Grover Norquist Makes Rational Statement on Debt Ceiling



Mr. Norquist



What’s That All About?

The Dismal Political Economist has regularly complained about Washington anti-tax, anti-government spending lobbyist Grover Norquist, whose passion is to prevent any tax increases and to reduce the size of the Federal government to its 1789 level.  Mr. Norquist requires anyone who wants his support to sign a pledge that they will not raise taxes for any reason.  He has enormous influence.

Mr. Norquist wants to end all government social programs, regardless of the need of the recipients or the great damage such a policy would do to the economy.  He hates government spending with a passion approaching that of the hatred between the Ohio State and Michigan football programs.  He would be expected to be leading the charge to shut down the government over the debt ceiling.

So it was with a great deal of astonishment to learn that Mr. Norquist proposed that

Republicans should let the debt ceiling go up and take their fight for spending cuts to the voters in 2012

Mr. Norquist went on to say

“It is gambling with the economics of the country to get that far,” Norquist said. “Rather than close the government down or go into default, let’s take it to the American people, go into the next election, and fix things then.”

Thus leaving The Dismal Political Economist somewhat speechless (figuratively, not literally). 

This is such an eminently sensible idea that we can be certain it will be rejected by all concerned.