Minority party got us into this mess

In reading the opinion page, I ask where were the hawks against deficit spending when the Bush administration turned a $2 billion surplus into a $5 trillion deficit: tax cuts that benefited the wealthy, two unfunded wars and a Congress that allowed deregulation of safeguards that were in place since the lessons learned in the Great Depression?

Much is made about the retirement of Democrats, when in actuality the number of retiring Republicans is greater in both the House and Senate. All incumbents are in re-election danger.

Republican leaders vowed to delay and deny all things emanating from the White House. The level of acquiescence by the Democrats toward the obstinate Republicans has alienated many progressives, especially when all efforts at bipartisanship were ignored, and Republicans voted in a block even against measures they had previously approved. Stalemate at our expense. I watched the health care committee meetings on C-SPAN (yes, they were televised) and noted 160 amendments offered by Republicans only to have them vote against reform in the end.

Insurance companies are raising premiums to impossible levels while canceling enrollees who are in need of treatment. The lobbyists have inserted themselves into the pockets of both parties, to the degree that public is at grave risk. It is a sad commentary on our democracy where the tyranny of the minority party is able to prevent good governance. Yet it was under their rule that the crisis we suffer now was created. Historically, deficits have risen under Republican administrations, and budgets balanced under Democratic administrations; this is fact despite the rhetoric to the contrary.

Paradoxically, the way out of an economic hole is to spend more money short term; the recovery act (stimulus) has been effective, but more needs to be done. Republicans, unfortunately, prefer to just say no.

Marie Harris

Bartlett