Friday, June 22, 2012

Republican Sheep And He Who Herds Them

Why would any politician in his right mind sign a pledge put forth by anyone who is not a constituent? Or at all, considering the fluidity of governing? Ask 276 Republican members of the House and Senate.

It's because Grover Norquist, the head of Americans for Tax Reform, threatened them if they didn't sign.  Heaven forbid they should think for themselves, for the country and their constituents!

It was beginning to look like a few of them were getting some backbone then along came Norquist to remind them of the pledge and the consequences of breaking ranks.

You'd think they'd have learned that inflexibility like the Tea Partiers espouse does more harm than good.  It creates stalemate and partisanship.

This "pledge" has been around since 1986 and, ohh how it hurts to say it, even Mitt Romney has signed it.  I could ask what he was thinking, but like all the others he obviously wasn't.

What's at stake?  Political careers of course.  More importantly, the continued butting of heads by these political rams with no end in sight. It makes me angry.  Every single person who signed that pledge, to raise no taxes, no way, no how, no matter the consequences, should be turned out of office.

Who elected this guy king anyway?  I had no part in it.  Did you? I would guess many of you don't even recognize the name.  Grover Norquist.  Remember it.  He has done more with his pledge to prevent progress in getting our economic mess straightened out than any other one individual.

All taxes are not bad.  Doing away with an entitlement or closing a loop hole is not a tax increase.  He would have you believe it is.  The frightening thing is those 276 members of Congress have fallen prey to him.  They should be ashamed of themselves.

Every day something happens that brings me closer to understanding what's happening to our country.  Today's lesson is that a self appointed demagogue is able to hold an entire party hostage with threats and blackmail.

It is astounding that one man has this sort of power over the people we have elected to do right by the country.  Yep.  Government bennies are great.  Those 276 have them now.  It's time to turn them out to pasture.  Maybe the next herd we put in their place will include a few sheep dogs able to herd them in a better direction.

Baaa!

3 comments:

Margie's Musings said...

This is one of those times I thoroughly agree with you, Mari. It's a tragedy what our country has come to...anything to keep congress from actually governing.

The tea party thing is a disgrace.

Betty said...

Mari, I don't want to scare you or anything, but I have agreed with you twice in a row, now, yesterday and today. This could be the start of something big! lol

marlu said...

Our paper had a letter to the editor today that said Grover came up with this idea at the age of twelve because of a school assignment. Could this be true?

Nevertheless, it is very sad.