Republican Party reckless

After the debt ceiling agreement, House Speaker John Boehner said he was happy to have gotten 98 percent of what he wanted. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called the economy “a hostage that’s worth ransoming,” apparently trying to distinguish himself from more extreme members of his party who saw it as “a hostage you might take a chance at shooting.”

These words come from supposed voices of reason in the Republican Party.

In the following days, the markets crashed and the nation’s credit rating was downgraded for the first time in our history. It is now evident that the “hostage” has been inadvertently shot, and we’re left wondering how to hold these leaders responsible for their reckless actions.

Our government has always maintained civil means by which the minority party can slow implementation of the majority’s agenda. These checks can be a source of frustration for those seeking rapid change, but create stability that has served the nation well.

If the minority is willing to disregard civility and risk chaos, however, they can circumvent even the basic principle of majority rule. Are we really going to reward this extremism by electing even more Republicans in 2012?

Nigel Orton

Spokane