Wrong to reward obstruction

It’s hard to imagine a more depressing headline than “Next Congress likely to look much like this one” (News, Tuesday). It seems the news media and most of the voters have been so focused on President Obama vs. Mitt Romney that they have forgotten the childish, and possibly treasonous, Grover Norquist “pledge,” taken by so many obstructionist members of Congress. They pledged to never raise taxes, unless offset with other tax cuts. Despite low approval ratings, it seems many obstructionists will be returning to office. This pledge was signed by 238 representatives and 41 senators.

This action by so many of our legislators has damaged the U.S. credit rating, made it virtually impossible to ever reduce the national debt, and thrown a wrench in the wheels of our excellent recovery from a terrible recession, just as it was picking up steam. William Doyle

Fort Gratiot, Mich.