given us all of this information and its clear that what we have is a bill chock full of gimmicks and hidden mandates.

So Im not going to get into all of that again.

But what I will ask is this: why has this decision become so personal to our constituents? Why are so many people swarming the Capitol over this? Why have we received 100,000 calls an hour from all over the country?

It is because health care affects every one of us. And yet, here we are, debating whether the government should have a bigger role in making those personal decisions.

So make no mistake about it. Were not just here to pass a healthcare bill. We are being asked to make a choice about the future path of this country.

The speakers to my left are correct: this is history. Today marks a major turning point in American history. This is really not a debate about prices, coverage, or choosing doctors.

This is ultimately about what kind of country we are going to be in the 21st century.

America is not just a nationality its not just a mass of land from Hawaii to Maine, from Wisconsin to Florida. America is an idea. Its the most pro-human idea ever designed by mankind.

Our founders got it right, when they wrote in the Declaration of Independence that our rights come from nature and nature's God - - not from government.

Should we now subscribe to an ideology where government creates rights, is solely responsible for delivering these artificial rights, and then systematically rations these rights?

Do we believe that the goal of government is to promote equal opportunity for all Americans to make the most of their lives - - or do we now believe that governments role is to equalize the results of peoples lives?

The philosophy advanced on the floor by the Majority today is so paternalistic, and so arrogant. Its condescending. And it tramples upon the principles that have made America so exceptional.

My friends, we are fast approaching a tipping point where more Americans depend on the federal government than on themselves for their livelihoods -- a point where we, the American people, trade in our commitment and our concern for our individual liberties in exchange for government benefits and dependencies.

More to the point, Madam Speaker, we have seen this movie before, and we know how it ends. The European social welfare state promoted by this legislation is not sustainable.

This is not who we are and it is not who we should become.

As we march toward this tipping point of dependency, we are also accelerating toward a debt crisis a debt crisis that is the result of politicians of the past making promises we simply cannot afford to keep. Déjà vu all over again.

It is unconscionable what we are leaving the next generation.

This moment may mark a temporary conclusion of the health care debate - but its place in history has not yet been decided. If this passes, the quest to reclaim the American idea is not over. The fight to reapply our founding principles is not finished, its just a steeper climb. And it is a climb that we will make.

On this issue - - more than any other issue we have ever seen here - - the American people are engaged. From our town hall meetings, to Scott Browns victory in Massachusetts, you have made your voices heard. And some of us are listening to you.

My colleagues, lets bring down this bill - - and bring back the ideas that made this country great!


Congressman Paul Ryan serves the 1st Congressional District of Wisconsin. For more information please visit:
http://www.house.gov/ryan/welcome.htm
http://www.americanroadmap.org
http://www.facebook.com/reppaulryan?ref=nf
http://twitter.com/reppaulryan

Category:

News & Politics

[72tubecat]

I see some Ron Paul similarities in this guy. I don't know much about Paul Ryan, but he sure spoke truth in this video.

[KAYLAMARIE1017]

A rising star in the republican Party

[SW34R3NG3N]

Three industries with the most government involvement: banking/finance, health care, education. What person in his or her right mind really thinks they need more "help" from government? Government interference has the greatest amount of market distortion and inflationary pressure than just about anything else.

[ChuckMBA]

Good Job Paul Ryan... keep up the good work!

[tbwil11]

Ryan for prez when he gets through getting these reforms through...listen to the big govt libs cry ...well a few of them, TheKMBT and Gopkicksbutt and piglatinstupidstar are the same person with multiple YT ids

[DillonDee1]

@CoryEttinger -- Why? He'd bankrupt the country!

The richest 400 Americans obtain almost all of their billions in income from Capital Gains & Dividends.

Bush lowered the tax rates on these to 15% -- meanwhile many in the middle-class pay 30-35%

Under Ryan's plan the tax rate on Cap Gains & Dividends would be reduced to ZERO

So you'd have the richest 400 Americans mostly paying 0 on billions of income

TOTALLY INSANE - AS THE MIDDLE INCOME FOLK PICK UP THE SLACK

[TheKmbt]

The one good thing about Ryan's budget proposal is that it will put a lot of right wingers out of thier jobs and homes. They'll have to move in with the kids who won't have jobs either. Many will die from lack of proper affardable health care. I'm all for that