GOP position ignores history, common sense

Russell Koren, Las Vegas

Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011 | 2:02 a.m.

It wasn’t that long ago when common sense and good judgment were a part of the national political process. Presidents Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter and even Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush all came to realize the importance of civil dialogue and compromise.

My, how times have changed. Now it seems to be a “my way or the highway” approach from Republicans. Their unwillingness to compromise has led to an economy in crisis with no relief in sight.

The Standard & Poor’s downgrade of America’s credit rating is a prime example. Elected to Congress in 2010, the Tea Party members of Congress have asserted themselves. Unfortunately for America, they did this in a very bad way.

The debt crisis was manufactured by the extreme right-wing element of the Republican Party under the cloak of fiscal conservatism. In reality, it was anything but that. By stating that there is no revenue problem today and that spending is the only problem ignores history and common sense. In historical terms, tax revenue as a percentage of GDP has been in the 21 to 22 percent range. Today it is 17 percent of GDP. Among the biggest contributors to this are the George W. Bush tax cuts.

President George W. Bush cut taxes twice while he engaged the country in not one but two wars — with disastrous economic results. Ronald Reagan raised taxes and there was job growth. Bill Clinton raised taxes and there was job growth. George W. Bush cuts taxes and there was zero job growth.

Elections have meaning, and the representatives we send to Congress should not be selfish in their personal agenda and self-interests. Instead, they must represent what is best for the country. Hopefully this Tea Party ends in 2012 before it’s too late.