The United States of America’s Government Shutdown 2013
As of 12:01AM (EST) on October 1, 2013, The United States Government Shutdown is in effect. The GOP and the Democrats in the House of Representatives and the United States Senate argue over the United States budget, more importantly, the funding of Healthcare reform, better known as Obamacare. The Obamacare bill, that was previously agreed to in the House and Senate and ruled as constitutional in the United States Supreme Court, then signed into legislation, is now being debated once again as it officially begins enrollment(www.Healthcare.gov) . The GOP controlled House of Representatives will not sign a budget to fund the government that does not include a stipulation to defund Obamacare and delay its implementation until 2015. President Obama has already stated that he will not revisit this issue and will veto any budget or resolution that includes such stipulation.
As a result, the government has shutdown for the first time since January 1996 and over 800,000 federal employees were sent home without pay, which is better known as a furlough. The government shutdown will continue until the “elected officials” in Congress can come to an agreement on a continuing resolution or sign a budget in place to fund the activities of the United States government. It is apparent that the Congress members have sacrificed the nation’s well being and productivity for the agendas of their political parties. United States citizens are disappointed and angry with their government this morning for the lack of “United” teamwork that is expected from the world’s greatest nation and oldest democracy. The government shutdown is not only hurting the, approximately, 800,000 federal employees sent home without pay, but it is costing the nation and the United States economy revenue that may be a detriment to economic growth. The revenue generated by the national parks, monuments, and numerous other tourists locations around the country are all being lost because of closure due to the government shutdown. Tourists are feeling the effects as world renowned sites like the Statute of Liberty are closed this morning in New York City. Businesses that thrive from being located by tourist locations and government facilities are feeling the effects as business slows down without their main customers.
Furthermore, the government shutdown may have long term effects that cause the country to slide into another recession after we have seen continuous economic growth since the last quarter of 2011. Additionally, the amount of revenue being lost by shutting down the office of the agency that provides over 90% of the United State’s revenue, the Internal Revenue Service, could be detrimental to the well-being of the nation if the government shutdown continues beyond this week. Programs like unemployment, social security, and Medicare could all be affected if proper funding is not avaliable to cover the United States obligations to its citizens. This government shutdown, if it prolongs, will be felt by millions of Americans. It would behoove Congress to put their political party agendas aside and make a decision in the best interest of the nation and it’s over 300 million citizens.
Unfortunately, how can Congress feel these effects when all 533 Congress members will continue to receive their paychecks in full without delay per the 27th Amendment of the United States Constitution? How can the President feel these effects when he will continue to receive his salary of $400,000 a year, since it is stipulated as mandatory spending? Our “elected officials” are operating irresponsibly and without controls that would allow them to understand everyday American Citizens. This government shutdown is a prime example of a nation’s leaders that have lost sight of their duty to this country.
I am not one to give political advice but the best thing a democratic nation can do is to make their voices heard at the voting booth come November 2014. I am proposing that we vote every single one of these “elected officials” in Congress during this government shutdown out of office at the next midterm elections in November 2014. We should have a zero tolerance policy, as people of a democracy, for this type of behavior from leaders of the greatest nation in the world. And, what better way to make your voice heard and regain the truth behind the ideology of “a nation of the people, by the people, for the people!”
