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!!!