If Ryan's plan is so good, let's test it in his district

[rurallib]

Start by cutting Medicare and SS to the seniors. Give 'em $12,000 vouchers for Medicare and cut their SS to @75%.
Then stop all work financed by the gummint. Close all federal buildings.
Close schools that are getting any federal aid.

Send the money saved to anyone making over $250,000/year in his district.
Report on how popular he is in 3 months.

[LiberalEsto]

1. And don't forget to publicize Ryan's role

Billboards, ads, little notices tucked in with SS benefit checks -- this cut in your income brought to you by Rep. Ryan, so the rich can get richer.

[Capitalocracy]

4. Yeah, put his name on it

Put a little picture of his face on the check where the last zero used to be.

[xchrom]

2. i like it. nt

[Oceansaway]

3. K&R...n/t

[Scuba]

5. I'll bet it would improve the Democratic turnout in Janesville!!!! n/t

[myrna minx]

6. Since his district has already been horribly marked by the closing of the G M Plant

in Janesville, I can tell you this would go over with a thud. I do have to say though, people adore him there because he seems like "such a nice boy", but this I think, may be a lunge too far.

[KittyWampus]

10. Dear MM. What do you mean specifically "it would go over with a thud"?

Do you mean if implemented, the residents of that district would not be happy?

[myrna minx]

14. I believe so. Paul Ryan has crafted an amazing image for himself locally, but image and reality are

about to clash.

I grew up in Janesville and went to HS with Paul Ryan. The 1988 10 year class reunion was moved to the fall to accommodate his first Congressional run. He was popular and people loved him because he "seems like such a nice boy" with "Wisconsin values" and he talks a great talk. He has a highly visible office on the riverfront in downtown Janesville and is often having listening sessions with people who don't question him because he's great at speaking in generalities - like "sensible and limited government" and "values" etc and to many, he has the air of earnest sincerity about him. Locally, he doesn't demonize liberals, Dems or the working class (Janesville was a huge UAW town until GM was closed down) so people really don't know just how conservative he is - but they're going to discover his true nature rather soon, considering his crazy budget. What I'm saying is that unless you're a political wonk, if you live in Janesville and the area, his local image is of a wholesome young family man who's going to "*finally* bring some fiscal smarts to Washington, reign in spending and create jobs, sensibly." If you saw his 2010 campaign commercials, you would have thought he was Mr roll up your sleeves working class man along with the sweeping violin strings. He has carefully crafted an amazing image for himself to be sold to his constituents.

I've been sounding the clarion call about him for over 10 years - because I knew he was being groomed for higher office since 1999 as the right wing "JFK". This could go either way - his constituants will be willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, but if he's perceived as going too far, people will feel betrayed and there will be a backlash.

Here's an example of one of his ads - see how manipulating this is? A little populism, a little green energy, a little "feel your pain" - he's your "aw shucks" local boy does good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNMi5Nj5qfQ

Here's a great article about just this subject ~

Hometown voters love Wisconsin Rep. Ryan, but they worry about his plan to scale back Medicare
http://www.startribune.com/nation/119535084.html

[msongs]

7. stop all government services to districts with repub congresspersons ASAP nt

[rurallib]

8. I agree. Let theose folks know what they are doing when they vote for

radicals like Ryan.

[KittyWampus]

9. Recommend. Because it's scientific. It's entirely doable. Best idea I've heard floated

in a while. I LOVE THIS IDEA.

[theaocp]

11. Three months?!

I think there'd be a palpable shift in support after about three days. Old people with pitchforks ... mmmm ... smells like ... victory.

[flamingdem]

12. and then sit back and watch granma kick Ryan's rear nt

[bamacrat]

13. One of the best ideals I have heard in a while.

We should do this in everyones district that votes for his plan, for just a year and see if the people don't rise up and demand higher taxes for the rich and cuts in defense spending and an overall return to the budgets of the 90's.

[Cleita]

15. Your post just gave me a little epiphany.

Maybe we should do just that in all districts with Tea Party Republican Representatives. Let's see how their constituents, who voted for them, like the results before the rest of us have to be subjugated to them. I think we had a taste of that in Wisconsin with Governor Walker's dismantling of worker's rights. It woke every body up as to how bad it could get.

:thumbsup:

[rurallib]

16. it will be a "laboratory for democracy" - tea partiers love that idea

let them be the test rats.

[bluestate10]

17. There are going to be cuts. Possibly to SS and Medicare.

The problem is that democrats allow those cuts to impact populations in their states more than republicans allow impact in their districts. Congressional and Senatorial members from red Congressional districts and States represent populations that are heavily dependent on SS and Medicare payments, the populations in blue states are more affluent and less dependent. But when cuts come, blue state populations will bare a proportionally larger burden. What democrats MUST do is push legislation that key benefits to the cumulative amount of federal, SS and Medicare taxes paid by a state's citizens. States that pay less, get proportionally less back from the federal government, states that pay more, get cuts, but do not bare the burden of all cuts. Democrats must call republican's bluff and force blue states republicans into a bind where they must abandon party to have a chance of having their political careers survive. Nancy Pelosi and Elijah Cummings getting up before insensitive republicans talking about how the legislation republicans are about to pass will erase a social contract will not cut it, democrats MUST force the burden of the cuts back into red districts, where those cuts should come from. If Pelosi continue to give republicans an out, expect to see more blue states go pink and states like Wisconsin become redder. If democrats are not going to fight to show red state district voters that they are voting against their best interests sending the fucks that they send to Congress, don't expect republicans to do anything but take advantage of democratic Congressional member's ineptitude.

[Timbuk3]

18. What a great idea!

Not only does it make sense to test Ryan's ideas where they should be most popular (i.e. extremely red districts) but it will start the "savings" sooner. Let's see what happens to the deficit when middle class dollars are funneled to the obscenely wealthy at an even faster rate.

It will also be interesting to get some videos of teabaggers stepping over the bodies of their dead neighbors outside the only medical care anyone will be able to afford, the emergency room.