First Principles

When I was running for the Assembly, I would often say that the good news is that no matter who is elected for any government post, Government will eventually get much, much smaller.  After all its current size and growth is unsustainable, and things that can’t go on forever, don’t.

But the choice we have is HOW it gets smaller.  Do we keep our heads in the sand and pretend we can just keep running up the credit card until it collapses around us (leading to ruin), or do we take things down in a controlled descent (leading to economic recovery)?

“The moment is here. The country can be saved. It is not too late to get America back on the right track. … It is not too late to save the American idea.”

Paul Ryan has been for years saying the same thing, except he’s been saying it better.  And he’s been putting his money where his mouth is, actually proposing (and getting passed!) budgets that start moving things in the right direction.  It takes seriousness and competence to do this because it requires a politician to set aside the short term political gain that comes from “look what I can give you right now!” like some infomercial salesman, and to instead successfully sell self sacrifice and delayed gratification.

I seem to remember a Senator from Illinois running a presidential campaign with rhetoric that sounded all for that kind of thing!

Ryan has the right ideas, and the right skills.  He is disciplined, focused, and competent.  He is a serious man for serious times.  This was an excellent pick by a man who understands Presidents have to surround themselves with strong, principled people.

I will even forgive that he’s a Green Bay Packers fan.  This choice is THAT good.

~~~

Of course, the attacks have already begun, long before this pick, even.  “Paul Ryan will kill old people!” they scream.  Democrats have already made commercials with a Ryan doppleganger literally throwing an old woman off of a cliff.  How sad, dishonest, and pathetic.  (Not to mention desperate.)

As Iowahawk once said, “You know what will end Medicaid as we know it?  Medicade as we know it.”  (Not to mention Medicare, Social Security, public employee retirement funds, etc., etc., etc…)  Our current government spending trajectory can only lead to disaster if we don’t change directions.  And the longer we wait, the more painful things will be.

I think any sane human being would prefer to, you know, change directions, but unfortunately our addictions to unsustainable entitlements we think Other People can pay for indefinitely are powerful.  Like all addictions, this one causes all sorts of self-destructive behavior, which is why Barack Obama will still get tens of millions of votes this November.

Fortunately, if there is any person who can successfully make the case for sobriety and forward thinking, it’s Paul Ryan.

This is a great choice.  Now we just have to keep in mind…

(Via Instapundit, which has a great roundup of reaction from all over.)