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Politics

Paul Ryan in 2011 Clip: ’70% of Americans Want the American Dream’ & ’30% Want the Welfare State’

Oct. 3, 2012 8:55am Billy Hallowell

Paul Ryan: 70% of Americans Want American Dream, 30% Want Welfare State

Vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan (Photo: AP)

Just when the furor over Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s comments about the so-called 47-percent is simmering, vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan’s speech at a 2011 dinner is raising some liberal eyebrows.

During his remarks last November at The American Spectator’s 2011 Robert L. Bartley Gala Dinner, Ryan said that 30 percent of Americans want a welfare state. The congressman also warned that the U.S. could be on its way to becoming a nation of “takers, not makers.”

“Before too long, we could become a society where the net majority of Americans are takers, not makers,” Ryan told the audience, later adding, ”Seventy percent of Americans want the American dream. They believe in the American idea. Only 30 percent want the welfare state.”

It is this first point that Ryan said would pose as a moral tipping point for America. The politician admitted that the nation is already at a fiscal tipping point, but if government continues to run amok, the entitlement issue could become a massive ethical conundrum.

While The Huffington Post notes that it’s difficult to tell if Ryan said “the welfare state” or “their welfare state” in the aforementioned statement, the comment was stated in regards to government programs. Of course, the spin here is that Ryan is speaking out negatively about the poor and those who are dependent upon government assistance.

“Both [Romney and Ryan] believe that many of their fellow citizens are dependent on government and have no motivation to improve their lives — but they disagree over the precise number,” HuffPo writes.

However, the outlet goes on to distinguish Ryan’s speech from Romney’s, writing:

One difference between the two, at least, is that Ryan said he believes that half the people who get more from the government than they pay in would prefer not to be in that situation.

“Today, 70 percent of Americans get more benefits from the federal government in dollar value than they pay back in taxes,” Ryan said. “So you could argue that we’re already past that [moral] tipping point. The good news is survey after survey, poll after poll, still shows that we are a center-right 70-30 country. Seventy percent of Americans want the American dream. They believe in the American idea. Only 30 percent want the welfare state. What that tells us is at least half of those people who are currently in that category are there not of their wish or their will.”

He said that many of those individuals in need (those who get more benefits from the federal government than they pay back) are looking to better themselves and to aim for a more fruitful future. Ryan also explained that many of these individuals are “down on their luck, out of their job, back at school” and that they “want their kids to be better off.”

Watch these portions of Ryan’s speech, below:

Here’s the entire address:

(H/T: Huffington Post)

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Comments (56)

bikerdogred1
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:53am
The democrats are forcing us to feed,cloth and give medical to alot of people who want to do nothing for it.Its like they inherit it from their parents,I think it should be work or starve.Way out of hand now.

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- Mike Benton
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 10:02am
  And when the cut backs come the result will be riots. Sad.
  
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- Detroit paperboy
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 12:18pm
  Make them show up every morning at 8 am and dig ditches to nowhere , and fill them back in and dig them again…..”….” the welfare rolls will drop 75% over night !!!!!!!! These FOODSTAMPERS don’t want to work, they are the ” Professional Poor “
  
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- doomytram
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 2:33pm
  Food: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (some schools)) Food Stamps Snaps( Twinkies, Ding Dongs, Poptarts, Snickers bars, Pizza, Cake, Donuts)
  Housing: Section 8, Electric Bill Subsidy, Gas Bill Subsidy, Free Wifi (Can’t handle dial up and buffering) Free Home phone ( the have’s pay it out of there universal fee) Free Cell Phone
  Entertainment: Free money for Putt Putt, Movies, and Video Games
  Medical Free Healthcare ( the have’s pay for all of your healthcare) their bill goes up and your bill is Ozero.
  Disability: hurt finger, depressed, hurt toe = know the right doctor and you get lifetime disability
  What am I forgetting? No we are getting more and more dependent on Gov’t
  
  Report this comment
marybethelizabeth
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:45am
No one wants a welfare state.

There are some people, though, that don’t like corporate thieves and swindlers. And politicians that enable them.

