“Paul Ryan and the American Character”

1. “Paul Ryan and the American Character” By: Christine Kevichusa, Olivia Ortiz, Alejandra Castro Period 2

2. Vocabulary • Congressman Paul Ryan – Republican vice-presidential candidate who believes in Catholicism, individualism and tackling the economic crisis which is driven by the explosion of entitlement spending. • Clergy – A group established to perform pastoral or religious functions in a Christian church; church. • Collectivism – Political or economic theory advocating collective control especially over production and distribution; a system marked by such control; emphasis on collective rather than individual action or identity. • Glee – High-spirited; joy; cheerfulness • Emanates – To come out from source; to give off; exude

3. Vocabulary Cont. • Entitlement – Right to guaranteed benefits under a government program (social security, unemployment compensation) • Predicate – To assert a subject or a preposition; to imply • Food Stamps – Coupons given under federal government program to eligible needy persons • Indisputable – Unquestionably real; undeniable

4. Vocabulary Cont. • De-stigmatize – To remove associations of shame or disgrace from • Antisocial – Unwilling or unable to associate in a normal or friendly way with other people; antagonistic, hostile, unfriendly; opposed to social order of the principles on which society is constituted • Judeo-Christian Religions – A term used to refer to the connection between precursors of Christianity and Rabbinic Judaism. Usage of the word in the political arena has evolved through ages. Today, it is often used by conservatives to discuss the Islamic threat, the dangers of multiculturalism, and moral decay in a materialist; secular age • Demonization – To turn into or as if into a demon. To possess by or as if by a demon; to represent as evil or diabolic • Incurred – Become subject to something unwelcome/unpleasant as a result of one’s own behavior or actions.

5. Persona • Far to the right • “Left-wing social policies are predicated on giving more and more Americans more and more benefits and demanding less and less from them” (¶ 6) • Conservative • “The Left works to weaken the single most effective device for character-building in American history: Judeo-Christian religions” (¶ 13) • Pro-Paul Ryan • “Ryan’s economic and social plans [will] reduce the American debt, unleash private economic growth (the only type there is), and reform unsustainable government programs such as Medicare” (¶ 3)

6. Audience • Older Generation • “out-of-wedlock” (¶ 10) • “foul-mouthed” (¶ 12) • Probably not women, DEFINITELY NOT single mothers. • “…the Left and Democrats have de-stigmatized irresponsible behavior. One example is women who give birth to and raise children without fathers in their children’s lives.” (¶ 9-10)

7. Purpose • To assert • Prager has no clear purpose to his argument except for informing readers of his view • He may be arguing against the Obama administration and the Left in the 2012 campaign, but he lists problems with them – not what to do in effect • “ The negative impact these policies have had on the character of Americans is indisbutable. Every parent…knows what giving children hings they have not earned, and demanding nothing from them in return, produces: spoiled children”

8. Argument • The Democratic party is responsible for the increasing debt, un-Americanization of society (deterioration of Judeo-Christian religions), and declining education standards. Paul Ryan can alleviate these problems, and potentially revers their effects; furthermore, a Democratic victory in the 2012 Presidential elections is preposterous for these reasons.

9. Tone & Diction • Mocking • “Nevertheless, the Democratic party claims to be overjoyed at his selection as the Republican vice-presidential nominee.” (¶ 2) • Denouncing • “…given the enormity of the national debt incurred by his administration, its spectacular failure to improve the nation’s economy, and its commitment to weakening American defense…” (¶ 15) • “Democratic-party policies have negatively impacted the American character.” (¶ 9)

10. Questions • How does the author’s statement reflect upon his sentiment towards President Obama? • “…the left works to weaken the single most effective device for character-building in American history: Judeo-Christian religions” (¶ 13) • President Obama has been criticized for his foreign relations with Israel. David Rubin, and American-born Israeli author describes Obama’s approaches to Israeli affairs as “…very harmful for Israel and very dangerous for the future of Judeo-Christian civilization.” Considering these facts, in what ways do you think Dennis Prager’s Jewish heritage might affect his argument?