…. thinking about the Grover Norquist Pledge …. is it actually unpatriotic???

by the empowered electorate

Almost everyone believes that to fix the deficit will take a balanced approach – combining decreases in spending with increases in revenue. EVERYONE is going to need to sacrifice some in order to give our country a chance at maintaining our historical preeminence in the world. Our country’s future is NOT GUARANTEED – we need to find ways to work together as a patriotic team rather than as two competing parties and a bunch of self-interested individual politicians.

While it sounds so good, easy and painless when politicians and other special interests say “We can fix our deficit issues by cutting spending without raising taxes.”, it just “ain’t” so !!! DO NOT FALL FOR MESSAGES THAT SOUND TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE !!!! You know the old saying …. !!! It probably is !!!

So many of us are so cynical about government (and for very legitimate reasons) – but then we turn around and support people who mislead us and tell us what we want to hear, regardless of whether it is feasible.

BOTH parties are going to have to come to the middle, work together and compromise to solve our country’s fiscal woes.

The Norquist Pledge embeds hard and fast ideology into the political process and keeps it from working the way our founding fathers carefully and thoughtfully designed it.

Any politician that signs that Pledge is, IMO, either naive or disingenuous. Because “the Pledge” so impedes our nation’s law making process, one might even think it unpatriotic !!!

I admire Jeff Fortenberry, my Representative in the House, for withdrawing his support for the Norquist Pledge. Unfortunately, too many others assume that ideological stance – and thus refuse to become a member of a larger team, focusing on solving the nation’s problems first and their political self-interest second.

Former Governor and US Senator Bob Kerrey repeatedly told the truth during last Saturday’s one and only debate (his opponent has so far not agreed to additional and televised debates) and his opponent repeatedly refused to acknowledge that a balanced approach is needed. Over and over we heard those tempting words “I am against cutting benefits and against raising taxes.” Open minded Nebraskans will recognize that position as political pandering and realize that sacrifice by all is needed – and will support Mr. Kerrey’s campaign to return to the Senate. You can watch an archived copy of the debate @ omaha.com.

Tell your Congressman to put aside their ideology and withdraw their support of the pledge – and be open minded about how BOTH parties need to work together, compromising to actually solve our big problems and our current/future challenges.

I do not want our country to become a 2nd class or 2nd tier nation. Yet one has to wonder that, if by putting their party and personal self-interest ahead of country, many of our current set of politicians aren’t taking us down that road !!!!