Paul Ryan

So Paul Ryan, representative from Wisconsin, has said he would run for Speaker of the House under is own terms.

But one thing I would like to analyze is Ryan's plan on what he would like to achieve when it comes to Social Welfare programs.  Below is a copy of Ryan's plan that we will analyze:

Paul Ryan's social welfare plan "Expanding Opportunity in America"

I would like you to read pages 1-11 of his plan and do/answer the following.

1.  How many Americans live in poverty today?  ___%   ________million people
2.  This is the _____th anniversary of the War on Poverty
3.  Look at the chart "Climbing off the Bottom Rung" on page 5.  Analyze the chart and tell me what the chart says about upward mobility. 

4.  How do we increase opportunity and upward mobility?  List 5 ways the article talks about.


5.  The plan says success is measured by happiness and therefore is achieved through four critical ingredients.  What are the four critical ingredients?



6.  What does the paper say about each of the following ideas to make federal aid both accountable and effective.-Summarize each in one sentence.

     The Safety Net

     The Earned Income Tax Credit

     Education

     Criminal Justice

     Regressive Regulations

     You can skip Results-Driven Research

7.  Analyze Chapter 1 on page 9 where it talks about Reforming the Safety Net.  Look at the chart and read about the Colorado mother and her salary per hour.  So my question is do you blame the government policy for discouraging work or do you blame the person? 



8.  So when I read pages 9 and 10 I understand that it is a catch-22 system.  It doesn't pay to work but when your on the bottom rung of the ladder but lowering tax rates at the bottom also means a lot of programs for low-income families will get cut to make up the difference.  I'm thinking of reduced meals in school and the fight with the farm bill a couple of years ago.  So what do you think?