What happened to GOP?

As a child of the Midwest with a Republican upbringing, a belief in fiscal responsibility, balanced budgets, a strong military and a leadership role in the world, I can’t help but wonder what has happened to my party. Today, if you profess to being a Republican, you are assumed to be anti-gay, anti-abortion, pro-big business, anti-labor; the list goes on. None of those attributes falls into my belief system.

Now we have the Freedom Coalition, but they leave us with little freedom to find healthy compromise, something that has worked well for 235 years. It’s their way or no way. I believe in some of what they espouse with regard to financial matters. But to use the threat of closing down the government to get what they want is not the answer. How can 40 members of a House of 435 wield so much power?

With our two-party system, neither side can get everything they want in every issue. That’s why they call it compromise. It’s time to start thinking about what’s best for the country and its citizens. Find the common ground and work from there.

Mike Payson

Spokane Valley