Locals React To Selection of Ryan as Running Mate

Representative Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin accepted the Republican vice-presidential nomination on Aug. 29, bringing to the national debate his representation of the conservative opposition to the current administration, and most notably the issue of the budget and Medicare.

What do locals think about a Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan ticket?

That question was posed on Facebook by Brandon Patch editor Linda Chion Kenney on the morning Romney announced his attentions to bring the 42-year-old Ryan to his ticket.

Here's a sampling of answers that were posted and we ask that you join the conversation in the comment box below.

"Great pick," said Thom Miller. "Romney wants to reduce the deficit and Ryan has a plan to do it."

But Bobby Whitehead disagreed, seeing in Romney's pick good news for President Obama.

"Now we know a reelection will be happening this year," he said, noting what he said would be Romney's difficulty in winning the election "when his V.P. pick wants to cut Medicare."

Brenda Burris Wade said it was time for a change because "we can't handle what we have now."

"Anything is better than Obama," she added.

Janet Bank disagreed.

"If Obamacare is repealed, more Americans than can be counted will die, women's rights will be set back to a time we won't recognize."

Moreover, she said, "people need to understand that if they have a long-term illness, like cancer, they will lose their job and then their insurance and will die without the care that insurance can provide."

"True," Miller responded. "But Obamacare diverts funds from Medicaid and/or Medicare and there will be a rationing of who gets covered and who doesn't."

Wade noted that she has seen many people without work. The president, she said, is "clueless."

"He is taking exeutive power beyond what any before him have ever done," she said. "Goldman Sachs was a political move on his part and I could go on and on. I will take Romney. I wish [we had] better choices but he is my pick of the two available."

Greg Summerall asked for a reminder why Ron Paul wasn't the Republicans choice. Summerall said he was "unemployed for Obama's first year in office and I never once asked, 'Where's my prize?' "

Randy Magruder said that he found Ron Paul "utterly clueless" on foreign policy.

He also noted:

Well, certainly the fact that unemployment has only gotten worse means that more people need the government to take care of them. Which of course is right up Obama's ally. He wins when more people need government programs. So, jobs really needs to be the primary focus. We need a productive, employed America, not a, where-is-my-government-aid America, or we will be in an economic death spiral.

Bank hit hard the issue of health care:

Healthcare is always the topic. People, if you want services you have to pay taxes, quit whining. If you want to stop "entitlements" that's okay but where do you want to start. . . public education, Social security, medicare, roads, bridges, those are all entitlement programs. We are the only industrial nation in the world that doesn't make healthcare a priority. And as long as EVERYONE isn't required to pay taxes for healthcare, those of us who do will foot the bill.

Where do you stand on the issues, and on the selection of Paul Ryan as Mitt Romney's running mate? Respectful discourse is encouraged in the comment box below.