Anne Leigh Parrish

Here’s Congress trying to come to terms with the deficit.  The deficit Republicans are blaming on the Democrats, specifically President Obama and what has been perceived as lavish and irresponsible spending.  Just to set the record straight, between 2000 and 2008, it was the Republicans who 1) cut taxes without finding a way to pay for it, 2) launched two wars without finding a way to pay for them, 3) undertook federal programs, again without necessary funds, and 4) supported a system of unregulated lending practices that eventually brought down the housing market, some key investment companies, put millions of people out of work, and generally caused wide-spread hardship.  So, laying blame is fine, when you lay it in the right place.  I say cut the rhetoric, throw more money into the economy for a while – not less – THEN worry about reducing the deficit.  When you put people back to work, and give them money to spend, they pay taxes and lo and behold, your deficit starts to shrink.  When are the Republicans going to grow up and accept responsibility for the programs they supported and the harm they caused?  Not anytime soon, I guarantee that.

"Current Majority Party Member"