Look around at what government does do

Much like the flu, every political season there seems to be an outbreak of mental constipation. It seems to have a special affinity for Republicans and especially Tea Party Republicans. One of the symptoms is such foolish utterances such as “government doesn’t create jobs” and signing ignorant pledges of “I won’t raise taxes under any circumstance.”

I wonder who created the Armed Forces? You know, that group of valiant men and women Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan never got around to joining. I wonder who caused the huge defense industry to build all of those magnificent machines that keep you safe to worship the golden idol of the NYSE bull? And try to remember who created your police and fire departments and school staffs.

It takes a special kind of elected idiot to sign a pledge to an equally challenged fool to never raise taxes under any circumstances — to ignore the fact that government also is subject to inflation is ignorance epitomized. How do you think doctors, teachers, firefighters and plow drivers get their pay increases? Salaries are covered by government subsidies or local taxes. Perhaps they shouldn’t get raises and try to remember that bit of mental myopia when one of them is prying you out of your twisted wreck of a car.

Someone once said it is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. Before you swallow the Republican/Tea Party Kool-Aid try thinking about what you are pledging to jeopardize. Think of the risks to your family, or don’t they matter?

James A. Prescott

Schaumburg