Inside Paul Ryan’s Diary
NYU Local has obtained a copy of a diary written by Speaker of the House Paul Ryan while he was in high school and college, detailing his numerous Randian desires in more blunt language than he has been known to use as a politician, along with typical frat-bro fare that one would expect of the widow’s peaked legislator.
The discovery of the diary comes at a time where the Speaker is enduring much public scrutiny over the rollout of the American Health Care Act (AHCA), the GOP’s long-touted “repeal-and-replace” of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare.
The AHCA ends Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion in 2020 and replaces it with a block grant of federal money to the states, replaces income-based tax credits for buying insurance with flat age-based credits, replaces the individual mandate (ruled constitutional by the Supreme Court as a tax) with a penalty surcharge for not having insurance to be paid directly to the insurance company, and provides a tax cut worth hundreds of billions of dollars to the wealthiest people in this country. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the AHCA will cause 14 million people to lose health insurance by 2018 and 24 million to lose insurance by 2026.
These dire signs have not deterred Ryan nor have they diverted his sights away from his vision. On Friday, Ryan attended the National Review Institute’s Ideas Summit and participated in a discussion forum with the magazine’s editor-in-chief, Rich Lowry. Discussing the AHCA, the Speaker said, “So, Medicaid. [We’re] sending it back to the states, capping its growth rate. We’ve been dreaming of this since you [Lowry] and I were drinking out of a keg.” The statement was roundly mocked and criticized by liberal media outlets.
The statement seems remarkably consistent with a diary entry from 1990.
April 26, 1990
Dear Diary,
Last night, at a party, Rich and I did a kegstand shirtless with all the guys. While I dangled in the air gargling beer, all I could think of was how, 27 years from now, I hope to take away lazy poor people’s Medicaid. Yes, I know I’m paying for college with Social Security Survivors’ Benefits, but I’m different! Those other lazy moochers are getting a government handout! I can’t shake my excitement for block granting, is this normal? It better be, because Rich and I communicated telepathically and he was dreaming this too! He also said that he admires my widow’s peak.
Ryan developed an intense interest in the ideas of such conservative thinkers as Ayn Rand and Milton Friedman in college. His infatuation with laissez-faire, Randian capitalism led him to the most capitalist of summer jobs: driving the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.
But Ryan sought the love of his fraternity brothers in Delta Tau Delta. His diary suggests that he believed his fellow pledges would be impressed by the ideology he would later espouse as a legislator, vice-presidential candidate, and eventual Speaker of the House.
October 24, 1988
Dear Diary,
I’m pledging today. I hear the hazing ritual consists of walking up to a homeless bum and stealing their hat. Joke’s on them, though: I’ve already done that twice today! My bros are going to be so impressed.
Ryan’s diary is not limited to his college years. Entries in the diary go as far back as spring 1985, when Ryan was a freshman in high school.
March 10, 1985
Dear Diary,
They brainwashed us in Kindergarten, and I’ve finally broken free of the spell keeping down these other sheep. Sharing isn’t caring! Kids who can’t play with toys because others won’t share simply lack personal responsibility and should pull themselves up by their bootstraps and get new toys. Enforced toy sharing is socialist teacher overreach! Can’t believe these sheeple I go to school with can’t see that. Well, time to go read Ayn with Snuggles before bed.
Snuggles, sources tell Local, was Ryan’s stuffed Atlas. Unfortunately, once Snuggles’ use for Ryan diminished to the point that the cost of remaining together outweighed the benefits, he abandoned Paul and became his brother Stan’s best friend. That day had a profound impact on Ryan, solidifying his commitment to the ideas that he would bring to Washington.
August 18, 1987
Dear Diary,
Today was the worst day ever. Snuggles left me for Stan! Why would he do that to me, I’ve shown him love for my whole life! Stan always made fun of him.
I bet those unwashed masses and welfare queens convinced Snuggles that he no longer had a utilitarian use for me. Someday, I’ll get back at them. I’ll do it by forcing them to undergo drug testing before qualifying for welfare! And I’ll take away their health insurance! And I’ll privatize Social Security! And I’ll cause a public health crisis for American women by defunding Planned Parenthood!
NYU Local reached out to Speaker Ryan’s office for comment. In response, the Speaker sent us back an email that simply read “SNUGGLES” followed by four crying emojis.
