"The belief that recipients of government aid are better off the more we spend on them is remarkably persistent. No matter how many times this central tenet of liberalism gets debunked, like Brett Favre, it just keeps coming back"

This quote by Paul Ryan is a criticism of the liberal belief that government aid ought to be increased in order to improve the lives of those who get it. Ryan is comparing this belief to the football gamer Brett Favre, who despite being retired, keeps returning to the game. Ryan is suggesting that the liberal belief is likewise persistent, which no matter the number of times it is debunked, it continues to resurface. He is recommending that the liberal belief is misdirected which federal government aid should be used more effectively and successfully. He is likewise suggesting that the liberal belief is outdated and must be reevaluated due to existing evidence.