Can't ignore the GOP fiscal failures

After reading Mike Davitt's letter in the April 10 Daily Herald, all I could do is shake my head and say to myself, "There he goes again."

Mr. Davitt continues to push the canard that Democrats and his so-called RINOs, with their "nanny state, and tax and spend policies" are solely responsible for our country's problems. If it was only that simple.

Davitt conveniently forgets the largest new entitlement program since the days of LBJ, namely the ill-constructed Medicare prescription drug program, was fathered by President Bush and a Republican Congress. Furthermore, under Presidents Bush's tenure, the federal debt in 7½ years has increased from $5.6 trillion to $9.4 trillion. We now pay approximately $180 billion per year in interest just to service the additional debt Bush has created. And let's not forget the wild, wild West mentality that the Bush administration has allowed, at least until recently, in our financial markets.

How much, and for how long, are we taxpayers going have to pay to clean up this new mess? I say all this not to be as simplistic and partisan as Mr. Davitt, but only to illustrate there is plenty of blame to go around. Something like 70 percent of all Americans think this country is on the wrong track, so it is entirely logical to look at the Democratic Party and ask if they have a better way.

By pushing the discredited theme that only the most conservative of the Republican fold can lead this country to prosperity, Mr. Davitt is showing us he's not only an extreme ideologue, but is unwilling to face the many fiscal failures of those he champions.

Thom Higgins

Naperville