There’s one urgent issue neither candidate is seriously addressing in 2024

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Unlike most Republicans who have been critical of former President Donald Trump, former House Speaker Paul Ryan is not about to make an endorsement or even indicate he’ll grudgingly vote for Trump.

Arguing Trump is “unfit” for office, Ryan, a Republican who represented the battleground state of Wisconsin in Congress, said on Fox News this week that he’ll write in some other Republican – a conservative rather than a populist like Trump.

It was a notable moment, particularly since it occurred on Fox News, where opposition to Trump is hard to come by. Ryan, who has turned to a lucrative career on Wall Street since leaving politics, remains on the board of the conservative network’s parent company.

“I would prefer a party that is based on principles, not personality or populism,” Ryan said, describing himself as “an anti-establishment Republican at this time.”

It’s a stunning turn for Ryan, the 2012 Republican vice presidential nominee, to be so out of whack with his party. Sen. Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee who selected Ryan as his running mate, is also now effectively a member of the shrinking Republican resistance to Trump.

A promise to do nothing

Like many Americans, Ryan said he isn’t happy with either of the major-party candidates, but he has a very specific reason for concern. It’s worth taking a closer look at his important point.

“They’re both promising not to tackle the debt,” Ryan said, coming back to the issue that has animated his political career.

“All the First World countries have the same issue we have: baby boomers retiring and unfunded