Paul Ryan's budget: Will Americans buy it?
Washington is buzzing about the Wisconsin Republican's drastic plan to save the economy. But how will voters react?

On Tuesday, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) unveiled his "Path to Prosperity" budget, which would slash $6.2 trillion in spending over the next decade — as opposed to the $1.1 trillion proposed by President Obama — and overhaul bedrock programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Even critics admit that Ryan's plan is bolder than anything else Republicans have yet proposed. Of course, that makes it all the more risky, at least politically. Though polls show that Americans are increasingly concerned about the national debt, they are still hesitant to cut the programs they know and love. Will they embrace Ryan's plan? (Watch Paul Ryan outline his proposal.)
Voters don't want to give up entitlements: "You have to hand it to Rep. Paul Ryan," says Susan Milligan at U.S. News & World Report. "He clearly doesn’t read the polls, or doesn’t care what they say." Those surveys consistently show that a majority of Americans do not want to tinker with Medicare in a meaningful way. But Ryan knows that "refusing to at least tweak those programs, simply because polls show that Americans are nervous about it, is not leadership."
"Paul Ryan ignores polls, shows leadership in budget debates"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
It won't be easy, but Ryan is quite skilled: The bookish budget guru has a reputation as a policy-obsessed lawmaker, says former George Washington University professor Sara Binder, as quoted by The Washington Post. And "to the extent that he’s able to sort of keep his policy-wonk reputation front and center," he has a better shot than most at convincing Americans that massive spending cuts are a good idea. But even then, he faces a tough task. "Voters like short-term benefits, with the costs put off to the future," and Ryan's plan runs the opposite way.
"Can House finance chief Paul Ryan sell his budget to Americans?"
The timing is right: Ryan's plan "amounts to a giant gamble by House Republicans that the public is willing to accept major changes to some of the government's most popular programs," says Jonathan Weisman at The Wall Street Journal. But the fact that the debate over debt is heating up at the same time as the 2012 presidential race may help the GOP's cause, since the eventual nominee will probably embrace Ryan's plan and expose it to average Americans.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Do smartphone bans in schools work?
The Explainer Trials in UK, New Zealand, France and the US found prohibition may be only part of the solution
-
Doom: The Dark Ages – an 'exhilarating' prequel
The Week Recommends Legendary shooter adds new combat options from timed parries to melee attacks and a 'particularly satisfying' shield charge
-
7 US cities to explore on a microtrip
The Week Recommends Not enough vacation days? No problem.
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy