Commentary: Partisan political games

We need to stop playing partisan political games and get down to the serious business of solving problems. It takes Republicans, Democrats and Independents to make that happen.

President Obama has been dealing with a multitude of economic, environmental, educational and health care issues about which much of the electorate is demanding solutions. Of the original stimulus package, currently $780 billion, only 12 percent has been distributed; and although unemployment has slowed (cut almost in half), it is still wreaking havoc on entire communities throughout the country.

Many congressional Republicans and some "blue dog" Democrats continue to obstruct the president's agenda. This president, more than any other in recent history, will listen to different opinions and will make changes that make sense and are better ideas than what he has been proposing. But the "just say no" political philosophy practiced by many national Republicans and some Democrats will not solve our problems. We need policy makers who have thoughtful ideas, who will be patient and who will negotiate, and compromise.

We had examples of this kind of public policy making during Nevada's recent legislative session in which political leaders worked together to solve a problem.

We see in California what happens when political leaders cannot exercise political leadership.

My neighbor recently confronted me with: "Obama is creating enormous deficits and we'll (we, our children and grandchildren) never be able to pay for it!" We've been neighbors for a long time, good neighbors. But he neglected to mention that President Reagan increased the national deficit threefold, increased taxes seven of his eight years in office, and claimed that deficits didn't matter! Nor did he say a word about President Bush initiating an illegal war, and keeping the Iraq war spending (of close to a trillion dollars) off the books and out of sight until he left office. But perhaps that will be another neighbor-to-neighbor discussion.

As interesting as these neighborhood conversations are, we need to be more thoughtful about our partisan political conversations. Much of the stimulus package will be paid back to taxpayers - for example, the bailouts for the auto industry and banking, some of which has already been repaid. The investments in infrastructure, education, health care and small businesses will pay off as the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expands and our international trade position improves. This country remains one of the most viable political and economic systems ever created. Those who want the administration to fail are wrong.

So far congressional Republicans have said "no" to virtually all forward-thinking legislative proposals. Let's encourage our policy makers - Republicans, Democrats and Independents - to work together, not play partisan political games.

• Dr. Eugene T. Paslov, former Nevada Superintendent of Schools, is a board member for Silver State Charter School.