Put nation’s good over self-interest

The Republican politicians are at it again. Since President Obama took office they publicly proclaimed that their goal was to bring him down and defeat him in 2012. They obstructed everything the president has tried to do Now, they loudly proclaim they want to shed $4 trillion off the national debt in one breath, and in the next they declare that reinstating any taxes on the rich or closing tax loopholes for oil companies are strictly off the table. And if they don’t get their way, they’ll let our government default and throw the country into chaos. That’s what they call negotiating.

This month they were out in force at July 4 parades and events wearing their flag pins and telling their constituents how much they loved America, and how patriotic they were, and trying to exploit soldiers and veterans for photo opportunities. Well, when you put your own interest in getting re-elected above the good of the country, that’s not being patriotic, that’s being a selfish hypocrite. How can you say you love America, when you hate half the Americans living in it?

It is not patriotic to blackmail Democrats and take the American people hostage by letting the country default on its obligations for what their own political gains.

For eight years under the Bush administration, they passed laws to stack the deck against everyday Americans and almost caused a global depression. They helped ship jobs overseas in the name of profits and tax loopholes, and blatant greed. And now they want even more. They should all take off their lapel pins because they don’t deserve to wear one. They should never be allowed to get even close to a soldier who serves our country, because they just dishonor their service and true patriotism.

Ken Glassman

Arlington Heights