The federal government has long been seen as an entity in which bickering between
parties has taken precedent over serving the American people.
On Friday, this feeling was confirmed when President Obama was forced to order
enormous budget cuts because the Democrats and Republicans couldn’t agree on a
compromise.
In total, the order will account for $85 billion in budget cuts over the next year.
The cuts were described in a White House budget office report as being “deeply
destructive to national security, domestic investments and core government
functions.”
The most troubling part of this avoidable incident is that the cuts will affect some of
the country’s most vital departments.
Healthcare providers, the Department of Justice and the Department of Defense will
all suffer budget cuts, putting a burden on agencies that Americans rely on everyday.
The Department of Defense will be forced to cut back on training, as well as
maintenance on planes and ships. The Department of Justice anticipates some
workers may be forced to work four-day weeks and take pay cuts. Hospitals and
healthcare providers will see a cut of $11 billion in their budgets.
All because the two political parties couldn’t get over their differences and agree on
a plan.
There is no valid reason for the two sides to not work together on this issue. Both
parties said publically that they didn’t support the cuts, but when the time came to
negotiate, party politics took precedent.
As citizens, we need to demand more from our elected officials. It’s one thing for
someone to win an election, get to Washington and forget about their campaign
promises. It’s entirely different when these officials stubbornly refuse to reach
across the aisle just because the other side thinks differently than they do.
The most important aspect of an elected official’s job is to ensure the well being
of American citizens. This latest debacle is just another in a long line of examples
where the welfare of Americans has been passed over in favor of spat between
parties.
The two-party system is not broken, but it does need some mending. We need to
advise our representatives that this juvenile behavior will no longer be tolerated.
If they cannot find a way to ensure the welfare of American citizens, we need to
replace them with people who can.
The fact that some of the pillars of our country will be forced to operate with a
smaller budget because the parties can’t compromise should serve as a wakeup call.
Elected officials need to be held accountable, and we are the only people who can do
that.
Remember, these officials work for you. Demand more – it is your right.
Chris Dierken can be reached by email at dierken.record@live.com.