And don’t like Keys and fascists and the Bircher paranoia that equates disagreement with being a Communist/Marxist.

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- The_Jerk
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:51am
  Mary,”No one wants a welfare state.”
  
  That is simply a false statement. There are many who want a welfare state, from administrators of that state to recipients. Stop thinking with your heart. Use the brain.
  
  Report this comment
- Gonzo
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:51am
  Then why do you support the man that wants one? Duh.
  
  Report this comment
rockymtngal
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:37am
Ryan is right…although I think his percentage is low. There has been a 50% increase in food stamp distribution under Obama. Obama has suggested people to go sign up for disability if you can’t find a job. For those who are tuely disabled, getting SSDI was a nightmare. You usually have to exhaust every option for the possibility for a “normal” life. Do you think someone who was earning a good salary wants to have their income cut by 2/3? Do you think someone who lost their job wants a sliver of what they used to make by signing up for unemployment? I agree with Ryan. Most people want to be employed & have the opportunity to work and want to be successful. Unfortunately we have a president who is very selective when it comes to talking about who he wants to get jobs. Remember, he said “the private sector is doing fine.” No they aren’t. What percentage of the private sector is unemployed, vs union & gov’t employees? Keep up the good work Ryan!

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jimbo_from_suwanee
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:37am
Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury. I would like to enter into evidence exhibit that I would like to mark as OBMA-FON-LDE-01: http://youtu.be/tpAOwJvTOio

I rest my case.

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TheMajority
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:36am
Remember when we were called “The Land of Opportunity” less than 40 years ago, and your Uncle would bend down to your 8 year old face and ask you,—”What do you want to be when you grow up?”

Nobody said I want to be a ward of the state.

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- The_Jerk
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:48am
  That uncle created the welfare state. The “Greatest Generation” created that welfare state. They fought national socialism, then brought it home. They fought international socialism, then brought it home.
  
  We should end it, but we don’t. Our kids will remember our faces too. And, by then, it will be far worse.
  
  The destruction of our nation is not in the Middle East. It is here. It is the Federal Reserve. It is Goldman Sachs. It is their marriage. And yes, it is predominately Jewish. Ignore my words as you destroy your children’s future. When that adult child looks at your wrinkled, aged, face, he will ask, “How could you have been so ignorant?”
  
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DetritusScreener
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:33am
I am not hearing any controversy in what Ryan said. I think his statements sound very legitimate. Is there supposed to be some kind of problem here?

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drphil69
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:32am
Its “raising some liberal eyebrows” simply because IT IS TRUE.

LIBS CANNOT HANDLE THE TRUTH.

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- floridareader
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:42am
  The Census Bureau puts out the data that confirms Mitt Romney’s statement:
  Let aside Medicare, Social Security and unemployment benefit recipients. Only add the numbers for Medicaid, rent aid and food stamps recipients and you have 46.7% that will vote for Obama, no matter what.
  26.4% of U.S. households had someone enrolled in Medicaid (the health-care program for low-income Americans)
  16.2% of households had at least one member receiving Social Security.
  15.8% lived in a household receiving food stamps
  14.9% had a member with Medicare benefits
  4.5% of households received assistance with their rent
  1.7% had a member receiving unemployment benefits.
  
  Report this comment
taxpro4u03
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:30am
Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that ‘Public Policy’ {corp govt imposed mandates despite what the People want – 2 cases in point DNC: 2/3 ‘majority’ backlash to put ‘God’ back in the platform, and the SCOTUS decision greater than HALF of the State Atty Gen’s filed suit against} isn’t American policy. Prior to 1933, American FAMILIES were ‘tight.’ After 1970, we began to see State influence/infiltration designed to DISCOURAGE strong family values – no-fault divorce, massive ‘public housing’ growth – intensified ‘entitlement programs’ stemming out of both Civil Rights and Welfare legislation – under the Johnson administration. ‘Socialism’ put Native Americans ‘on reservations’ to ‘get them out of the way of manifest destiny.’ Pine Ridge reservation; How’s that going up there, not to mention the Navajo nation in NM (near Gallup, NM west of Albuquerque Glenn’s visited a time or two with some food semi’s) — Agenda 21 MIGHT just be all about putting the rest of us on ‘reservations’ via ‘public policy…’ ;-) “jobs” = “buffalo…” Think about it…… Romney’s not a ‘politician.’ or a ‘lawyer.’ He’s a technician. Technicians fix stuff. History tells us what works (principles and values – what they did in the past to make the American Dream ‘equally accessible’ as opposed to equal RESULTS) – Throwing fiat $ at a ‘problem’ never solves it. Never has, never will. A society that fails to PRODUCE anything of value is doomed to fail

