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Ron Paul See other Ron Paul Articles Title: Paul Ryan & Proper Work-Family Balance Paul Ryan & Proper Work-Family Balance Posted on October 23, 2015 by Brad Hoppmann Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan is ready to be Speaker of the House of Representatives. But apparently he’s not ready to stop being "super dad" in the process. While many Democrats and most Republicans have lauded the prospect of the House Ways and Means Committee chairman and former vice-presidential candidate becoming the next Speaker, Ryan has said he’d only do the job if certain conditions were met. One of those conditions has received a lot of attention, largely because it’s rare among the political elite. That condition is he wants to change the nature of the Speaker job to focus less on fundraising, and to cut down on weekend travel, so that he could spend more time with his wife and three children. In a speech outlining his conditions, Ryan insisted on a sense of vision and unity as part of his demands before taking the job. Then, Ryan added the following condition: I cannot and will not give up my family time. I may not be able to be on the road as much as previous speakers, but I pledged to make up for it with more time communicating our message. That statement has been both praised and scorned by a wide variety of factions, and not just political. The move has been commented on extensively by business leaders, rival politicians, family leave advocates and throughout the press. According to the Washington Post, Ryan is an "unlikely spokesman for balancing family life with work." *** The reason why is because Rep. Ryan brings up a question essential to all of us, and that is: Just what constitutes the right balance between work and family? I know in my own life I’ve struggled with this question, and it’s definitely not an easy dilemma to solve. As a young, hungry and ambitious sort, I worked very long hours and put in a lot of intense effort trying to help my respective employers succeed, and in building my own reputation as a knowledgeable, trustworthy go-getter. This can-do sense of commitment often can be very hard on personal relationships, as your priorities tend to be skewed toward achieving your professional goals. Let’s face it; achieving excellence in any field comes at a high price. That price is usually long hours, a single-minded focus and the willingness to put your career ahead of everything else. That mindset can be hard on a family, and there’s just no denying this reality. Some politicians, such as Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, say that some kind of family-leave law mandating that employers provide workers with paid time off is the solution to the work-family balance dilemma. Here’s the Warren tweet that takes Paul Ryan to task on the issue: @PRyan That’s why Dems are fighting for paid sick time, family leave & schedules that work — bills your party repeatedly blocks. Even a presidential candidate weighed in on the issue via Twitter, as Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders tweeted: Republicans talk about "family values" but the U.S. is the only major country that doesn’t guarantee paid family leave Sorry Elizabeth and Bernie, but this issue is way beyond laws. *** No law about family leave is going to subjugate ambition. No law on the books is going to create a situation where punching a clock from 9-to-5 is all you have to do to achieve real success in America. This issue may score political points with some voters, but for people struggling with work-family balance, I think the only real answer is to know what’s most important to you. If Rep. Ryan is committed in such a way to his family time, I applaud that. However, I think Ryan also needs to realize that the Speaker of the House — a position that is just two heartbeats away from the presidency — isn’t exactly a 9-to-5 kind of gig. To be a great Speaker, and to get things done for the benefit of the American people, you might just have to skip a few of your kids’ basketball and volleyball events, and you might not get to be the family’s "designated pancake-maker" as often as you’d like. *** This issue brings me back to you, the Uncommon Wisdom Daily reader. Today I would like to know your thoughts on how to achieve a work-family balance. Is there a way to balance the two without short-changing either? Are there different stages in your own life where one is much more important than the other? How did you either succeed, or struggle to achieve, your own work-family balance? I am really interested in this topic, and I am looking to you to help provide our entire readership with any good advice for coping with this omnipresent dilemma. Let us know what you think by leaving a comment on our website or by sending me an e-mail. *** Stocks enjoyed a second-straight day of gains, as traders responded to an interest rate cut by China’s central bank, and more strong earnings reports. • The United Parcel Service (UPS) pilots union voted to strike as contract negotiations entered their fifth year. A deal seems far off in front of the delivery giant’s holiday peak season. • Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush has announced an across-the-board pay cut for his campaign. The Bush campaign also is cutting travel costs by 20% and reducing by 45% its budget not related to voter contact or media. • Gold futures dropped to their lowest level in nearly two weeks, $1,162.80, as a higher U.S. dollar pressured the yellow metal. • Oil closed down Friday, again largely due to a stronger U.S. dollar. WTI crude oil futures ended at $44.60, their lowest level in a month. Good Luck and Happy Investing, Brad Hoppmann Publisher Uncommon Wisdom Daily Poster Comment: The question is, Does Paul Ryan have the AMBITION to be Speaker of the House? Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
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