Get the money out of politics

Friday, November 25, 2011

To the Editor:

The most powerful man who is not even a member of Congress wins again!

Grover Norquist, the most powerful man in the Republican Party, has done it again. With his “pledge to never raise taxes” – which in reality is a bribe of money to those who have signed the pledge – he has even defeated the Super Committee formed to agree on budget deficits. The members of that committee are the most powerful people in Congress, yet a man who is NOT a member of Congress (Grover Norquist) tells them how to vote.

That is not entirely fair because the Democrats on the Committee have not signed the bribe – I mean the “pledge.” They have agreed to the massive budget cuts but demand some tax increases that are mostly closing loop holes for the super rich to help offset the cuts. Sound reasonable? Per the polls, most Americans also feel it is reasonable and most Republicans agree. So, what is the problem? The problem is the money in the bribes to those who have signed the Norquist “pledge”.

Money, money, money. It is always money that is more important than what the public wants. We must get money out of politics. How? Start with messages to your congressmen and then with the ballots next November.

KEITH CORDES

Bedford