Letter to the editor: Berg must be a part of the solution to debt standoff

Our nation is days from a catastrophic financial crisis because Rep. Rick Berg, R-N.D., and members of the House GOP refuse to compromise on the debt ceiling.

If we do not raise our debt ceiling, our nation cannot pay bills on debt that we have already incurred. America will default on our debts for the first time in history.

Our nation will not have enough money for our state and nation’s most integral programs, including Social Security and veterans’ benefits.

This is real. This is no joke. Berg and his other freshman GOP cronies seem content to sit back, cast their party line votes and parrot their talking points verbatim on the House floor.

Where does Berg stand? Is he going to be a voice for reason and ensure that we have a balanced approach and a fair compromise? Or, will he continue to toe the inflexible tea party line that will bring havoc to his fellow Americans and the people he swore to serve?

With only seven days until we default on our debt, and with even the Chamber of Commerce calling for compromise to raise the debt ceiling, even Berg must know that this is not a Republican or Democratic issue, but one that goes to the core of our nation’s well-being.

This is it. This is final. Berg must stand up and be part of the solution, not the problem. That is what he was elected, and promised, to do.

Mark Schneider

Bismarck

(Schneider is chairman of the Democratic-NPL party in North Dakota)

Tags: opinion, letters, berg, debt, money