was a reminder of what a dangerous and divisive person he is. There are many conservative principals worth being passionate about, but the absolute refusal to raise taxes on wealthy individuals is not one of them. As Allen Simpson, a long standing, and well-respected conservative has said, Norquist and his tax pledge are bad for America. Norquist's group, Americans for Tax Reform, and their no tax pledge have forced republicans into a corner. They must sign the pledge or risk being heavily opposed by ATR, and ultimately defeated in primaries. Once they sign, they must avoid voting for any tax increase or ATR will see that they are defeated in their next primary. This unelected despot, holds the entire republican party in his hands as he works to keep taxes low on his wealthy contributors. He and his group have been instrumental in convincing millions of middle and lower class conservatives that it is in their best interest to keep the taxes of billionaires at historically low rates, a real marketing success story, to the detriment of most of them and America at large. The majority of people who have become very wealthy have done so because of the great opportunity provided by this country, and as the result of infrastructure built largely on the backs of average taxpayers. And, the massive tax breaks, subsidies, and loopholes many of them enjoy make the most blatent welfare queens look like pikers. This country has financial problems that cannot be solved simply by cutting programs and services to the poor and the elderly. The wealthy 5% or so could be forced to step up and pay the share that equates to the advantages they enjoy. But, unfortunately, it cannot happen because Grover Norquist and ATR have every republican congressman in their pocket, and none are enough of a statesman to say "I will do what's right, even if it means I get defeated in the next election". And don"t tell me the left is just as bad, although on many fronts they are, but they have shown a willingness to compromise on their social program funding, but there is no compromise for the Grover Norquist party.