We all know that our nation is in serious fiscal trouble, with already unseemly deficits ballooning to outright frightening levels under the current administration. I think we all have an inherent sense for the dangers this level of debt poses to America, its future and the future of the free world that depends on America's leadership.
Any serious conversation about deficit cutting must start with so-called 'entitlement programs,' primarily Social Security and Medicare. This is one thing both liberals and conservatives can agree on -- just ask the liberal Brookings Institute and conservative Heritage Foundation. Where they differ is on how to tackle the problem. Personally, I'm a big fan on the plan proposed by Wisconsin Representative Paul Ryan: what he calls the "Roadmap for America's Future." Rep. Ryan's plan has been a bit of lightning-rod because of its bold approach (go to http://www.roadmap.republicans.budget.house.gov/ for details). But I think the plan is both fair and doable. Most importantly, it will put our entitlement spending back on a sustainable path-- so says the Congressional Budget Office, who's job is to review the fiscal impact of proposed legislation. I'm not naive enough to think everyone will jump on the Roadmap bandwagon, but I think it's an excellent place to start the conversation.
What do you think? What do you like/dislike about Ryan's plan? Do you think it's doable?
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