Potential disaster was avoided late Friday night when the two-headed political machine in our country finally came to its senses and worked out some level of compromise to keep government operating.
While many Americans (myself included) long for a government with smaller arms with which to wrap around our necks and reach into our wallets, make no mistake we do need an operating government at some level. The mere fact that the two-headed monster of Republicans and Democrats were willing to threaten this because of the old “I’m right, you’re wrong” scenario was maddening. It was similar to that of a five-year-old who couldn’t get his or her way and then stormed off after stomping the floor in a fit of rage.
One of the biggest casualties that would have emerged from a government shutdown would have been our military men and women would have not been able to receive their pay. While I’m not quite sure how military personnel would have received no pay, yet millionaire politicians would have, it does seem that was the case as the cable news networks hammered that point (rightfully so) home to every elected politician they interviewed.
As the night continued and the countdown clock neared the end, I couldn’t image this would be allowed to happen. Not to our military, many of whom are currently involved in some overseas conflict or another. There is no way this can happen, I kept telling myself.
In the end it didn’t happen and I have a feeling the military aspect of this played a major role. Good. Elected officials knew the backlash would have been different from anything seen in this country.
There is plenty of blame for this near government shutdown and it must rest on the shoulders of both Republicans and Democrats. Only the most partisan members of either party will try to convince you their side was not at fault in this. When you boil it down, there’s really no difference between the parties. Promises are made, promises are not kept and the process continues.
Voters sweep one party into office and then get fed up within a two-year span. The other party is then voted into office only to lose the trust of the voters by the time the next election arrives. You would think Americans would see the pattern by now.
Somewhere along the line Americans were brainwashed into thinking they can only have two choices. “Evil A” and “Evil B” seem to be what voters think they are saddled with. It doesn’t have to be this way of course and every now and then you see an uprising of a third party or candidate. In 1992 it was Ross Perot. In 1980 it was John Anderson. In 1968 it was George Wallace. However, battling the two-head political monster is not easy. Many would be warriors have fallen fighting this political dragon.
What’s going on in 2011 is simple. Those on the extremes of the Republican and Democratic sides are the ones who are making the most noise. They are the ones who tell you the other side is completely to blame. You could hear it leading up to the situation we had late last week.
That rhetoric causes Americans, unable to look beyond or around the two-headed monster, to be shortsighted in realizing there are more alternatives. It doesn’t have to be the lesser of two evils, which is still an evil by the way. Until Americans realize this, they will continue to be taken for fools with elected officials laughing at us, knowing we are not smart enough to do anything about the current state of American politics. It’s sad really. We have the power but aren’t willing to use it.
Chris Bridges is editor of the Barrow Journal. You can reach him at cbridges@barrowjournal.com.
There will be a bigger fight over raising the debt ceiling, just wait. It will come down to the wire as well with a last minute "deal".
Nothing is done in Washington that isnt calculated to rob the American people of our liberty and our money.