I rarely find myself agreeing with Senator Bob Bennett (R-Utah). He and I have very different views of how the world works and what public policy should look like. Although he is very conservative, however, I always had the sense that he is a decent, sincere fellow, by disposition someone who is willing to work with those on the other side of the aisle.
In a Republican party growing more radical and extreme every day, though, a person like this couldn't last long. It is not like Bennett is a centrist -- he isn't. He has voted to filibuster everything the Democrats have proposed this past year. He is as as conservative as they come. But apparently that isn't enough is today's Republican party. Your political opponents are not people to "find common ground" with; they are people you call "Nazi communists who hate America." Since Bennett tried to find common ground, he was given a humiliating third place finish during the nominating process.
Utah Republicans need to take a serious look at the madness and extremism that is engulfing their party.
2 comments:
For the past century the political spectrum has continually moved to the left. New government programs with each election are promised and a bigger federal government than we've ever had before is what we have today. It seems odd to me that people who want to take a step backward, or reign in the federal government, get labeled as radical and extreme. This intolerance of differing political views seems to me more of a problem in our political atmosphere than politicians getting voted out through the democratic process.
Both Bridgewater and Lee have run on a platform of cutting government spending, and more state control on a variety of issues. This resonates with me and I hardly see them as mad or extreme in their views.
On a separate but related topic, what is your take on what is happening in Greece? Are the U.S. and Europe not on the same course they have been on?
Kyle
When I think of madness and extremism, Kyle Scott is the first name that enters my mind. (Joking, of course)
I don't have too much to say about Greece, since I don't know much about it (I know...never stopped me before).
One interesting thing about the European debt crisis is how ineffective the EU has been in dealing with the mess so far. Very different from how the US reacted to its financial crisis.
Surely, the US could eventually have its own fiscal emergency. However, the US is still in fairly good shape, judging by the debt-to-GDP ratios. Plus, the US debt is largely in dollars which makes a big difference. The US can devalue its currency to pay its debt in a way that Greece cannot. That, of course, would bring about its own problems, but it does make for a different situation. As the recession eases, it is still true that some tough decisions will need to be made to cut future budget deficits.
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