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Grover Norquist's interview with David Gregory this morning on Meet the Press left Ham on Wry puzzled. The fact that Norquist represented the Republican view of the Super Committee's negotiation is disquieting at best. Prior to Norquist, New York Senator Chuck Schumer discussed the same situation; however, he actually serves in Congress. Do readers find it strange that a person who does not hold office in Congress explains what happened during the Super Committee's meetings? Norquist heads Americans for Tax Reform, an organization focused on never raising taxes on anyone.
For a man who proclaims himself "smarter than the average bear", he lacks the ability to follow through with logic. He told Gregory that the Super Committee didn't fail. Check the definition of failure, Mr. Norquist. He spouts rhetoric that raising taxes slows the economy and kills jobs. That makes no sense at all.when referring to personal income taxes He said government spending doesn't create jobs. Who creates them? Businesses in both the profit and not-for-profit sectors do. Raising taxes on the people earning over $1 million does not affect job creation. Norquist's message of no focuses on just one issue: taxes, but he never explains how he would maintain the charge of government set forth in the Constitution of the United States. Our nation has changed drastically since the union formed, and he would hold us to a level of taxes that existed at the turn of the twentieth century.
When Gregory asked him about the tax hikes that occurred under Reagan and Papa Bush, Norquist blamed the Democrats for not following through on a promise to reduce spending. Did someone hold a gun to their heads? They signed the acts into law. In fact, Reagan favored a tax hike. Norquist praised Bush's success in getting Iraq out of Kuwait without occupying the country. Really? Perhaps he should review the opinions expressed by some of the leaders of the Gulf War like General Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. to determine their view of the campaign. He would find that many of them, thought that they should have killed Saddam Hussein then. Norquist attributed Bush's loss to Clinton because he had raised taxes. I strongly disagree because the election reflected strong sentiment against the outcome of that war.
Norquist must have also forgotten that a Republican president started the war with Iraq in 2003 without fully understanding the consequences. The long occupation there occurred because of Bush's son and Obama is bringing them home. Speaking of government spending, take a look at the cost of that war. The government approved over $1 trillion for that war, the vast majority of which was spent during the Bush years. That amount doesn't include the many billions of dollars lost or unaccounted for or the vast amount is lost equipment. Those figures apply only to the Iraq War and not to Afghanistan.
Ham on Wry wants to know who funds Americans for Tax Reform. I suspect the list would include many of the wealthiest people in the country, but that information can be kept secret. Norquist can spout his single-minded mantra like a broken robot, but citizens don't know who supports him. Why has this person gained so much power over the past 25 years? Why do Republicans allow him to strong-arm them into signing a pledge that they will never raise taxes? Does this country need politicians who march to the tune of a drummer whose motives might well be self-serving? The lower the taxes, the more money the wealthiest few can keep.
This post was not written in support of one party over the other. It emphasizes that one lobbyist wields far too much influence on members of Congress. Maybe the Occupy movement should occupy Americans for Tax Reform Headquarters. It could shine a light on a disturbing group and its leader.
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