Republicans drinking too much tea?

The Gazette (Aug. 11 editorial) has conjured up a “positive contribution” from the Tea Party. Aren't these the people who vetoed a future deficit reduction package of $4 trillion that President Obama had worked out with Speaker John Boehner, 3-to-1 in spending cuts to revenue increases? The Tea Party ideologues managed to deepen the fear that now overhangs the economy. Some “contribution!”

The Gazette concedes that future debt control must include revenue. But why do you not mention restoration of pre-Bush tax rates on the wealthy, which, with loophole closings, is essential for deficit control?

It's not only Tea Party extremists. Since Ronald Reagan, the purpose of the Republican Party has never been a balanced budget. That's a political smoke screen. Reagan borrowed to pay for his military spending. George W. Bush cut taxes and then borrowed to spend on his two wars. The GOP's political plan is clear: incur debt to fund the military and then exploit the fear of debt in a recession to slash everything else, without mercy.

What about our real crisis, the inhumane, wasteful and deficit-increasing lack of jobs? True to their anti-government ideology, Republicans weakened the stimulus program which, however inadequate, had stemmed the dangerous downward spiral Obama inherited. Now, as that funding is ending, Republican obstruction is about to restore the payroll tax, cut assistance to the unemployed and accept the destruction of more state and local public-sector jobs (think fewer teachers). What has happened to the Republican Party?

Don Cell

Cedar Rapids