'Know Nothing' party

From Hannah Provence Donigan, Commerce Township:

Some of the newly-elected Taxed Enough Already members of Congress are spilling the tea. The “no to everything Obama” representatives and senators are proving to be the moderning “Know Nothing” party of the mid-19th century. (This group rebelled against the increased rate of immigration and promoted nativism. It was formed to combat “foreign” influences and uphold “American” views.)

While stressing and quoting the Constitution and the Bible and waving the flag, some of today’s newest ultra-conservative leaders in Washington D.C. are indicating they do not know how democracy functions.

Recently, U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) introduced a bill to prevent a government shutdown, which the House of Representatives passed. Apparently, he and supporters did not know this was unconstitutional. A bill becomes law only when passed by the Senate. And the president has veto power.

Extreme-right conservatives allow ideology to dictate what and who they support. Incivility reigns; they do not compromise. Under the guise of deficit reduction, they are fighting a cultural and class war. These four topics comprise their agenda: Defeat Obama in 2012; remove a woman’s right to choose; dismantle public education; and abolish unions.

Conditions in our country should persuade moderate Republicans, independents and Democrats — either those who voted or did not vote in the mid-term elections — to become involved in politics. Follow the lead of voters in Wisconsin to recall representatives who are harming our democracy.