YouGov panelist writes: Ryan's nomination deepens the division in our battle-weary state

September 13, 2012, 7:39 PM GMT+0

I’d like to be able to say I’m a proud Wisconsinite because one of our own has been selected to be a vice presidential candidate. Alas, I cannot.

Paul Ryan is a Scott Walker clone enamored of Walker’s hard-handed polices. His nomination simply deepens the division in our already battle-weary state. I find him arrogant and self-serving. His expressed views on women and working people reflect a Christianity that is foreign to me. His appointment will do only one thing — bring more big money into our state for the sole purpose of changing Wisconsin’s political landscape from progressive, to a place where only the rich and powerful have credibility.

His plans for crushing unions, slashing social programs, laying the greatest tax burden on the middle class, and restructuring Social Security and Medicare, hurt those who are vulnerable. The poor, ill, women, and children will lose the most. When only the wealthy have access to opportunities in a democracy, the disenfranchised fall by the wayside. But that’s okay, because they have little to offer and are therefore expendable.

Our country is as divided as our state so the election will come down to who gets the voters out in the states with the most electoral votes. The result will decide whether we will remain a country where everyone has worth or only those who can pay for the privilege.