Angie Pratt: Why the Democrats Have to Obstruct

There really isn't any rocket science involved with why the Democrats have to continue to play the role of obstructionists. The answer is very straightforward. They have to. They have to, not because they are the minority party. They have to because George Bush and the Republicans aren't compromising on anything.

Take for example Social Security. We could have fixed the problems with Social Security weeks ago if George Brush A.k.A Mr. "I don't Compromise" had simply compromised and taken Private Accounts off the table. But Nope. He's just not going to do it. It doesn't matter what the polls say. It doesn't matter whether Private Accounts have anything to do with the financial problems of Social Security or not. It's his way or the highway.

The purpose of the 60-vote rule in the Senate is to guarantee that we have political compromise. Which is exactly why George Bush and the Republicans are threatening the "nuclear Attack" - getting rid of the 60-vote requirement to bust up a filibuster.

It is this attitude of the George Bush and the Republicans that needs to be called on the carpet. They are the ones who are preventing this country from finding middle ground. The reason is obvious. They don't like the middle ground. They are so far right that the middle is unacceptable.

Poll after poll shows that Americans want compromise. Survey after survey shows that Americans tend toward the middle ground on issues such as abortion, taxation, Social Security etc. Political solutions are by their very nature a compromise.

George Bush and the Republicans need to stop being so partisan and start doing their jobs. They need to be willing to present alternatives that acceptable to everybody not just the far right.

Democrats are obligated to obstruct. They are duty bound to represent the best interest of American citizens that voted for them. And ... saying No to George Bush and the Republican party when they will not compromise makes it their only alternative.

Written by Angie Pratt ( http://www.politicalposts.com).

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