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13th Imam
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:30am
A Democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until voter discover that they can vote themselves largess from the public treasury.
Lord Thomas Maccauley TAKERS

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ExO
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:28am
Nothing wrong with the truth….

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- Gonzo
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 10:12am
  Unless you’re Biden. I’m sure he got a royal @ss chewing for telling the truth yesterday.
  
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jettson
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:26am
Nothing surprises me anymore. When I hear some of the things hes pushing on us. No telling what is going to happen to America. The real people want him out. I hope thats enough. There’s a reason they call us the right.

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JQCitizen
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:25am
The Truth is only a “Controversy” to DISHONEST people.

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- The_Jerk
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:30am
  End welfare and make a better society.
  
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mary blaisdell
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:23am
My brother doesn’t believe any more in the American dream. Yes, he is one of Ryan’s horrible 30% who are “takers, not makers.”

My 52 year-old brother — who was born deaf and has advanced MS with paralyzed legs and some MS-related dementia — lives in a Medicaid nursing home and receives a total of $25 per month spending money (his only income) which is all that remains after his SSI pays the nursing home. With that income, he is expected to buy any clothing, shoes, toiletries or anything else he needs.

He votes by absentee ballot, but hopes his state does not pass a voter ID as without access to a wheelchair van he’d have no way to get to the DMV and even if he could get there, would need to save his entire month’s income to pay for the $25 ID fee.

My brother does not believe he’ll ever be able to get a good job, buy a house, provide for his family, have a nice car, have any luxuries like a vacation or pay taxes. He used to be proud to have a job, make his own way, and contribute to the country.

Is he very very sad that he’s a taker and not a maker? More than you’ll ever know.

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- ExO
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:59am
  I honestly Do Not Believe anyone is talking about someone like your brother.
  Honestly in my Opinion Someone with your Brother’s condition should not have to worry about shoe’s and ID ect I have no issue with my tax dollar helping.
  But when looking at someone like one of my relative’s who is on full disability for headaches that is part of the 30% being discussed here. He has no issue riding a motorcycle in the heat, going golfing or just sitting in the sun by the pool and if you pay him under the table in cash then he might get up before noon. But the moment there any talk of a full time job he is 100% disabled that is the 30% that need to be re educated or at least get a kick in the a$$. No one is entitled if medical issues or some kind of catastrophe happens then as humans we should help one another.
  
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- Gonzo
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 10:34am
  So you can’t give your handicapped brother a ride to get a photo I.D.? You can’t help him financially at all either? Great sister you are! I call B.S. on your whole sob story.
  
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- title_of_liberty
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 12:04pm
  I don’t have a problem with your brother, or others like him. I have a problem with the people who can take care of themselves but won’t. Also, if your brother is suffering is so great, why don’t you help him? I’m sure you can spare a few dollars here and there. I don’t have a problem with people like your brother, and I feel privileged to help people who need my help. But I do have a problem with people like you who want the government to take care of them when you’re unwilling to lift a finger yourself. Everyone can help those less fortunate. I don’t care how poor you are, I doubt you are incapable of helping, or you would be telling a story about yourself. Sorry if I’m jumping to conclusions and you do help your brother , but as family he is partially your responsibility.
  
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progressiveslayer
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:14am
I sure hope you’re correct Ryan and we should work on lowering that 30% to zero because people who want a welfare state are bad for America and are the furthest from our founding fathers.

