Paul Ryan's entire life is predicated on working for the government, government spending, or accepting government benefits. Starting four generations ago with his great grandfather who built his fortune on government-funded construction projects, most notably the federal Interstate Highway system (used today by all businesses to help 'build their businesses').
His great-grandfather, Patrick William Ryan (1858–1917), founded the Ryan Incorporated Central construction business in 1884.
Ryan Incorporated Central ... started in Janesville, Wisconsin with a team of mules building railroad embankment in Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. As it grew, it added road work and mining in the early 1900's. By the 1940's the Company had become a full-service grading contractor serving both private industrial and public transportation customers, including some of the original work at what would become O'Hare Airport.
This including extensive experience in power and industrial site-work, state-of-the-art municipal and industrial landfill construction and capping and full service golf course construction. The Company's project size ranges in dollar value from $10,000 to $50,000,000.
His grandfather was a US Attorney.
Ryan's grandfather was appointed U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin by President Calvin Coolidge.[16]
He attended a public high school in Janesville, WI
Joseph A. Craig High School. At a campaign appearance today he bragged about being the product of the public education system and drew cheers from the audience.
His father's death (at age 16)] provided Ryan with Social Security benefits until his 18th birthday, which he saved to pay for his education at Miami University of Ohio.
Ryan majored in economics and political science at Miami University, in Oxford, Ohio. From the school's website:
Miami University is one of the oldest public institutions in the country. It was chartered in 1809 and opened its doors to students in 1824.
Ryan spent a 'Washington Semester' at The American University.
American University (AU or American) is a private liberal arts and research university in Washington, D.C., United States, affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University," which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893.
Ryan interned on Capitol Hill while still in college.
During his junior year at Miami University, Ryan worked as an intern in the D.C. offices of Senator Bob Kasten of Wisconsin, a job he landed with Hart's recommendation. While a student, Ryan also did volunteer work for the congressional campaign of John Boehner.
Ryan was awarded a diploma with a double major in economics and political science, a major especially suited for work in government. Upon graduation, Ryan went to work on Capitol Hill. Soon after, he was elected to Congress at the age of 28 and has been there since, spending his entire adult life working directly or indirectly for the government.
Betty Ryan reportedly urged her son to accept a congressional position as a staff economist attached to Kasten's office, which he did after graduating in 1992.
A few months after Kasten was defeated by Democrat Russ Feingold in the 1992 election, Ryan became a speechwriter for Empower America (now FreedomWorks), a conservative advocacy group founded by Jack Kemp, Jeane Kirkpatrick, and William Bennett.[Ryan later worked as a speechwriter for Kemp, the Republican vice presidential candidate in the 1996 United States presidential election. Kemp became Ryan's mentor, and Ryan cites him as a "huge influence." Ryan later worked for U.S. Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas before returned to Wisconsin in 1997.
With internships and speechwriting on his resume, and important Washington connections made, Ryan started his career in politics.
Ryan was first elected to the House in 1998, when two-term incumbent Mark Neumann retired from his seat in order to make a bid (unsuccessful) for the U.S. Senate. Ryan won the Republican primary over 29-year-old pianist Michael J. Logan of Twin Lakes and the general election against Democratic opponent Lydia Spottswood.[35] He became the second-youngest member of the House.
Ryan successfully defended his seat against Democratic challenger Jeffrey C. Thomas in 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006.[36] In 2002, Ryan had also faced Libertarian candidate George Meyers. Ryan defeated Democratic nominee Marge Krupp in the 2008 general election in his district.
There is little, in Paul Ryan's life that hasn't happened directly or indirectly as a result of reliance on the government.
And now he wants to radically reform government to become a sliver of its current self.
Ryan says that under his budget, everything the federal government does that is not Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security will be cut to less than 3.75 percent of GDP by 2050. That means defense, infrastructure, education, food safety, energy research, national parks, civil service, the FBI — all of it. Right now, that category of spending is 12.5 percent of GDP.
Hypocrisy does not suffice.