
Paul Ryan's response to Barack Obama's speech this evening was the true State of the Union Address. In contrast to the president's lengthy list of policy proposals, Representative Ryan actually discussed the State of the Union. And the state that our union is in is dire:
"No economy can sustain such high levels of debt and taxation. The next generation will inherit a stagnant economy and a diminished country. Frankly, it's one of my greatest concerns as a parent - and I know many of you feel the same way."
"Health care spending is driving the explosive growth of our debt. And the President's law is accelerating our country toward bankruptcy. Our debt is out of control. What was a fiscal challenge is now a fiscal crisis."
"Our nation is approaching a tipping point."
"We need to chart a new course. Speaking candidly, as one citizen to another: We still have time... but not much time. If we continue down our current path, we know what our future will be. Just take a look at what's happening to Greece, Ireland, the United Kingdom and other nations in Europe. They didn't act soon enough; and now their governments have been forced to impose painful austerity measures: large benefit cuts to seniors and huge tax increases on everybody. Their day of reckoning has arrived. Ours is around the corner. That is why we must act now."
Paul Ryan is right. We must act now -- to halt and then reverse course on Barack Obama's road to ruin. Would that Paul Ryan were president!
Michael Zak is a popular speaker to Republican organizations around the country. Back to Basics for the Republican Party is his acclaimed history of the GOP, cited by Clarence Thomas in a Supreme Court decision. He is also the author of the 2005 Republican Freedom Calendar. His Grand Old Partisan website celebrates more than fifteen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. See www.grandoldpartisan.com for more information.