We need a ‘reality party’ now

By Gordon Watkins

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America needs a new political party. I propose the Reality Party of America (RPA). This party will include people who understand that to solve today's problems we need to shred the tags of Democrats, Republicans and Libertarians - all of whom bring an ideology tied to old concepts, values and beliefs leading to grid lock in Washington as each tries to advance its agenda.

This gridlock has created an environment in which speech after speech and party-line vote after vote advocate positions that defy basic logic, suspend rules of math and fail problem-solving.

The RPA understands it will require spending cuts in all areas of the budget, including entitlements, and will require tax increases for all individuals. The problems cannot be solved by cutting discretionary spending or by only increasing taxes on the top 1 percent.

The RPA is looking for individuals who will be honest with the American people and bring simple, straightforward solutions that recognize the reality of math and the concept that shared sacrifice means shared by all. We all had a hand in creating the financial problems and we all must take a hand in fixing them.

Our financial problems are similar to the world problem the “Greatest Generation” faced in World War II. Their solution: answer the call for sacrifice. Tens of thousands made the ultimate sacrifice but their efforts saved the modern world.

Today, we must ask ourselves if we are willing to so what's required to return America to sound financial footing, enabling our country to continue to be the world's beacon of democracy.

The American Dream has never been in more danger of disappearing if something is not done now. We need individuals who and set aside the ideology of their social agendas for the next few years and work non-stop on the only problem that can bring down our county; the financial crises.

On Jan. 9, our national debt moved to the point where it exceeds a full year's Gross National Product (GNP). What are our elected officials doing to correct this situation?

The conventional thinking is: “I cannot be elected if I tell the truth.” They forget we all understand basic math and realize that there are only two ways to tackle a deficit: raise revenue or cut expenses. We are intelligent enough to understand that this problem will require both.

We simply need leadership focused on solutions. We only require that the sacrifice be shared by all and that the steps are taken now before it too late or before the sacrifices become too great for anyone to bear.

Gordon Watkins of Cedar Rapids has 30 years of senior management experience with McGraw Hill publications and is a native of Southeast Iowa. Comments: GWAT1246@aol.com