Have you read Ryan's budget from last year? He totally wants to change Medicare, and now that he's on the ticket, he may get Romney to do it, especially if they don't look like they stand a chance at a 2016 re-election.

Ryan's budget and then follow on inclusion on this ticket might permanently kill the ability of the Republican party to elect someone to the presidency, if seniors (who vote primarily Republican) cross to the Democratic side of the ticket for their votes to protect their medicare. (Once someone has voted for candidates in both parties, they are considerably more likely to cross over and do so again in future elections).

Unemployment will most certainly be different between them.