Two wars, large tax cuts primarily benefiting the wealthy, a Medicare drug program, doubling of the deficit, the Wall Street meltdown, a recession — those are part of the unpaid legacy between 2000-08.

Conservatives invoke Reagan’s name on a regular basis. They choose not to say that he increased taxes numerous times after the deficit increased from his tax cuts. They also neglect to say that he taxed capital gains at 28 percent to help pay for the income tax cuts.

This country prospered in the 1950s and ’60s, even though there were high tax rates. It was a time when the middle class growth exploded to provide prosperity. It happened to be a time when unions were strong and fought for the improvement of working conditions, pay and benefits for the working class.

Republican leadership has said their primary goal is to make Barack Obama a one-term president. They have refused to work toward any meaningful way to repair the economy and put people back to work. They now stand poised to create another credit crisis that will downgrade the nation’s credit rating. They appear to be willing to let the country fail just to get rid of Obama.

The Republican philosophy appears to be maximum obstruction and no compromise. “No tax” pledges take away the ability to govern and find reasonable solutions to our problems. If tax cuts increase jobs, the nation should have had a booming economy from 2000-08.

It is time for sanity to return to the government.

Stan Tetenman, Poland

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