Will any members of the US Congress sign my pledge to support the middle class? Grover Norquist was able to get 279 members of congress, including Senator Scott Brown from my state of Massachusetts, to sign his “No Tax” pledge. Grover’s pledge is painfully simple. It is first, to oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal tax rates for individuals and business; and secondly, oppose any net reduction or eliminations of deductions and credits unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates.

Some of you might wonder who this Grover Norquist character is and how he was able to get control of so many of our legislators. He was born in 1956 in the upper class town of Weston Massachusetts, the son of a wealthy corporate vice president and the recipient of a sheltered life of luxury that included a Harvard education. Today, Grover is a lobbyist in Washington D.C., living the good life. His past associations include former lobbyist and felon, Jack Abramoff. Grover has a particular hatred for our government and was quoted as saying that “I just want to shrink it down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub.”

Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Affordable Health Care, Unemployment Insurance, none of these are part of Grover’s pledge. It’s all about money; his money and the money of his friends. The rest of the nation be dammed, Grover and his 279 signatories have agreed that the most important role of our elected officials is to protect the money of our wealthiest citizens and prosperous corporations.

My pledge is simple as well. It is: First, to oppose any and all government policies that weaken the middle class and the working families that support it with their daily labor; and secondly, to support any and all measures to strengthen the middle class even if it means increased taxes on our wealthiest citizens and the removal of tax loopholes for the prosperous multi-national corporations that operate within our borders.

Some of you might wonder who I am to ask for this pledge from members of congress. I was born in 1955 in the middle class town of Massapequa New York, the son of a factory foreman and the recipient of a middle class life that included putting myself though four years of college. Today, I work as a clerk for a small business and I struggle to make ends meet at home. My past associations include hundreds of people like me who go to work each day, take care of our families, and try to maintain hope for our future.

In the coming year, my intent is to send this pledge to members of congress and see how many are willing to pledge their support to the middle class. Grover was able to get 279 signatures. I wonder how many I will get.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

Like this: Like Loading... Related