Intimidation

To the Editor



The “Super Committee” was established by Congress to specifically deal with the question of the debt crisis. The idea, as I understand, it was to facilitate the resolution of differences between the two parties. Was this a credible act or a “Hail Mary pass“?

The art of politics is compromise. Differences of opinion are given due consideration and each side gives a little and they meet in the middle - theoretically.
How this process works depends on the good will of the participants and their rational instincts.

Right off the bat there was cynical apprehension as to the viability of the effort.
To begin with the whole political atmosphere was anything but collegial. It was downright toxic. This has happened before in history but in this instance there was an especially urgent need. The economy is in the tank and in dire circumstances affecting the well being of the entire country.

This was the perfect time for putting aside party squabbles and working in harness to ameliorate the problem. That has not happened so far and doesn’t look promising in the near future. How can this be solved?

My first suggestion is to put Grover Norquist in jail. He has devised a scheme that is one of pure intimidation of legislators. Playing on the fears of candidates and incumbents he has conned them into the idea that signing a “no taxes” pledge would appeal to voters and improve their chances of election or re-election.

This scheme was well exposed in a recent TV program, “60 Minutes”. In an interview Norquist gleefully bragged that his intent was to “smash government down to a size that could be drowned in a bathtub“. He showed his folder of pledges and said they were non-cancellable. A number of pledgees have indicated they never intended the pledge to be “forever“. They rightly explained that circumstances change.

This is where the intimidation comes in. If a pledge is broken the offender is guaranteed that his election, or re-election, would be opposed by formidable financial forces. Norquist would not divulge the sources of those finances claiming that as a “non-profit” organization he was not required to do so. On his office wall was a photograph of numerous, apparently defeated politicians, who defied his edict.

This type of intimidation is applied by the National Rifle Association as well. We have that group to thank for the Federal Law that allows the holder of a concealed weapon permit in any state to “carry” in any other state regardless of that state’s gun law prohibiting carrying. This demonstrates the evils of such intimidation.

Unfortunately other special interest groups apply the same tactics. Our legislators have been corrupted by the huge supply of money involved. This is the core complaint of the “OccupyMovement”. To date I have not seen or heard of one legislator or candidate recognizing the outcry for reform. Instead they offer the usual platitudes and promises of job growth and lower taxes, that they conveniently forget when elected. Disgusted!!!

The Blame Game

As the pols like to say,"there is plenty of blame to go around". Is that meant to mitigate the awful performance that has been standard operating procedure for the past few decades?
The next often quoted remark is, "throw the bums out".
The long term incumbents get reelected because with seniority they get to bring home more bacon. So it is our own self interest that perpetuates the problem.
That leads to an intractable situation. We are not likely to change human nature.

If there were a general movement to throw the bums out how would we go about replacing them? What criterion would be used to evaluate the candidates? There is no way I know of to determine the qualities needed to be a true statesman. One who could withstand the blandishments of the corporate lobbyists or the ideological "one issue" groups.

In France recently, to deal with the financial crisis, they turned to an economist instead of a politician, to be foreign minister. If our "super committee" as comprised, were more acquainted with the economy instead of party ideology, in other words, non-politicians, perhaps a solution would have been achieved. Only perhaps.

The Occupy phenomenon

I was completely surprised but elated to see the emergence of the "Occupy" movement. It is similar to the "Tea Party" but much more generalized. It also has a non-political stamp to it. Actually it is critical of both political parties for their abysmal mismanagement of the country in so many ways.

The Tea Party is focusing on the excessive debt that has accumulated over the past ten years. This movement has been captured by the ultra conservatives of the Republican party. It fits nicely with their determination to limit Obama to one term. As their program has been implemented it has also been disastrous for the country as it has stalled any and all attempt to deal with the unemployment problem.

It can be argued that most TPs in the House of Representatives were carried into office on the wave of voter frustration over the unemployment problem. As neophytes they don't share blame for what was done, or not done, prior to their appearance. It is the long termers who are responsible for letting things go to hell. Still the problem has been brewing for ten years, Squandered surplus, two wars not included in the budget, massive tax cuts benefiting the wealthy, and all that time there was never a peep out of the suddenly aghast newbys.

The totally dysfunctional Congress is the spark that ignited the Occupy movement. The critical level of disgust with this situation has been reached and "they are mad as hell and are not going to take it any longer". The corruption of the legislature that allowed the disastrous collapse of the economy that has lead to the massive unemployment and homeowner foreclosures and the consequent stalling of the economy, is the reason for the outcry.

The media in general has been counter productive in its coverage of the movement as it sweeps across the country. Instead of identifying the root causes it interviews the misfits that have latched on to the uprising. The core of the movement is a representation of solid citizens who are rightly aggrieved by the state of affairs.

What is especially apparent is the lack of recognition by the politicians, the ones who are the culprits in the scenario, that this vast outpouring of rage is of any concern of , or to, them. They appear virtually tone deaf.

Some of the reactions by mayors has smacked of police state tactics. These people deserve respect for their determination, not scorn. How else can their feelings be shown if not publicly and loudly? And they have a perfect right to do so. This is supposed to be a government "of the people", not of the "corporation (people)".
If it causes inconvenience so much the better to get attention.

If it causes people to think about the problem perhaps they will make better decisions at the voting booth. There has to be change