I just do not understand.

Will someone please explain to me why a pledge to never vote to raise taxes, no matter the circumstances, means more to the Republicans than a Pledge of Allegiance to the flag and to the republic, which it represents?

I have been watching all of the Republicans’ debates and I see the taking a Pledge of Allegiance to the flag and to our republic just prior to each debate. I keep reading and hearing that the Republicans also signed a pledge to never raise taxes, that according to Grover Norquist, he dreamed up as a teenager, and he has signed pledges from almost all Republicans. They say that they will not break that pledge, no matter what. Why is this pledge more important than the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag and our republic? I also recall that they took an oath of office to faithfully serve. The argument that lower taxes are good for our country has not been working out too well lately.

The Republicans insisted that the Bush tax cuts would not expire for the wealthiest of our citizens, to the tune of billions of dollars in lost revenue, and still we have to borrow money to help pay our deficit. I am just an ordinary taxpayer; I don’t create jobs anymore, because I am retired and elderly. The Republicans allowed my taxes to go up in March 2011 because a portion of the Recovery/Reinvestment Act of 2009 expired on my military retired pension. I have not seen or heard one word out of any Republican addressing this. Have you? But I have heard and read that the wealthiest do believe that their taxes are not high enough.

What have they gained out of not allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire? Where are the jobs?

I am not complaining about the increase in my taxes. I am pleased that I have money to pay them and help our nation. I just wanted to make the comparison.

I watched “60 Minutes” recently, and I saw some remarkable teens living in a van and a young girl living in a car while attending school. Their parents had been looking for jobs for a long time, but were still without employment. I read in this morning’s newspaper that there are more school-age children getting free or reduced price school lunches than ever before in our history. But, the Republicans let the reduced tax rate continue for the wealthiest citizens who can afford to help. What is wrong?

No one dismisses the fact that our government sometimes spends money needlessly. You can always find someone who will complain about everything the government does, no matter what. Then their neighbor starts a motorcycle repair shop in his backyard, and then they want the government to jump in with both feet to satisfy their complaint. Take the case of a homeowner who wants to be free of taxes until their well is contaminated. Then complain that the government should have done something about it before it was contaminated. We are upside down.

Additionally, will someone please give me the dates when we had a period of substantial economic growth when tax rates were the lowest and without our deficit growing larger?

Just for the record, I am a registered Republican, and I have been for more than 55 years. But I am having questions about that too.

Jim Viverette

Rocky Mount