Make no mistake: the brinkmanship by the GOP in Congress over resolving the fiscal crisis ties back to one individual whose place in modern American politics is secure: Grover Norquist of American Tax Watch. Norquist is the organizing principal of the Republican Party, twisted in a knot over any efforts by Democrats and President Obama to raise revenues from the wealthy. Not bad for a political operative/lobbyist. His "anti-tax pledge" has boxed in members of Congress petrified of being on the receiving end of right-wing punishment at the polls. The Norquist radicals threaten default of US obligations as an acceptable price for straying from his orthodoxy. On network television this weekend, Norquist waved his wand, saying that the expiration of the Bush tax cuts in 2012 would not constitute a tax increase; but that is ploy: when the 2012 election comes around, just wait and see how accommodating Norquists' minions will be to candidates who advocate letting the tax cuts lapse. Why am I sure of this? Because Norquist argued the other side, in the not-so-distant-past. But who remembers history, these days, when it comes to economics? The man is drunk with his own power, the Republican party is reaping his whirlwind, and the price the American economy will pay is yet to be seen though it can be predicted. Today, it only
feels like we are covered in slime.
6 comments:
Since you mentioned "pledges" thought this was apropos:
Thomas Friedman said in the New York Times, "Did I mention that I've signed a pledge - just like those Republican congressmen who have signed written promises to different political enforcers not to rasie taxes or permit same-sex marriage? My pledge is to never vote for anyone stupid enough to sign a pledge -- thereby abdicating their governing responsibilities in a period of incredibly rapid change and financial stress.
Why not urge Mr. Gimenez to raise taxes instead of wreaking havoc with the county workforce, then?
Mr. Gimenez PLEDGED not merely to avoid raising taxes but to roll them back. Yet you seem to give him a pass. Wouldn't we agree that even given the county's bloat, the federal government is far worse?
Norquist demanded a pledge not to raise taxes in exchange for support from his organization. Yet you do not criticize NOW or others who demand pledges not to roll back abortion rights. Yes, liberal groups demand pledges too.
Why don't we treat all these special interest groups the same?
Liberald groups require written pledges? I think not.
NARAL, Emily's List, both require the candidate to pledge that they will vote pro choice.
The size of the federal goverment has doubled over the last 10 years. I don't care which party you belong to this is ridiculous. The material quality of the lives of most of our citizens has declined not improved as a result of more government.
Giving new tax money to politicians in Washington is like giving heroine to a heroine addict.
I heard the argument that tax rates are the lowest since the 1950's. Fine, I will agree to a tax hike if we go back to 1950's levels of federal spending as a percent of GDP.
Confiscating all the wealth of the top 2% would likely solve the debt problem for about 6 months. That is assuming that an action so dramatic would be a neutral impact on overall economy.
It's official, the Republican Party has gone insane! Here is how a conservative in Great Britian sizes things up:
Right-wing "nutters" in the United States Congress holding up a deal to prevent a catastrophic debt default are a greater risk to the global financial system than problems in the euro zone, a British minister said Sunday.
Business Secretary Vince Cable said "irresponsible" people who had been gleefully anticipating the collapse of the euro currency had been confounded after European leaders agreed a second rescue package for debt-stricken Greece last week.
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