Rebecca Costa

It's hard to fathom! When you think about the hypocrisy of those Republicans who so blatantly flaunt their self interest instead of working for what is best for the country, can you blame the house Democrats for being upset? It is reported that U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, "thought it was rich that following months of talk about bringing the national debt under control, the president and Republicans are planning to add nearly $1 trillion to the debt with money borrowed from China."

I'll bet that the vindictive Republicans never thought it would be so easy to hoodwink, blackmail or con President Obama into going along with their two-year plan to wreck his presidency. It's infuriating that those Republicans got away with preventing all that needs to be done to help the needy and ease the deficit by clinging to their tax cuts that Bush bestowed upon them. It's unbelievable that Obama would give in so readily to allow them to hang on to their tax cuts so they can lavish more of their wealth upon themselves and then whine about estate taxes while there are so many people out of work and who are barely scraping by. Many of us feel that it would have been much better if Obama would have rallied the Democrats around him and stood up to those self-gratifying and greedy Republicans and let us know that he is willing to stand up for Democratic values.

U.S. Rep. John Garamendi, D-Solano, laments the "give-away of $150 billion for the fabulously rich." He reiterated that the "House Democrats want to use the money to reduce the deficit and put people to work."

What added to my angst was the fact that I had just finished reading a fascinating and very thought provoking book, "The Watchman's Rattle" — "A Radical New Theory of Collapse," by Rebecca D. Costa. Basically, it warns us about where we're headed as a nation (and civilization, even) if we don't get our act together (so to speak). The "act" that we need to "get together" may surprise you. It is basically correcting erroneous beliefs that have gotten us into this mess (and many others) with facts — scientific knowledge that can "set us free." Costa writes: "When beliefs — whether they are based on economics or religion — overwhelm rational knowledge, there can be no rational outcome!" For instance, believing that lowering taxes for the wealthy promotes jobs, or believing that all of those drawing employment benefits for a long time don't really want to work. Or, how about this one. If you are down and out, it's your own fault.

The reason I bring up Costa's book is because in the furor over the tax cuts and unemployment insurance, many erroneous beliefs complicate and distort the problem. Unsubstantiated beliefs can cause gridlock and create irrational opposition that draws us closer to disaster. Does Obama really believe that the Republicans who are against him are rational? Does he actually think that the Republicans are really interested in bipartisanship? If he knows something we don't, I'd like to hear it. Maybe he needs to pay attention to people like Paul Krugman who wrote in the Dec. 10 "New York Times": "… The extension increases the chance that the Bush tax cuts will be made permanent, with the devastating effects on the budget and the long-term prospects for Social Security and Medicare."

Those Republican withholding types remind me of 2-year-olds who brazenly grab a toy from another child, glare at him and shout, "Mine!" I'd love to ask those who scream the loudest when anyone mentions letting their tax cuts expire: why do you cling so tenaciously to your wealth? Why it is so difficult for you to share? Are you doing what's better for the country or what's better for you? Why do you think it's OK to add so much more to the national deficit to preserve your tax cuts? Do you care about anyone besides yourself and your petrified beliefs? Do you claim to be Christians? If so, is it the "fire and brimstone" type or the "love thy neighbor" type?

"… At least these negotiations have had the benefit of proving conclusively that the only people for whom conservative Republicans will go to the mat are the country's best-off citizens — and deficits be damned." — E.J. Dionne, Jr.