Tea Party script filled with errors

Although President Obama has twice been elected by large electoral and popular margins, some cannot seem to come to terms with the reality that he is America’s choice for president.

A recent letter from John Merlette dripped with contempt for the president and for the more than half of Americans who voted for him — more on this later. First, I would like to admonish Editor Frank Miele for furthering the downfall of the Republican Party at the national level. Even I, who some would consider utterly partisan, recognize that good ideas come from both sides, or they did, before the Republican Party decided that obstructionism and obdurateness should trump doing the peoples’ work.

I believe we function best with at least a two-party system, but, as long as Republicans refuse to acknowledge that their policies are quickly making the party of Eisenhower irrelevant, they will not make a real comeback on the national stage. I suppose I should at least commend Miele for not jumping on the secession bandwagon with his compeer John Merlette.

Merlette opines that little old Montana would be so much better without the big bad federal government, ignoring the fact that Montana receives well more than one dollar in federal largesse for every dollar we send to Washington. Merlette stays on the Tea Party script by blaming rules and debt for his desire to see Montana go it alone, practically tripping over his tongue to avoid spilling the real reasons: He just does not like the guy in office, and he believes that more than 50 percent of the nation was somehow suckered into voting for Obama… twice. I guess this is to be expected from a Tea Party loyalist.  

Merlette, admiring the plight of Germany and Japan, essentially calls for our nation to be torn apart by war so it can be rebuilt in the image of the Tea Party’s avaricious ideals, with a Constitution including only the parts Merlette personally supports: personal responsibility in, shared responsibility out — in other words, you are on your own. Ignoring the hint of sedition, let’s focus on the irony of Merlette’s choices for exemplars of civilization.

First, let’s look at Japan. Merlette feigns a concern over the debt of the U.S., apparently ignoring the fact that Japan’s debt, as a percentage of GDP, is the second highest in the world at over 200 percent of GDP (2011 numbers) — worse even than Greece and more than double that of the U.S.. Though Merlette knew about this, he still chose Japan for its absolute lack of regulations and devil-may-care attitude toward the “welfare” of its people. Again, he missed the mark. Japanese businesses are heavily regulated, and Merlette would do well to note that employers are expected to provide housing subsidies and good insurance to cover that which the nation’s universal health does not. Japan has few resources and must import most things. We can see this is hardly the paragon of Tea Party ideals.

Germany has less debt than us, owing about 80 percent of its GDP. Germany succeeds because it recognizes the importance of the middle class and of labor unions. Workers are well paid, and 80 percent of manufacturing and export industries are unionized. By design, workers occupy half the seats of large corporate boards of directors, companies find it nearly impossible to increase profit by outsourcing, and the government invests in infrastructure and green industries. Oh yeah…they also have a form of universal health care which includes an individual mandate.

In short, Germany includes, not just one or two, but many of the systems and practices which the John Merlettes and Frank Mieles of this country believe would tip a nation on its head, and yet, apparently by magic, Germany prospers and maintains a trade surplus.

Both Germany and Japan have higher personal taxes than the U.S.; in fact, Germany’s personal taxes are among the highest in the world. When you consider, however, that the average annual family insurance premium in the U.S. is $15,000, Germany’s 15.5 percent health insurance tax begins to look like a bargain. I find it surprising that Mr. Merlette would choose to emulate either Germany or Japan.

John, you would do well to realize that not all Montanans feel that we should rip our state out of this great country or that we should start over with a constitution designed to cater to your personal ideals. It would be easier, I think, if you would pack your tea bags and move away to another country which better matches your independent, “I got mine get, out of my way” attitude. Somalia is said to be the most libertarian country on the planet — could be a good fit.

Hanson is a resident of Whitefish.