Walk it out, walk it back

After reviewing the Paul Ryan plan, my initial criticisms still stand, but I have had time to reflect on some of the positive aspects of the Paul Ryan budget, namely that it is a real attempt to curb spending, which is more than can be said for all the Tea Party bunk.

While Ryan clearly doesn't understand the importance of short term spending as a means of economic recovery or realize that trickle down economic theory is a failed formula for growth, he does offer some real solutions for deficit reduction that Democrats should pay attention to and consider.

For one thing, Ryan understands that the real drivers behind the deficit are entitlement programs (though he goes on to cut discretionary spending too much). The country would be better off if Democrats were willing to make sacrifices on entitlement programs such as raising the eligibility age for both Medicare and Social Security. In fairness, President Obama is willing to address the issues, whereas Republicans refuse to sniff at higher taxes for the wealthy. Nevertheless, the Ryan budget is a good starting point for negotiations on a budget.

Furthermore, Ryan knows that the tax code is an astronomical abomination of policy. No one really understands it, but there are so many loopholes, that it makes Swiss Cheese look solid. Revamping and simplifying the tax code is a must for fiscal reform. Of course, Ryan hasn't specified which loopholes he would close, and he has ruled out closing loopholes for the wealthy (figures), but addressing the tax code is important, and again, I think the Ryan budget may be a good starting point for negotiations.

There are a lot of reasons to be disappointed with Paul Ryan's budget, but it is a better starting point than anything his Republican colleagues have offered (primarily because the ones making the most noise are the clueless Tea Party sort who actually have no understanding of policy). I believe Ryan does understand the budget and the deficit, and more importantly I believe that he is the sort of Republican who will negotiate in good faith on the issues of deficit reduction through spending cuts and increased revenues. If I'm correct, perhaps our politicians will actually get something done. If I'm wrong, then the good parts of the Ryan budget are doomed to the scrap heap, and we'll be back to listening to the Tea Party caucus harp about issues of which they have no understanding.