Ryan faces hard truths on Medicare’s finances

Sen. Tom Harkin's Aug. 17 guest column on Rep. Paul Ryan's proposed budget again demonstrated to Iowans his lack of original thought and understanding of the fiscal crisis we are now in. Medicare - as we know it - will self-destruct if left on its current path. The only thing that the administration's plan does is push out the self-destruct timeline, leaving the problem to our children and grandchildren.

Ryan's plan will alter Medicare, but in a way that will preserve it for future generations. For voters 55 and older, there will be no change to their Medicare. Harkin labeled Ryan's budget “extreme,” yet it is the only one passed by the House.

Without significant changes to the way this country is being run, the United States will be facing a crisis worse than Greece. Ryan appears to be the only one man enough to tell the unadulterated truth and offer a bold plan to address this ticking fiscal time bomb. Harkin appears to be able to only repeat Democratic talking points and promulgate scaremongering.

David Knuth

Marion