In a recent Op-Ed we were reminded of the existence of “reasonable” Republicans. Many of us who grew up in the Republican Party remember such people and mourn their public demise. We have suspected they still exist and wish their return to prominence.
But unfortunately there are others who are not so reasonable. In recent history former Governor Ehrlich left office with a legacy of a $1.5 billion structural deficit. Too often from incoming Governor Hogan we heard the mantra of cutting taxes without a meaningful plan. What are we to expect? A push for greater income inequality? A cutback on services for the most vulnerable and needy?
We don’t have gridlock in Washington, we have obstruction in the interest of inhibiting government. Certainly there is the need for governmental reform in so many areas and among many issues our health care system requires fundamental reform. We can only hope that the efforts to sabotage the Affordable Care Act are not successful. For the first time millions have health care. And then there is the matter of our national infrastructure. We are waiting for constructive cooperation.
We need two functional political parties but the litany of hate, anger, disruption and dysfunction has become more than distasteful. Fearmongering and prejudice with cries of immigrant threat, ISIS at our borders and invocations of Benghazi are hardly useful. What many of us would love to hear are statesmanlike constructive policies from reasonable people which indicate a willingness to explore productive solutions together and the now unspoken word of compromise.
Yes, many of us remember excellent and thoughtful Republican politicians in Maryland’s past but recent experience has been less than encouraging. We can hope that the cited “basic tenets” of the Republican Party will be restored as a centerpiece and that reasonable Republicans will again take their place on the political stage. We need them back in a cooperative national effort to solve waiting problems and to restore a functional Congress.
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