FWIW: A letter to Republicans about the debt crisis "debate"
Disclaimer: What follows is political commentary. I'm angry at the Republicans. If you're not in the mood for it, try this instead: CuteLittleKittens.com.
Angry
The current "debate" in Congress over raising the debt ceiling is a farce. When Republicans refuse to discuss raising revenue, there's no compromise possible. A negotiation that doesn't include the main concerns of one of the parties isn't a discussion, it's one side imposing its will on the other.
I'm angry that this is the best American politics has to offer at a moment in history when the country and the world face a whole laundry list of critical problems. I (foolishly perhaps) think that it's worth my time to try to appeal to the non-negotiators to think about their country above their party.
Below is a letter I'm sending to Republican U.S. Senators. If I can find a list of "moderate" Republicans I'll save money on postage by only mailing it to them. So far my search has turned up nothing but articles decrying the disappearance of moderate Republican politicians.
Attempt at reason
Dear Senator:I'm writing you not as a Democrat, Republican, or Tea Partier, but as an American. I hate to be put in this position, but I'm literally begging you to act for the good of our country rather than to score political points over the current debt crisis. Your oath of office is to the United States of America, not to your political party.
I find it mind-boggling that many Republicans seem to believe that NOT to compromise is a valid way to govern. To declare, as many have, that revenue increases cannot and must not be a part of the debt negotiations is a failure of leadership. It ignores both common sense and the expressed opinion of large numbers of Americans.
Most of us want shared sacrifice: budget cuts, but also revenue increases from closing tax loopholes and raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans.
Lest you think that only Democrats and liberals think this way, take a look at the enclosed poll published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer on July 29th. It’s there in black and white: most Americans believe that Republicans favor Wall Street and large corporations. They believe that the President is working for small business and middle-class Americans.
Listen to us.
Find a truly bipartisan compromise that both limits spending and increases revenue, as most Americans choose when offered those options.
I'm convinced that Congresspeople who act to find a fair compromise solution to the debt crisis will be rewarded in 2012 for acting for the good of their country. Remember that the Tea Party is not all of America. The rest of us get angry too, and will work as hard as we can to replace those who chose confrontation over compromise, party politics over the good of the country.
You have an opportunity to act on behalf of all of us. Please choose to do so.
Sincerely,
Al Wasco
Cleveland, Ohio
The poll
