Governor Mitt Romney and his new running mate, Congressman Paul Ryan have focused on the definition of the pursuit of happiness and equal opportunity over the past few days. Take a listen below to what each of them said this weekend:
On Sunday in Wisconsin, Rep. Ryan also condemned a vision government that includes "picking winners and losers, equalizing the outcomes." Among the major ideological battles up for debate this election may be the role that government should take in leveling the playing field. Speaking on Sunday in Virginia, Governor Romney argued the "pursuit of happiness" in the Declaration of Independence means "the circumstances of birth will not prevent you from reaching" your goals and achieving something better for yourself. Does that right alone make it possible for any American to work hard and find success? For many, especially those who have grown up in a privileged environment, it certainly does. But the key discussion will be to what degree the government should work to make sure that disenfranchised Americans have the same opportunities as those born into better circumstances. Rep. Ryan's budget proposal, for instance, makes direct cuts to programs which are geared to give low income Americans a fair start, such as Pell Grants, job training and food stamps. Do you believe those programs are necessary to level the playing field, or do they pick winners and losers?