Grover Who?

By Ruth A. Sheets

When I hear the name Grover, I think of the charming, Muppet monster.  Grover Norquist, though, might be considered a “monster” by some, but he is certainly not charming, particularly in his relentless efforts to subvert the American political system.

Grover Norquist is a huge voice in Republican Conservative circles.  He is like the puppet master with his hand controlling Republican policy through his organization Americans for Tax Reform (ATR).  The group is responsible for the “pledge” that nearly all Republican members of Congress have signed.  These elected officials have promised not to raise taxes under any circumstances among other things.

 

Instead of running for elected office, he has chosen to work behind the scenes to manipulate the political discourse.  The main tactic used is fear.  Distract people from what is really going on and who is actually responsible for the economic situation we are currently experiencing.  Blame the folks with no power for our nation’s ills. 

ATR convinces conservatives that lowering taxes and eliminating all programs that help to support the society will make life better for America.  Maintaining things as they are will destroy America as we know it.  That is probably true for him and those whom ATR represents (intimidates), a clever slight-of-hand. 

Many of those ATR folks are what I call SWG’s (Scared White Guys).  They are so used to being in power that they can’t imagine what it would be like if someone else shared some of it, and they are terrified.  They are aware of the demographics.   

Mr. Norquist’s family had financial resources which enabled him to more readily achieve the American dream than other baby boomers.  But, of course, he doesn’t see that.  He believes he got where he is solely because of hard work and true convictions. 

According to Wikipedia, Norquist entered politics as a 12-year-old working for Nixon in 1968.  He honed his conservative values over the years and has championed most of the conservative positions for the past 40 years.

As an American, of course, he has the right to stand for anything he wants to.  He can push his doctrine of no raise in taxes.  He can hope the Government will get so small that it can be flushed down the drain (his words). 

What is wrong in my view is the undeserved influence he wields.  His organization is one of those groups that does not have to disclose where their money comes from. And, it appears that a lot of wealthy guys cough up money for it.  ATR can pressure candidates into signing pledges and taking particular positions on pain of being unelected.  Through media contacts, ATR seems too powerful to question if one is a Republican.  In addition, he is on the NRA’s board as well as the boards of other powerful conservative organizations.

Who is Grover Norquist?   He is one of the SWG’s who want to shape America in such a way that he and his peers will stay as comfortable and prosperous as possible for as long as possible.  Does it matter to them how devastating the effects of their actions will be for poor and middle class Americans?  Not one bit.  With their policies in place, he and his will have enough financial resources that it will make no difference to them at all what happens to the peons.   

Why do we give such self-centered, power hungry  people so much influence?  Fear!  They are scared and they scare us into feeling their fear and believing that what we fear is the same as what they fear.  It’s not.

What works against fear?  Courage!  Remember the lion in “The Wizard of Oz?”  It’s time that we all stand up to the power brokers like Grover Norquist.  America is not just Scared White Guys.  We’re a rainbow of ideas, backgrounds, needs, challenges, talents.  We don’t need a bunch of SWG’s to set our agenda for us, no matter how much money or influence they have.