Entitlements to claim 50 cents of every dollar

Congressman Paul Ryan

WASHINGTON – Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., is worried about the country's financial future because of the coming costs for entitlements and the fact that Obamacare's costs will kick in on top.

According to Ryan, more than 18 cents of every dollar already is being taken by the federal government to pay for entitlements.

The future, however, will see that figure skyrocket.

"I've got three children who are 5, 7 and 8 years old," said Ryan. "I'm 40 years old, and by the time my kids reach that age, the federal government will be taking more than 40 cents out of every dollar to pay for these entitlements."

And that doesn't even include the future costs of Obamacare, President Obama's effort to nationalize health-care decision-making.

"We've only begun to study those numbers." Ryan said.

Ryan views the coming bills as a direct result of the new "progressive" attitude in Washington, which also is reflected in the idea that government should be involved in a wide range of personal issues, from health-care records to eating habits and insurance purchases.

"Where do our rights come from? Do they come from government or from God? That question has put our country on a collision course of ideas," he said.

"Our rights come from God and nature not government," said Ryan.

He explained the government's role is to protect people's rights, such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Progressives, Ryan warned, are moving away from that principle because they believe the government now determines rights.

Ryan, who made the comments at the Eagle Forum Collegians Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., yesterday, was joined in expressing concerns about the direction of the nation by U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn.

"I had a baby in 1987. My son Harrison is 23, his generation could pay as much as 25 percent of their paycheck for social security, and another 25 percent for Medicare, and that does not even include health care and income tax," Bachmann said.

Despite the gaudy numbers, both Bachmann and Ryan remained optimistic about the future. Bachmann said that the power grab of the last 18 months has led to an unusual coalition of Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians and tea partiers that now opposes the direction Obama has chosen to move the nation.

"I think it's entirely possible that Nancy Pelosi will relinquish her gavel, and Obama will be a one-term president," she said of the coming 2010 midterm elections.

Ryan challenged the more than 250 students attending the summit to carry on the battle.

"The iPod generation must finish the fight. When we have so much liberty and the freedom to customize our lives, why would we want to elect a government that would limit it?" he asked.

Concerns about health-care spending have spread quickly to the point that a measure has been introduced to repeal Obamacare even before the next election.

The plan has been put forth by U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, who argues the American people did not want Obamacare and consistently have called for their representatives to show that they stand with them by repealing the legislation.

His discharge petition provides an avenue for repeal that even House Speaker Nancy Pelosi could not halt if it gets enough House support, he notes.

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