Time for liberals to stand firm

I have had it with our president. He gave in to the extreme right wing Republicans (well, all Republicans are extreme right). Now he gives in to the Republicans on regulations affecting our environment, health care and financial system.

When President Obama didn’t allow the Bush tax cuts to expire, he lost all negotiating leverage with the Republicans. If he had let the tax cuts expire, he could then have called the shots on taxes and the debt limit. He is now behind the eight ball in these negotiations and the Republicans have called the agenda. What is needed is not tax cuts, but increases to pay for those services which are vital to a healthy nation.

I fear he will capitulate again. The Republicans are not looking for common ground. They will stay their course until they get completely what they want and that is less health care, more war-making machinery, less environmental protection and an unregulated market place which will bring economic disaster to our nation again.

I want my taxes to increase. A patriot is willing to pay for his parents’ and children’s health care, their retirement and the protection of the environment. Government is good. Right wingers can spend $10 to have FedEx mail their letters, but I will pay 50 cents to have the U.S. Postal Service deliver mine and help balance the post office’s budget.

Cut $300 billion out of the military budget each year. Stop the wars in the Mideast, take submarines out of service, dismantle the military bases and shipyards overseas. There is $3 trillion dollars over 10 years to be found in stopping our war making and, in reducing it, we have not raised taxes or crippled our ability to meet the “general welfare” of the nation.

Tom Teune

Wheaton