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- Gonzo
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:52am
  Romney’s 47% is closer to the truth.
  
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woodyee
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:13am
30%? Sounds about right. One of my fears of a second Gaybama term cementing the dependency on gobblement of another 10million or so…

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TheMajority
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:12am
The numbers may be even worse than that.

All the more reason to say “We need to put “Opportunity” nack in “The Land of Opportunity!”—and stop letting government and communist nations steal our Capitalism from us.

If the Citizens in any part of the world actually own their own Capitalism—you watch them flourish.

dictatorships, kings and queens don’t want the citizenry creating their own wealth. That is the human nature of it.

Making Americans dependent and complacent—is the goal of collectivism. Free market citizen run Capitalism, providing exponentional opportunity, is the opposite.

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drattastic
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:10am
Ryan is being far to kind. I’d say the 47% is a whole lot closer to the truth.

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- libertybella58
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:13am
  I agree with you.
  
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Landon410
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:10am
the problem…… is that you just can’t go around telling the truth…. thats just ridiculous!

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HKS
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:05am
The left doesn’t use mirrors or tolerate the truth much.

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N37BU6
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:02am
Well, Obama said that most white people are racist… he used the word “typical” which indicates a sizable majority, and nobody on the left cared in the slightest.

Ryan is literally saying that most people don’t want to be on welfare. How is that worse?

The liberal MSM is a joke… let’s watch this one make the rounds next.

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- title_of_liberty
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 12:10pm
  Exactly. The left can get away with ridiculous claims while anything we say is racist and bigoted.
  
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DEMOCRATS.ARE.EVIL
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:02am
30%…..? I do believe Ryan was being kind.

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biohazard23
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:02am
And what he said is incorrect because…..? Did it hurt a liberal’s wittle feewings? Then he must be telling the truth.

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- taxpro4u03
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:50am
  Perhaps ‘some’ Lib’s idea of their ‘collective’ “pursuit of happiness” isn’t the quality education, decent job with LEGITIMATE opportunity for advancement (based on MERIT, not ‘union seniority’), Home, 2 cars and annual vacation on the Gulf of Mexico, and comfy retirement ‘earned’ via the ‘fruits of their reimbursed labor.’ Maybe it’s ‘free stuff,’ kickin’ it with the homies (generic term inclusive of ALL STRIPES) texting/tweeting gaming and rabble rousing. The bankers, lawyers, bureaucrats, politicians, Corp CRONY capitalists are ‘gaming’ the system they designed, same as the Lib’s. ‘Happiness’ is a relative term.. The ‘principle’ is the right to PURSUE ‘happiness.’ Lotsa ‘unhappy’ people have more power and money than they can possibly spend in a lifetime. I wonder if ‘Spooky Dude’ is “happy…,” yet. {snark off} Most of the happiest people I know don’t own a THING, yet they work hard, are dignified, treat their fellows with kindness etc…
  
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Maxim Crux
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:01am
That is a good estimate

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flaf
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:01am
That actually sounds about right. I don’t see where the punch line is? Maybe the left expects that to annoy the left.

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N37BU6
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 8:57am
Sounds legit to me.

Problem?

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- ashestoashes
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:13am
  Yes there is..when 53% is on welfare..they will vote the 47% to take care of them. yet there is still a deeper problem..what about all the illegals allowed into this country and given amnesty..Do you think they will vote to support the welfare state…or do you think that they will vote themselves to be supported.? Also..how do you think all of those dogs and cats and dead people will vote.. and car trunk votes will vote? Oh..and how do you think that vote counting in Spain will turn out..Not to worry..the bankers have picked and financed both candidates..they will probably go with the one who is the executive order king..the one who just issued an executive order in March 13603 which states that in case of a national emergency..they may enter your home..remove your stores of water..food.medications and supplements and all modes of transportation.. Cheers..
  
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- N37BU6
  Posted on October 3, 2012 at 9:27am
  I’m saying Ryan seems legit to me, and that I don’t see a problem.
  
  Nice little rant, though.
  
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